MEMPHIS MEAL KIT DELIVERY SERVICE CHANGES THE GAMEThe meal kit delivery trend has been around for a while; Blue Apron, HelloFresh, and Plated brought the business model stateside earlier this decade, and like-minded businesses have sprung up since. The normal template is crafting a subscription-based plan, usually in weekly increments. But it’s tough to commit to a plan, especially if the food being offered is unfamiliar and costly. A new arrival on the scene, Memphis-based FIX, aims to reinvent the meal kit model with a more customer-centric service.Founder Wayne Culbreth (left) had been dissatisfied with current options in the meal kit market and decided to try something new. FIX has three key differences from other services: it doesn’t require a subscription, all meals come with next-day delivery (orders with six more or servings is delivered free), and there is no packaging waste.
To round out the leadership team, Culbreth drafted Food Network veteran Susie Fogelson (right) their recipes: Jimmy Gentry, chef at P.O. Press Public House & Provisions in Collierville, and Cara Greenstein, owner of the Caramelized lifestyle and food blog.The food choices offer plenty of variety and are broken down by category on the company’s website. Gentry’s is highlighted by options like NOLA Shrimp & Grits or Duck with Carrot Pureé, while some of Greenstein’s specialties include Greek-style Lamb Meatballs and a Grilled Salmon Kale Salad. Don’t have much time to prep for a meal? Check out the options in the “30 Minute Meals” category. Currently, the service offers 54 different recipes on its website. Whatever you’re in the mood for, it’s likely FIX offers it.Recipes are priced per serving, with some of the lower-entry options starting a bit under $7. FIX plans to continue expanding its menu as the company grows. For more information about FIX, visit the website here.- Samuel X. Cicci
WHAT'S GOING ON- Memphis Business Academy will be making major renovations at Harmony Plaza, a project to convert retail space into an updated STEM facility aimed at increasing educational opportunities in North Memphis and Frayser. The $15 million project at 2200 Frayser Boulevard will house a new facility for Memphis STEM Academy and will have new classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, a multipurpose room, a library, and offices. The expansion supports MSA’s mission to promote academic excellence through a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The facility will occupy 60 percent of the shopping center with the remainder being used for existing retail space. MSA serves 230 students in grades K-3 and is now using a small, rented facility. MSA plans to add a grade per year to expand to a K-5 school, and the project will accommodate the anticipated student growth. The renovation is a New Markets Tax Credits deal financed by Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union (HOPE), SunTrust Community Capital, LLC, BlueHub Capital and Nonprofit Finance Fund.- The Lebanese-American University School of Pharmacy in Byblos, Lebanon, has become the first blockchain node on foreign soil of what is now an international consortium of prescription repositories, health care organizations, and higher education institutions to reclaim medications and track prescription waste. This effort helps eliminate the financial, environmental and accessibility problems caused by the waste. The network, established by Memphis-based Good Shepherd Pharmacy, uses RemediChain’s blockchain technology to track this waste across the globe. “The consortium is already saving lives by decreasing the amount of high-value medication that is wasted, instead putting it in the hands of patients in need,” said Bedie Moran, chief strategy officer at RemediChain. “But the data is also priceless. We’ve never before been able to track prescription waste across state lines, much less in multiple countries. It presents an opportunity to radically improve health care globally by identifying where – and more importantly why – the medication isn’t reaching the patients who really need it. Once we know that, we can begin to address the problems.”- A national survey by The Conference Board says U.S. workers are feeling better about their jobs than they have in years. About 54 percent of workers are satisfied with their employment. Satisfaction climbed from the prior year and workers report being much more at ease about their job security. And Millennials have experienced a surge in confidence regarding their wages. On the other hand, survey participants gave weak marks to the most important driver of job satisfaction: their current job’s potential for future growth. Also, more than 60 percent are dissatisfied with their organization’s recognition practices, performance review process, and communication channels. And of note: men generally feel better than women about multiple financial components of their work, including wages and bonus plans.- The U.S. Small Business Administration granted 24 awards up to $125,000 per recipient in FY 2019 under its Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. One of the recipients is Nashville-based Launch Tennessee. FAST aims to improve outcomes for underrepresented entrepreneurs in SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs and increase participation for women-owned, rural-based, and socially and economically disadvantaged firms.NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES- Memphis Made brewery introduces its American honey wheat ale, 3:30 on a Wednesday. No, really, that's the name of the brew. Read Jesse Davis' story in the Memphis Flyer here.- A distribution and warehouse facility has been proposed for the Frayser Raleigh area. Read the Daily Memphian's story by Tom Bailey and Omer Yusuf here.- Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. wants to up its volume. That could be in the form of selling the Memphis plant. Read Jacob Steimer's story in the Memphis Business Journal here.UPCOMING- Outlook 2019 summit presented by Paragon Bank: How consumers view the local economy through the Outlook 2019 Memphis Economic Study. Tuesday, September 17th, 4 p.m. Free. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Rd. Find out more information here.- 3rd Annual Total Woman Summit: Sherica Hymes’ event empowers women through education, connection, and community with this year’s theme of SOARing in every phase of life. Saturday, September 28th, 10am-3pm. Great Hall & Conference Center, 1900 S. Germantown Rd., Germantown, TN. $75/person; $1,000/VIP table. Register here.- Need to know what to do this weekend? Check out Memphis Magazine's Five Things To Do This Weekend here.
