Achieving sustainable growth in any industry depends on the ability of a company’s management team to accurately predict evolving market conditions and address rising demand. For months, Hemp, Inc. (OTC: HEMP) has kept shareholders abreast of its progress toward commencing operation of its industrial hemp decortication facility in Spring Hope, North Carolina. As the first and only hemp processing facility to be built in the United States in nearly a century, the construction and operation of this facility demonstrated the foresight of the company’s leadership team, and the time has now come for the company to benefit from this intuition.

On October 31, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory passed Senate Bill 313, giving farmers throughout the state the option to legally cultivate industrial hemp crops. According to the North Carolina General Assembly, a legalized industrial hemp industry “is in the best interest of the citizens of North Carolina… to expand employment, promote economic activity and provide opportunities to small farmers for an environmentally sustainable and profitable use of crop lands that might otherwise be lost to agricultural production.” In a news release, Hemp, Inc. outlined its intentions to aid in the resurrection of the pivotal agricultural industry.

“Hemp, Inc. has made a commitment to North Carolina farmers to pay 10 percent above the market price for their hemp crops, for the first year, to boost the industry and give our farmers a helping hand,” Bruce Perlowin, chief executive officer of Hemp, Inc., stated in the news release. “We want to support and encourage the small family farm and non-GMO, certified organic hemp production.”

With legalization secured, the company is now progressing toward the impending start of production at its decortication facility. When complete, Hemp, Inc. will process hemp to sell to textile manufacturers and other users. The company’s decortication equipment can process raw hemp into two valuable base products – fiber and hurd – that can be used in the creation of hundreds of products. Hemp, Inc. has also outlined plans to build a testing lab within its processing facility that will be used for new product development testing, as well as testing of raw hemp materials, fibers and products. When completed, the lab will be the first of its kind in the U.S.

Through these measures, Hemp, Inc. will look to usher in a new era in domestic industrial hemp production, providing the company with a strong platform for sustainable financial growth. This optimism has been echoed by the markets. Since Senate Bill 313 passed, Hemp, Inc. has transformed into one of the top traded stocks on the OTC markets. Just after the opening bell, the company’s shares recorded a price increase of more than 113 percent. Moving forward, Hemp, Inc. will look to build on this progress while continuing to establish a strong position in one of the country’s most rapidly evolving industries.

For more information, visit www.hempinc.com

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Today before the opening bell, OurPet’s Company reported record third-quarter revenue of $5.99 million, an increase of 7% from $5.60 million in revenues for the same three-month period a year earlier. Net income for the quarter increased 428% to $410,450, or $0.02 diluted earnings per share, compared to $77,751, or $0.00, for the year prior.

Dr. Steven Tsengas, President and CEO, stated, “We are pleased with our results for the third quarter in which we achieved record net revenue, gross margins improving to 34%, and net income from operations of almost 11% of sales. We continue to see strong sales growth in the Pet Specialty channel driven by our cat toys and bowls/feeder lines. E-commerce sales rebounded and grew 7% while the Food, Drug, Mass channel slightly decreased; however, we anticipate improved sales as the conversion to the Pet Zone brand is completed by year end. Unfortunately, with the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, international sales have been negatively impacted particularly in Canada and the United Kingdom.”

Dr. Tsengas added, “We have expanded and strengthened our relationship with several domestic and international independent sales representative organizations, and have added another experienced salesperson to our staff. With the recent and anticipated introduction of a significant number of new innovative products in all our product categories, we are experiencing robust sales activity. Our Catty Whack™, winner of the SuperZoo ‘Best New Cat Product’ award, is beginning to ship and is receiving strong consumer reaction. We expect to release more information on other major, trend-setting products over the next six months.

“As we have previously communicated, the last five years have been challenging for OurPet’s as we have transitioned from a small- to a medium-sized company poised for accelerated future growth in both revenue and net income. This required large investments in management/operating informational systems; strengthening and, where appropriate, adding management and professional/technical talent; improving warehousing and inventory management efficiencies; strengthening relationships of strategic domestic and overseas suppliers; and strengthening our relationship with our banking resources. We sincerely believe that these improvements will positively impact revenue and profit results going into the fourth quarter of 2015 and beyond.”

