VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - March 24, 2015) - A.I.S. RESOURCES LIMITED (NEX:AIS.H) (the "Corporation" or "AIS") is very pleased to announce that it's wholly owned subsidiary company has plans to sign an agreement with Buda Juice, LLC ("Buda") to begin a 30 store area development plan with Buda. AIS will pay Buda upfront franchise fees of US $900,000. Within 12 months, 30 Buda Juice locations will be up and running with the option to open another 70 franchise stores bringing a total of 100 locations in the Greater Toronto and surrounding area (GTA).
AIS is also pleased to announce Mr. Travis Bell as a key strategic investor in AIS. Mr. Bell, will oversee operations and execution of the expansion of Buda Juice in Toronto and the GTA. Mr. Bell has over 25 years in the food and beverage industry, with both corporate and entrepreneurial experiences. He worked for the largest Canadian Food Broker, Acosta/Thomas Large & Singer ("TLS") for 8 years. TLS represented almost $1 billion in annual client food and beverage sales with the premier brands from many categories in their portfolio.
Recently, Travis founded Arthur's Fresh Co. ("Arthur's"), a premium fresh smoothie & juice brand, and secured distribution in almost all retail stores in Canada, and Whole Foods in the USA. Travis sold Arthur's to H. J. Heinz Company of Canada in November 2009 and stayed on for several years to manage the transition. Travis brings hands on experience, past relationships and success to AIS.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to work with Buda Juice and AIS," says Travis Bell, "expanding Buda Juice into Toronto, which is Canada's largest city, will be bringing this top brand to a market that understands quality and has superb demographics and will also set the stage for expansion across Canada."
"We couldn't be happier to have Travis as an investor and on our team," said Martyn Element, President & CEO of AIS, "capital is one thing, but strategic capital with people who will help build significant value, is ideal. Not only has Travis got the contacts and experience in the beverage industry, he possesses the passion it takes to build a company and a brand, which we've seen with the success of Arthur's Juices, and will be key in helping AIS/Buda become the dominant player in the cold pressed juice industry. Both Travis and I believe that people are demanding unadulterated and healthier juices and that 100% raw, organic, cold pressed vegetable and fruit juices are becoming more and more popular on a global scale."
"It was a pleasure to meet Travis this month in Dallas," says Horatio Lonsdale-Hands, Co-founder, Chairman & CEO of Buda, "we hit it off on many fronts and have the same vision for Buda Juice. Travis' background speaks for itself and we are very excited to have him involved in expanding Buda Juice across Canada."
About Buda Juice, LLC.:
Buda Juice, Co-Founded by Bernard Nussbaumer and Horatio Lonsdale-Hands, is a 100% organic, cold-pressed, glass-bottled retail juice company incorporated in Texas and currently has 5 locations serving the Dallas Metroplex. Buda recently completed a US$1,000,000 private funding, which was oversubscribed, providing enough capital to build a central kitchen in its facility on Dragon Street (capable of supplying 100+ locations) as well as open 9 additional stores which are currently in development and slated to open by April of 2015. The one central kitchen will ensure total control and consistency for Buda Juice, and also allow for each retail location to be kitchen free, streamlining the process and significantly reducing the capex and operating overhead of each store. Country Fresh Inc. Co-Founder, Bryan Herr, is one of the board members of Buda and provides knowledge, expertise and the entrepreneurial success story on setting the standard in the USA for the production and distribution nationwide in the fast growing raw cut vegetable and fruit segments. Founded in 1999, Country Fresh is a pioneer in this market space and today is one of the largest producers and distributors of such foods in the USA. AIS's funding will allow Buda to continue to open stores at such a fast pace and to begin on the development of other markets within the United States and abroad.
ADVISORY: "Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including Exchange acceptance and disinterested Shareholder approval. The transaction cannot close until the required Shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the [Management Information Circular and/or Filing Statement] to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the [COB or RTO] may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of [A.I.S. Resources Limited] should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
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