UPCOMING- Outlook 2019 summit presented by Paragon Bank: How consumers view the local economy through the Outlook 2019 Memphis Economic Study. Tuesday, September 17th, 4 p.m. Free. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Rd. Find out more information here.- 3rd Annual Total Woman Summit: Sherica Hymes’ event empowers women through education, connection, and community with this year’s theme of SOARing in every phase of life. Saturday, September 28th, 10am-3pm. Great Hall & Conference Center, 1900 S. Germantown Rd., Germantown, TN. $75/person; $1,000/VIP table. Register here.- Need to know what to do this weekend? Check out Memphis magazine's Five Things To Do This Weekend here.THE HOT SHEETWho's getting promoted? Who's closing big deals? Who's getting awards? Inside Memphis Business magazine's Hot Sheet has the latest on milestones in Memphis.- Attorneys Justin K. Thomas, Leigh Taylor White, and Lisa J. Gill formed the Germantown-based Thomas, White & Gill law firm to focus on family law in Northern Tennessee and Mississippi.- DCA made two senior manager promotions: Abbie Gordon (senior account manager) and Cara Greenstein (senior PR & social media manager).- Hamilton Eye Institute hired Jared L. Matthews as an ophthalmologist.- UTHSC held a ribbon cutting for its new Youth Advocacy Center at 66 N. Pauline St.- Pinnacle Financial Partners earned the No. 13 spot on American Banker magazine’s “Best Banks to Work For” list.POWER PLAYER
Inside Memphis Business magazine publishes a list of local Power Players every year. These are the movers and shakers in more than 30 categories who get things done in their respective fields. IMB’s April issue has the complete list. We also publish individual categories in other issues throughout the year, and we feature individual Power Players in our weekly Tip Sheet.This week’s Power Player is Jeffrey Pearson, CFO, ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Holds degree in accounting, U of M. Certified Public Accountant. With ALSAC for 22 years; in current position since 2006. Former chairman, Evangelical Christian School. Finalist, 2010 CFO of the Year Award, Memphis Business Journal. Married to wife, Mindy, with two children, Hannah and David.For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.QUOTABLE“It’s just a little Memphis thing.”- Andy Ashby, sales manager and co-owner of Memphis Made, explaining that the name of the new brew — 3:30 on a Wednesday — derives from the one of the weekly emergency sirens that goes off in town. Read more here.
To round out the leadership team, Culbreth drafted Food Network veteran Susie Fogelson (right) their recipes: Jimmy Gentry, chef at P.O. Press Public House & Provisions in Collierville, and Cara Greenstein, owner of the Caramelized lifestyle and food blog.The food choices offer plenty of variety and are broken down by category on the company’s website. Gentry’s is highlighted by options like NOLA Shrimp & Grits or Duck with Carrot Pureé, while some of Greenstein’s specialties include Greek-style Lamb Meatballs and a Grilled Salmon Kale Salad. Don’t have much time to prep for a meal? Check out the options in the “30 Minute Meals” category. Currently, the service offers 54 different recipes on its website. Whatever you’re in the mood for, it’s likely FIX offers it.Recipes are priced per serving, with some of the lower-entry options starting a bit under $7. FIX plans to continue expanding its menu as the company grows. For more information about FIX, visit the website here.- Samuel X. CicciWHAT'S GOING ON- Memphis Business Academy will be making major renovations at Harmony Plaza, a project to convert retail space into an updated STEM facility aimed at increasing educational opportunities in North Memphis and Frayser. The $15 million project at 2200 Frayser Boulevard will house a new facility for Memphis STEM Academy and will have new classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, a multipurpose room, a library, and offices. The expansion supports MSA’s mission to promote academic excellence through a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The facility will occupy 60 percent of the shopping center with the remainder being used for existing retail space. MSA serves 230 students in grades K-3 and is now using a small, rented facility. MSA plans to add a grade per year to expand to a K-5 school, and the project will accommodate the anticipated student growth. The renovation is a New Markets Tax Credits deal financed by Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union (HOPE), SunTrust Community Capital, LLC, BlueHub Capital and Nonprofit Finance Fund.- The Lebanese-American University School of Pharmacy in Byblos, Lebanon, has become the first blockchain node on foreign soil of what is now an international consortium of prescription repositories, health care organizations, and higher education institutions to reclaim medications and track prescription waste. This effort helps eliminate the financial, environmental and accessibility problems caused by the waste. The network, established by Memphis-based Good Shepherd Pharmacy, uses RemediChain’s blockchain technology to track this waste across the globe. “The consortium is already saving lives by decreasing the amount of high-value medication that is wasted, instead putting it in the hands of patients in need,” said Bedie Moran, chief strategy officer at RemediChain. “But the data is also priceless. We’ve never before been able to track prescription waste across state lines, much less in multiple countries. It presents an opportunity to radically improve health care globally by identifying where – and more importantly why – the medication isn’t reaching the patients who really need it. Once we know that, we can begin to address the problems.”