2015 Third Quarter Results

Net revenue increased 7% to $5,986,645 for the 2015 third quarter versus the same period last year. The $386,000 increase was attributable to strong sales in the Pet Specialty and Value channels, partially offset by a decrease in the Food, Drug and Mass channel.

Gross Profit was $2,012,177 for the 2015 third quarter compared to $1,640,751 the prior year. Gross profit margin increased 4.3 percentage points to 33.6% for the 2015 third quarter from 29.3% for the same period a year ago due to continuous improvement initiatives, price increases, and product mix.

Income from operations increased to $649,023 for the 2015 third quarter from $152,768 a year ago. This increase was primarily due to higher gross profit and also benefited from lower selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Other income for the 2015 third quarter increased to $14,582 from $6,051 a year ago due to a higher amount of patent infringement settlements.

Income before taxes was almost five times greater at $627,686 for the 2015 third quarter compared to $127,666 a year ago.

Income tax expense for the 2015 third quarter increased to $217,236 from $49,915 a year ago due to the higher income.

Net income increased to $410,450 for the 2015 third quarter from $77,751 last year. Net income per diluted share increased to $0.02 for the third quarter of 2015 from $0.00 a year ago.

EBITDA was $825,696 for the 2015 third quarter versus $323,140 a year ago. A reconciliation of EBITDA to GAAP net income is provided in an attachment to the summary financial statements.

2015 First Nine Months Results

For the first nine months of 2015, net revenue increased 6% to $17,170,795. The growth was attributed to strong Pet Specialty sales, especially in the bowls and feeders category.

Gross profit increased 15% to $5,424,591 for the first nine months of 2015 versus the prior year. Gross profit margin increased 2.5 percentage points to 31.6% for the first nine months of 2015 from 29.1% the prior year due to the same factors that benefited the 2015 third quarter results.

Income from operations increased 143% to $1,427,797 for the first nine months of 2015, which was attributable to higher gross profit and lower selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Other income decreased to $40,582 for the first nine months of 2015 from $77,713 for the same period last year due to a greater amount of patent infringement settlements in 2014.

Income before taxes increased to $1,383,158 for the first nine months of 2015 compared to $566,658 for the same period a year ago.

Income tax expense was $496,839 for the first nine months of 2015 compared to $206,723 the prior year.

Net income for the first nine months of 2015 more than doubled to $886,319 from $359,935 for the same period in 2014. Net income per share increased to $0.04 for the first nine months of 2015 from $0.02 last year.

EBITDA increased 72% to $1,984,688 the first nine months of 2015 compared to $1,153,656 the prior year. A reconciliation of EBITDA to GAAP Net Income is provided in an attachment to the summary financial statements.

The Current Ratio improved to 5.61, reflecting strong liquidity, while Stockholders’ Equity improved by $904,319 or 12.1% over the comparable date last year.

For those unfamiliar with OurPet’s Company, the company develops, produces and markets various pet accessory and consumable products designed to awaken pets’ natural instincts, be it in feeding, playing or waste management. Sold globally through pet specialty retailers, food, drug and mass chains, e-commerce and international channels, the company’s products are marketed under a the OurPets®, Pet Zone® and PetTastic® brands with well-known sub-brands such as Play-N-Squeak™, Cosmic Catnip™, Durapet, SmartScoop and Flappy.

To learn more about OurPet’s Company, visit www.ourpets.com

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Neah Power Systems, developer of innovative power solutions for a range of applications, is one of the companies trusted by today’s high-tech military to provide energy where it’s needed, no matter how demanding the situation. Technology has transformed the military, with the world’s most advanced computational and communications equipment, but all that technology is of no value in the field without reliable power to keep it running, and Neah Power has differentiated itself with patented and award-winning designs that do exactly that. It can be said that energy, portable and dependable, is as critical in today’s military as horses were to 19th century cavalry.

