by Dennis Richardson | Apr 13, 2022
Community and representation mean everything, and Carter’s is no stranger to that.
In 2020, Carter’s commissioned a multi-phase research program with a goal of developing relatable messaging to speak to each of its consumer audiences. At the time, the company’s emphasis was on product promotions and it wanted to connect more emotionally with customers. This led to thorough segmentation work that began early last year, which helped to inform recent multicultural campaigns, including ‘Fun is back in style’ last summer – and now, this new campaign.
‘Es Para Ti’ (‘It’s For You’) speaks to the Latinx or Latiné community’s experience and belief in family coming first, with family at the center of the most meaningful moments in our lives. The upbeat ad captures the energy of a large multigenerational family gathering celebrating multiple kids’ birthdays. ‘It’s for partying, it’s for playing, it’s for being with family. Most of all, it’s made for you. Es para ti.’
The creative will appear on display, OLV and CTV and will run for 6 weeks in :30 and :15 formats. Sample Spanish language publishers that will run the creative include People en Español, Hola.com, and Telemundo, with English language publishers running the creative too. You can learn more at Carter’s Es Para Ti landing page.
by Dennis Richardson | Apr 13, 2022
April brings more than showers! Okay, maybe not necessarily for SoCal, but there are two incredible reasons to dine out this month. This April kicked off Autism Awareness Month and Dine LA, supporting the local restaurant community. What can you get into?
From April 1st – 15th, TAO LA and Beauty and Essex Los Angeles are participating in DineLA, offering $65 (per person) three-course prix fixe menus, including some of TAO LA and Beauty & Essex’s most popular dishes:
Beauty and Essex Los Angeles will be serving fan-favorite dishes including the Little French Dips with horseradish aioli, gruyere, and au jus, as well as the Half Roasted Chicken with a spiced carrot purée, crispy kale, and a green onion chimichurri. For dessert, guests can choose between the White Chocolate Pot de Crème with a strawberry compote. Reservations can be made here.
On the other hand, TAO LA will be offering diners popular dishes like the Spicy Tuna Tartare on Crispy Rice to start, as well as the Honey Glazed Salmon as an entree, and the Bread Pudding Doughnuts as a dessert. Make your reservations here.
Tao Group Hospitality restaurants across the country will also honor Autism Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month by offering menu specials and making an $80,000 donation to local and national autism spectrum disorder-focused charities.
Led by Chief Culinary Officer Chef Ralph Scamardella, for the seventh year the group will turn their most popular desserts — including Beauty & Essex’s ‘Signature Dessert Wonder Wheel’ — blue (the color of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) awareness), in addition to creating unique savory menu specials such as Seared A5 Miyazaki Wagyu with truffle chimichurri, at TAO LA.
Tao Group Hospitality has long been a supporter of Autism awareness and recently became the first international restaurant group to become sensory inclusive. This initiative in partnership with KultureCity has made all US and UK-based TGH restaurants more accommodating for all guests with sensory issues including individuals with autism, anxiety, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, this year Chef Ralph Scamardella was honored by Autism Speaks for his leadership, partnership and philanthropy in support of the autism community.
by Dennis Richardson | Apr 13, 2022
In classic Grillo’s fashion, the collaborations just keep coming! This time around, a cult-favorite flavor for chip enthusiasts has arrived: Classic Dill Pickle flavor!
Fresh, crispy, and salty, Grillo’s Pickles announced the limited-time only snack launch on April 12th. This new collaboration gives their cult-favorite pickles a crunchier bite. Partnering with Pennsylvania’s own chip brand Utz®, the Grillo’s x Utz pickle-flavored potato chip launches as the new crave-worthy bite.
The Grillo’s Pickles x Utz limited edition chip is the first collaboration for the duo, tackling two snack groups with a loyal and devoted following. “I would eat Utz chips and a Grillo’s spear while working the pickle cart so to have two of the best snacks available collaborate is a dream come true,” says Eddie Andre, Grillo’s Director of Brand Experience.
“We are excited to work with Grillo’s Pickles,” said Bill Blubaugh, SVP Marketing & Communications, Utz Brands, Inc., “As we work to bring innovation and excitement to our brand fans, our new Utz & Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle flavored potato chips will deliver with big and bold flavor! They are crispy,
crunchy, and delicious — fans will love them.”