- A national survey by The Conference Board says U.S. workers are feeling better about their jobs than they have in years. About 54 percent of workers are satisfied with their employment. Satisfaction climbed from the prior year and workers report being much more at ease about their job security. And Millennials have experienced a surge in confidence regarding their wages. On the other hand, survey participants gave weak marks to the most important driver of job satisfaction: their current job’s potential for future growth. Also, more than 60 percent are dissatisfied with their organization’s recognition practices, performance review process, and communication channels. And of note: men generally feel better than women about multiple financial components of their work, including wages and bonus plans.- The U.S. Small Business Administration granted 24 awards up to $125,000 per recipient in FY 2019 under its Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. One of the recipients is Nashville-based Launch Tennessee. FAST aims to improve outcomes for underrepresented entrepreneurs in SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs and increase participation for women-owned, rural-based, and socially and economically disadvantaged firms.NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES- Memphis Made brewery introduces its American honey wheat ale, 3:30 on a Wednesday. No, really, that's the name of the brew. Read Jesse Davis' story in the Memphis Flyer here.- A distribution and warehouse facility has been proposed for the Frayser Raleigh area. Read the Daily Memphian's story by Tom Bailey and Omer Yusuf here.- Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. wants to up its volume. That could be in the form of selling the Memphis plant. Read Jacob Steimer's story in the Memphis Business Journal here.UPCOMING- Outlook 2019 summit presented by Paragon Bank: How consumers view the local economy through the Outlook 2019 Memphis Economic Study. Tuesday, September 17th, 4 p.m. Free. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Rd. Find out more information here.- 3rd Annual Total Woman Summit: Sherica Hymes’ event empowers women through education, connection, and community with this year’s theme of SOARing in every phase of life. Saturday, September 28th, 10am-3pm. Great Hall & Conference Center, 1900 S. Germantown Rd., Germantown, TN. $75/person; $1,000/VIP table. Register here.- Need to know what to do this weekend? Check out Memphis Magazine's Five Things To Do This Weekend here.UPCOMING- Outlook 2019 summit presented by Paragon Bank: How consumers view the local economy through the Outlook 2019 Memphis Economic Study. Tuesday, September 17th, 4 p.m. Free. Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Rd. Find out more information here.- 3rd Annual Total Woman Summit: Sherica Hymes’ event empowers women through education, connection, and community with this year’s theme of SOARing in every phase of life. Saturday, September 28th, 10am-3pm. Great Hall & Conference Center, 1900 S. Germantown Rd., Germantown, TN. $75/person; $1,000/VIP table. Register here.- Need to know what to do this weekend? Check out Memphis magazine's Five Things To Do This Weekend here.THE HOT SHEETWho's getting promoted? Who's closing big deals? Who's getting awards? Inside Memphis Business magazine's Hot Sheet has the latest on milestones in Memphis.- Attorneys Justin K. Thomas, Leigh Taylor White, and Lisa J. Gill formed the Germantown-based Thomas, White & Gill law firm to focus on family law in Northern Tennessee and Mississippi.- DCA made two senior manager promotions: Abbie Gordon (senior account manager) and Cara Greenstein (senior PR & social media manager).- Hamilton Eye Institute hired Jared L. Matthews as an ophthalmologist.- UTHSC held a ribbon cutting for its new Youth Advocacy Center at 66 N. Pauline St.- Pinnacle Financial Partners earned the No. 13 spot on American Banker magazine’s “Best Banks to Work For” list.POWER PLAYERInside Memphis Business magazine publishes a list of local Power Players every year. These are the movers and shakers in more than 30 categories who get things done in their respective fields. IMB’s April issue has the complete list. We also publish individual categories in other issues throughout the year, and we feature individual Power Players in our weekly Tip Sheet.This week’s Power Player is Jeffrey Pearson, CFO, ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Holds degree in accounting, U of M. Certified Public Accountant. With ALSAC for 22 years; in current position since 2006. Former chairman, Evangelical Christian School. Finalist, 2010 CFO of the Year Award, Memphis Business Journal. Married to wife, Mindy, with two children, Hannah and David.For the complete list of Inside Memphis Business Power Players, go here.QUOTABLE“It’s just a little Memphis thing.”- Andy Ashby, sales manager and co-owner of Memphis Made, explaining that the name of the new brew — 3:30 on a Wednesday — derives from the one of the weekly emergency sirens that goes off in town. Read more here. 