The conditions under which military equipment, and associated power systems, are expected to operate are a world apart from normal consumer oriented environments, a market that Neah Power also effectively serves. The company’s patented silicon-based fuel cell is unique in its ability to provide two to three times the energy capacity offered by the standard BA-5590 battery, while maintaining a highly compact form. In addition, fuel cell technology means virtually instant recharging, since a soldier can quickly insert a new lightweight fuel cell cartridge into the fuel cell. Soldiers only need to carry one fuel cell, versus multiple bulky and heavy batteries. Neah Power technology means major weight and volume reductions over traditional widely-used portable military power sources, representing a huge market.

The vast world military market is just one of Neah Power’s growing targets. The company also develops disruptive energy technologies for global opportunities supporting first responders, logistics, as well as consumer electronics and mobile markets. Emergency responders are served by Neah’s PowerChip and BuzzCell technologies. Cordless hand-held devices are important for efficient logistics, and Neah’s products serve companies of every size. The unrelenting demand for improved battery life for mobile computing is served by Neah’s BuzzBar and associated family of products.

In a world hungry for energy that is long-lasting, compact, reliable, and lightweight, Neah is the better mousetrap.

For more information on Neah Power Systems, visit www.neahpower.com

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ContentChecked is the developer of MigraineChecked, SugarChecked and ContentChecked, an innovative family of health apps designed for individuals with dietary restrictions and/or food intolerances or preferences. As consumer awareness of its apps continues to rise, the company is also finding itself in other invaluable spotlights. ContentChecked’s SugarChecked app was recently featured in Reviewed.com, a division of USA Today.

Reviewed.com is a consumer-oriented site that delivers comprehensive reviews conducted by a panel of product experts. Read the full article here: Cutting Back on Sugar? There’s an App for That.

The article notes the high sugar intake of the average American, despite mounting research that links high sugar consumption with obesity, cardiovascular disease, dementia, macular degeneration, tooth decay and Type 2 diabetes.

“A big part of the problem is that sugar is hidden in many of today’s processed foods. That’s where a new app called SugarChecked may come in handy. SugarChecked lets shoppers scan product barcodes at the grocery store to reveal detailed sugar content information. The app identifies four main types of sugars that consumers can avoid … As well as unmasking often-deceptive food labels, SugarChecked provides shoppers with recommendations for healthier alternatives in real time,” reads the article.

After further describing the technology and its features, the article concludes with sugar intake recommendations from the American Heart Association and lists several foods with “hidden” sugars – validating the value of ContentChecked’s full suite of apps.

For more information, visit www.contentchecked.com

Hemp, Inc. this morning issued an update regarding the ongoing push for legalization of industrial hemp in North Carolina, along with rising interest and awareness of the Hemp, Inc. brand, subsidiary and decortication facility.

In the news release, Hemp, Inc. cites an article in The News and Observer written by Colin Campbell, which reports that industrial hemp could be legal in North Carolina tonight. As previously reported, the Industrial Hemp Bill in North Carolina (Senate Bill 313) passed the state’s House and Senate last month and now awaits Governor Pat McCrory’s signature. According to The News and Observer article, unless the governor vetoes it before midnight, it will become law without his signature at midnight Friday.

Campbell also references Hemp, Inc.’s multipurpose industrial hemp processing facility in Spring Hope, North Carolina, writing that North Carolina is “home to one of the country’s only decortication plants, a facility that processes hemp to sell to textile manufacturers and other users. The multimillion-dollar plant is set to start production within months at a cavernous warehouse outside the small Nash County town of Spring Hope.”

Once legalized, North Carolina will be home to the only industrial hemp commercial decortication facility in the United States – and Hemp, Inc. will be at the forefront of this important breakthrough. While many other had abandoned the belief that North Carolina would legalize hemp, Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin stayed firm to his belief otherwise and kept his plant in the state.

“We were being wooed to move the plant to South Carolina, Kentucky, Colorado, and even Canada,” he says. “However, I knew the legalization of industrial hemp in North Carolina could not be that far off. We would happily process the millions of pounds of kenaf, inherited with the purchase of the decortication equipment, while we waited for hemp to be legalized. And now, it seems that day starts at midnight for the state of North Carolina.”