The new Utz & Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle flavored potato chips are available in leading retailers (Target, Walmart, etc.) and online for a limited-time-only, so act quickly! They are available in 2.625 oz On-the-Go and 7.75 oz Take-Home sizes and come with suggested retail prices of $2.19 and $4.29, respectively. For more information about Grillo’s visit www.GrillosPickles.com or on Instagram at @GrillosPickles #grillospickles.
by Dennis Richardson | Apr 13, 2022
No matter the season, it’s nice to get out to the beach, lake, river, or whatever body of water you enjoy. But once you’ve finished splashing around for a bit, you’re bound to need three things: warmth, dryness, and a change of clothes. Meet dryrobe, the very first of its kind!
dryrobe has created the first weather-proof, versatile changing robe to make changing outside warm and easy. The brand first launched in the UK by surfer Gideon Bright, who personally had a difficult time finding durable outerwear that kept him warm and comfortable in all weather conditions.
Making their debut in the U.S. market, dryrobe is the original dressing robe that started the phenomenon for surfers, snowboarders and skiers, swimmers, outdoor enthusiasts and more!
The brand’s hero robe, the dryrobe Advance, is a unisex dressing robe for both adults and children, available in short and long sleeve lengths, and made using 100% recycled nylon. Created with athletes in mind, dryrobe Advance has been designed and tested to stand the wear and tear of an active lifestyle, cold conditions and any challenges one may face.
Helping to maintain your core temperature, it also wicks water away from your skin in order to dry you quicker after any water activity. And that’s not all! dryrobe’s additional benefits include:
- Waterproof and windproof outer shell fabric made from 100% recycled nylon
- Super-warm synthetic lambswool lining made from 100% recycled polyester
- Tailored, fitted sleeves with hook and loop fasteners at the wrist
- Treated with eco-friendly BIONIC-FINISH® ECO water-repellent technology
- Full length 2-way reversible YKK® zip
- Minimal sealed seam construction
- Deep, fleece-lined external zip pockets
- Huge ‘A4’ size internal, soft-lined ‘poacher’ pocket
- Internal waterproof zip entry pocket – ideal for phone/wallet
- Super light construction – approx 1.3kg (dependant on size)
It’s an all-season package that just keeps on giving. Perfect for any time of year, dryrobe is a great gift for the surfers, swimmers, and general water-lovers in your life.
by Dennis Richardson | Apr 13, 2022
With Spring Break upon us and Summer not far behind, there’s one thing that many people of all ages have searched high and low for: the hangover cure. From old wives tales and urban myths, people have gone to incredible lengths to prevent alcohol’s worst side effects, and now a fix is here in official capacity.
Sober Rush, a gaming-changing new remedy from Fulgent Life, a Southern California biotech company, was developed at the UCLA Cancer Center and is different from any other remedy. While it is widely believed that dehydration is the primary cause of hangovers and that hydrating is the key to alleviating one’s symptoms, the true cause of discomfort is the build-up of a toxic byproduct of alcohol called acetaldehyde (AH-SEE-DAL-DEE-HIDE). Sober Rush is taken before your first drink and again optionally (if your consumption has been heavy) after your last one. It uses a coenzyme called NADH that is naturally present in the body to activate the break-down of acetaldehyde.
Available in supplement form, here’s how the scientists break it down:
· When you consume alcohol, your liver uses an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase to break the ethanol down to acetaldehyde – a chemical that is up to 30x more toxic to the body than ethanol itself.
· Acetaldehyde is what causes most hangovers. Our research has shown that this chemical is potentially carcinogenic, which is even more reason to try to help your body eliminate it quickly.
· Another enzyme produced by the liver is acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. This enzyme takes the toxic acetaldehyde and turns it into harmless carbon dioxide and water.
· Sober Rush helps speed up the metabolization of acetaldehyde in the liver, by up to three times so that after only four hours, the toxic acetaldehyde will have undergone most of its conversion into non-toxic acetic acid.

“By preventing most of the negative effects from alcohol from ever occurring, Sober Rush allows people to experience and enjoy alcohol more positively,” says Dr. Yong Wu who published a paper in The Journal of Functional Foods about his research. Dr. Wu is an Associate Professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Center; and the Core Director for the Drug Discovery Program. “NADH is the first discovery in the world that can be applied to unravel alcohol-induced liver damage,” said Dr. Wu.
Sober Rush is 2x faster at metabolizing alcohol than your body can on its own, and indicators of liver damage showed no significant changes when alcohol was consumed with Sober Rush.
Following years of research at the UCLA Cancer Research Center, Fulgent Life has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who have tried Sober Rush and confirmed its miraculous abilities.
Sober Rush is available on Amazon, Yamibuy.com and in several liquor stores, smoke stores and supermarkets in California, Seattle, Hawaii and New York. You can learn more by visiting the Sober Rush website, here.