David Schmitt, COO of Hemp, Inc.’s subsidiary, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC was also featured in a video explaining the manufacturing process of the decortication facility and what the company expects to accomplish once the clock strikes 12.

The company has also rebuilt one of its two mills, to be used in the manufacture of Drillwall LCMs. The first of the portable decortication plants have also arrived at Hemp, Inc.’s facility, which will allow Hemp, Inc. to help farmers decorticate their crops in states too far away to utilize Hemp, Inc.’s processing facilities.

Hemp, Inc. also said it will build a testing lab to house new product development testing and testing raw hemp materials, fibers and hemp-based products. This will position the company’s decortication facility as the nation’s only commercial testing lab for industrial hemp.

Bob Hughes, VP of Hemp, Inc.’s Sales and Marketing, said, “I don’t know of any other industrial hemp testing labs in North America except in Manitoba and other places in Canada… none here in the United States. We will be the first. Additionally, as the plant approaches the final phase of completion, we are reaching out to our contacts, which are some of the largest petroleum, oil and gas companies in the world. We will truly be the leaders of the industrial hemp industry.”

The testing lab and equipment will enable the production of bio-based polymers, and a powdery kenaf or hemp substance, a key component in products that will be produced in the facility. All of the raw materials will also be a natural, organic alternative to chemical-based compounds.

“What we will be manufacturing is what you would consider ‘food grade’… natural, bio-organic and non-toxic. We do everything green and will be testing for the quality of products we produce. Quality assurance is our primary goal for our customer base,” said Hughes.

Striving to update the public on hemp, its many uses, and the company’s operations, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC on November 4, 2015, will host the Weed 4 Warriors at its facility in Spring Hope. Weed 4 Warriors will be given a plant tour, and Q&A time after educating them on the vast number of products that can be manufactured from Industrial Hemp.

For more information visit www.hempinc.com

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Regardless of how well-mannered little Johnny and Suzy are, there’s something about a trip to the mall that has a way of changing their demeanor in the blink of an eye. This behavioral phenomenon transforms what should be a relaxing shopping experience for the entire family into a physical and emotional tug-of-war for everyone who gets into and pops out of the minivan in row R34. The net of the story is that if you want to take little Johnny and Suzy out someplace for an exclusive, youthful event, the market offers a limited number of options.

As for food, a menu made up of high-quality organic food amid an environment with a casual dining area for adults, and a huge play area for the little ones, is the model Giggles N’ Hugs has been executing on rather successfully in Los Angeles for over two years. Parents can now relax while their children get healthy exercise while enjoying the themed Gymboree-like play area. Giggles N’ Hugs is experiencing rousing applause from patrons and mall owners at its three locations in upscale shopping centers around LA. It comes as no surprise that many Hollywood celebrities have taken their kids to eat and play at these GIGL locales.

Parents welcome GIGL’s high-end organic dishes versus the traditional mall fare – carbohydrate and sugar laden fast-food. Phrases like ‘unlimited potential’ mark the description of what is truly a unique and practical restaurant concept. What’s more is that shareholders point to the recent Q2 filings for promising financial data which shows increasing sales volume and intrigue with the company’s themed birthday parties. Further, private party rentals were noted trending upward in Q2, with year-over-year gains of 3.4 percent.

Giggles N’ Hugs, Inc. owns and operates a restaurant in the Westfield Mall in Century City, a restaurant in the Westfield Topanga shopping center in Woodland Hills, and a restaurant in the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California. Giggles N’ Hugs was founded in 2010 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

For more information on the company visit www.gigglesnhugs.com

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Power outages can be a costly issue for small businesses and homeowners. According to a report by Climate Central, an estimated 147 million utility customers lost power for at least an hour due to weather-related outages over the last decade, an average of nearly 15 million customers each year. For small businesses, these outages often result in a loss of productivity and, as a result, lost revenue. For homeowners, they can mean hundreds of dollars in lost groceries and considerable inconvenience.

Traditionally, the best approach to limiting the effects of power outages has been gasoline or diesel powered generators. However, generators present a host of critical drawbacks to users – including substantial noise, an unpleasant odor and general unreliability. In September, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. unveiled an alternative to this problematic back-up power solution through the introduction of its innovative Freedom IV stationary power system.

“Our Freedom IV stationary power system will allow homeowners to move away from the noisy, smelly, sometimes unreliable generators and rely on clean lithium batteries for their back up power,” Steve Barber, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Oakridge, stated in a news release. “This revolutionary product will provide many hours of clean power and years of peace of mind.”

Oakridge will begin shipping the Freedom IV product line in December. In order to address the specific power requirements of customers, the company plans to offer a variety of sizes ranging from 6.5 kilowatt hours (kWh) to more than 35 kWh. During installation, homeowners will have the option to interface the Freedom IV system with existing solar or wind power infrastructure for off-grid applications or connect it to the grid in order to save money during peak hours by storing energy during off-peak times.

In addition to providing high quality stored energy solutions to a rapidly expanding market, Oakridge is ensuring that it has a positive impact on its community by manufacturing its lithium battery systems domestically in its recently-completed U.S. manufacturing facilities. These efforts, which Oakridge management refer to as part of the ongoing ‘on-shoring movement’, allow the company to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. while simultaneously addressing a growing market demand for dependable, high quality products and driving maximized shareholder value.

For more information, visit www.oakg.net

Cherubim Interests has progressed from researching opportunities in the controlled environment agriculture sector to engaging in promising ventures. The company found its way into this space this past summer when it acquired an exclusive license to deploy a self-contained cultivation unit designed to enable perennial plant cultivation in any locale with water and electricity.

Cherubim Interests will work in unison with its wholly-owned subsidiary, BudCube Cultivation Systems (BCS), to build, install and lease facilities employing this proprietary plant cultivation technology for commercial applications in states where growing medical and recreational cannabis is lawful.

Cherubim Interests has been tracking the progression of the cannabis industry for some time. When a growing number of states in the U.S. began legalizing the recreational and medical use of cannabis, the company decided to strike while the iron was hot and exploit the rising demand for grow space for cannabis and other plant species. In addition to addressing unmet needs, the company wants to develop the standard operating procedures for the plant cultivation technology and industrial facilities it is focus on constructing, deploying and leasing.

Cherubim Interests is standing at a crossroads at this moment in time. Although newly evolving, the recreational and medical marijuana industry is changing at a fast pace. The company has an opportunity to leave its imprint on this industry but it needs to move quickly. To ensure it operates flexibly and with scalability in mind, Cherubim Interests has adopted a hybrid business model and creative marketing strategy that, while uncommon in the real estate and agriculture industries, is effectual for the company.

Cherubim Interests’ licensed solution will offer cannabis plant growers the opportunity to lease a portable and scalable turn-key cultivation option. With this solution, the company sees itself filling a gap for two types of growers: first-time growers who want to enter the industry, and experienced planters lacking the funds to purchase land of their own, construct facilities of their own or improve existing buildings in order to create a model environment for growing and harvesting high-grade cannabis plants.

Owing to their focus on cultivation solutions for commercial applications, BCS and Cherubim Interests are concentrating on offering cultivators quick entry into this fast-growing market. They mean to do so at a price point that is very attractive when compared to typical construction and cultivation solutions. In so doing, they stand to benefit significantly as more participants seek to gain entry into this sector.

For more information, visit www.cherubiminterests.com

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Hemp, Inc. reported that Senate Bill 50, which would allow research programs at colleges and universities to cultivate and process industrial hemp, earlier this week received its “first stamp of approval” in Pennsylvania.

With the support of Senator Judith L. Schwank, who serves Berks County along with her role as Democratic chairwoman of the Senate’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Senate Bill 50 moved out of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee by a vote of 11-0. From here, Senate Bill 50 moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Senator Schwank was quoted in an article saying, “We hope that, once we get this started, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania can become a powerhouse in the growth of hemp for all kinds of uses. There are so many opportunities for this, and we’re losing out by not being able to grow it. Industrial hemp is not marijuana, and it’s not medical marijuana. It’s an age-old plant that has benefitted farmers and consumers for thousands of years, and it holds the promise of helping Pennsylvania farmers in significant ways, once again.”

Hemp, Inc. executives agree, noting that it is increasingly evident that states are beginning to realize the enormous environmental and economic benefits of industrial hemp.

“It’s all unfolding before our very eyes. States, such as Pennsylvania and more, want to reap the economic rewards of industrial hemp. Hemp can be used to manufacture a myriad of products from paper to building materials. It makes no sense that our American farmers can’t grow it, but luckily that is rapidly beginning to change,” Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp, Inc., stated in the company’s news release yesterday.

The company also notes that Pennsylvania is not the only state moving forward with the industrial hemp movement. North Dakota’s Department of Agriculture, for example, is beginning its industrial hemp pilot program under the 2014 Farm Bill and is seeking applicants to participate in agricultural or academic research.

In Pueblo, Colorado, a hemp oil plant received an $8 million incentive package to help CBD Biosciences get its hemp-oil processing plant” up and running. According to an article in the DenverPost, “The Pueblo Development Foundation will spend $3 million to rehab a Boeing rocket assembly plant at Pueblo Airport Industrial Park that has been vacant since 2004. CBD Biosciences, a partnership of Denver-based O.penVape and Thar Process Inc., receive $4.89 million to help purchase equipment.”

For more information, visit www.hempinc.com

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The costs associated with building a nationwide wireless network are immense. Despite this fact, new voice and data service operators enter the market on a regular basis, often providing consumers with considerable cost savings for mobile phone and data service. These smaller carriers are known as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Instead of attempting to create a wireless network of their own, these companies lease wireless telephone and data service from established mobile network operators (MNOs) in their target markets at wholesale rates. In the U.S., these MNOs include AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint (NYSE: S), T-Mobile (NYST: TMUS) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ).

In some cases, MVNOs use their own customer service, billing support systems, marketing and sales personnel, however, establishing these resources typically requires a substantial amount of upfront capital. Alternatively, MVNOs can enlist the services of a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE), a business-to-business operation specializing in the planning, implementation and management of mobile services – including SIM provisioning and configuration, customer billing, customer relationship management and value-added service platforms. In this way, startup MVNOs can effectively outsource management of business and technical operations while benefitting from the previous experience of the MVNE as a negotiating channel with MNOs.

Elephant Talk Communications Corp. (NYSE MKT: ETAK) addresses the demand for MVNEs through its proprietary platform. Using market standard interfaces, the company offers global telecommunication companies and other service providers a full suite of products and services that enable them to fully provide mobile telecom services as part of their overall business offerings.

Earlier this month, Elephant Talk announced an agreement with the wholesale division of a Tier 1 U.S. mobile operator through which the operator may procure the company’s innovative MVNO platform services on a non-exclusive basis. Following this agreement, Elephant Talk is in a formidable position to provide launch support for a number of MVNO brands moving forward. The company has already completed the primary integration of its solution platform with the mobile operator’s systems, and it expects to begin supporting new MVNO customers in the coming weeks.

“Our selection by a Tier 1 U.S. mobile operator is a major achievement for Elephant Talk, validating the strength of our technology and the capabilities of our software platforms designed for the unique needs of MNOs and MVNOs,” Tim Payne, president of Elephant Talk North America, stated in a news release. “We have worked closely with this mobile operator to complete the simultaneous integration of our platform with their systems and are pleased to report that we are now ready to support a growing number of new MVNO brands as they are launched on the operator’s network.”

Leaning on the marketability of its technology, Elephant Talk has established itself as an emerging leader in the mobile space. With many of the world’s top MNOs and technology firms already amongst its customers and partners – including Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD), T-Mobile, Zain, HP (NYSE: HPQ) and Affirmed Networks – the company is primed to promote sustainable financial growth for the foreseeable future.

For more information, visit http://www.elephanttalk.com

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