The TechMediaWire Podcast

AUSTIN, Texas, January 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – via IBN – IBN, a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The TechMediaWire Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels. The TechMediaWire Podcast delivers informative updates and exclusive interviews with executives operating in the tech industry. The TechMediaWire Podcast’s latest episode features Robert Steele, Founder and CEO of Thumzup Media Corp. (NASDAQ: TZUP), an emerging leader in social media branding and programmatic marketing solutions. During the interview, Steele discussed Thumzup’s business model and how the company is helping small businesses stand out. “We think of Thumzup as Uber for advertising. Just like Uber created tens of billions of dollars of value by democratizing ride sharing so that anyone can participate and make a little extra money by driving people around, we believe that Thumzup is in the process of democratizing the $200 billion social media marketing and advertising industry. We’re opening it up so that everybody can participate and get paid to tell their friends about brands and businesses that they love.” “Thumzup is the only platform we know of that makes it really easy for businesses to pay people cash to post about the brand or business to their friends on their personal social media. For instance, I recently went to a coffee shop, and, when I was standing in line, the woman in front of me ordered a latte. I pointed out a sign on the counter saying that this coffee shop will pay you $10 to share a photo of your latte with your friends on Instagram. Before I'd even finished that sentence, this stranger pulled her phone out of her purse, downloaded Thumzup and made $10 for her $6 latte. That's frictionless.” “The problem for all the small businesses in the United States is that everyone has their face in their phone. If a business is not on that phone, they're not even going to be noticed in 2025. Particularly for small businesses, they’re busy making food and manning the counter. They don't have time to be on Instagram. We solve that problem for them. Businesses can go on the Thumzup website, create a campaign, pick how much they want to pay people to post, and pick how many posts they want to buy… It’s a very simple concept, and we have first-mover advantage.” Join IBN’s Carmel Fisher and Robert Steele, Founder and CEO of Thumzup Media, to learn more about the company’s monetization strategy, as well as its commitment to transparent compensation for creators. To hear the episode and subscribe for future podcasts, visit https://podcast.techmediawire.com The latest installment of The TechMediaWire Podcast continues to reinforce IBN’s commitment to the expansion of its robust network of brands, client partners, followers, and the growing IBN Podcast Series. For more than 19 years, IBN has leveraged this commitment to provide unparalleled distribution and corporate messaging solutions to 500+ public and private companies. To learn more about IBN’s achievements and milestones via a visual timeline, visit: https://IBN.fm/TimeLine About Thumzup Thumzup Media Corp. is democratizing the multi-billion-dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing app to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through PayPal and other digital payment systems. Featured on CBS Los Angeles and KTLA, Thumzup continues to make waves as a next-generation leader in social media marketing...

AUSTIN, Texas, January 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – via IBN – IBN, a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The TechMediaWire Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels. The TechMediaWire Podcast delivers informative updates and exclusive interviews with executives operating in the tech industry. The TechMediaWire Podcast’s latest episode features Robert Steele, Founder and CEO of Thumzup Media Corp. (NASDAQ: TZUP), an emerging leader in social media branding and programmatic marketing solutions. During the interview, Steele discussed Thumzup’s business model and how the company is helping small businesses stand out. “We think of Thumzup as Uber for advertising. Just like Uber created tens of billions of dollars of value by democratizing ride sharing so that anyone can participate and make a little extra money by driving people around, we believe that Thumzup is in the process of democratizing the $200 billion social media marketing and advertising industry. We’re opening it up so that everybody can participate and get paid to tell their friends about brands and businesses that they love.” “Thumzup is the only platform we know of that makes it really easy for businesses to pay people cash to post about the brand or business to their friends on their personal social media. For instance, I recently went to a coffee shop, and, when I was standing in line, the woman in front of me ordered a latte. I pointed out a sign on the counter saying that this coffee shop will pay you $10 to share a photo of your latte with your friends on Instagram. Before I'd even finished that sentence, this stranger pulled her phone out of her purse, downloaded Thumzup and made $10 for her $6 latte. That's frictionless.” “The problem for all the small businesses in the United States is that everyone has their face in their phone. If a business is not on that phone, they're not even going to be noticed in 2025. Particularly for small businesses, they’re busy making food and manning the counter. They don't have time to be on Instagram. We solve that problem for them. Businesses can go on the Thumzup website, create a campaign, pick how much they want to pay people to post, and pick how many posts they want to buy… It’s a very simple concept, and we have first-mover advantage.” Join IBN’s Carmel Fisher and Robert Steele, Founder and CEO of Thumzup Media, to learn more about the company’s monetization strategy, as well as its commitment to transparent compensation for creators. To hear the episode and subscribe for future podcasts, visit https://podcast.techmediawire.com The latest installment of The TechMediaWire Podcast continues to reinforce IBN’s commitment to the expansion of its robust network of brands, client partners, followers, and the growing IBN Podcast Series. For more than 19 years, IBN has leveraged this commitment to provide unparalleled distribution and corporate messaging solutions to 500+ public and private companies. To learn more about IBN’s achievements and milestones via a visual timeline, visit: https://IBN.fm/TimeLine About Thumzup Thumzup Media Corp. is democratizing the multi-billion-dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing app to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through PayPal and other digital payment systems. Featured on CBS Los Angeles and KTLA, Thumzup continues to make waves as a next-generation leader in social media marketing...

The Coretec Group, Inc. (OTCQB: CRTG) recently announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in KIB Plug Energy Co., Ltd. (“KIB Plug Energy”), a prominent KOSPI-listed enterprise in South Korea, as part of a broader initiative to solidify its status as a global powerhouse in energy and technology. KIB Plug Energy operates across 53 countries, offering design, engineering and manufacturing services, as well as maintenance solutions for chemical and petroleum production plants. Over the past five years, the company has maintained annual revenues exceeding US$70 million, underscoring its financial stability and growth trajectory. “This acquisition marks a transformative moment in our journey,” Dr. Kim, co-chairman of Coretec, stated in the press release. “We are redefining the energy landscape through groundbreaking innovations and a relentless commitment to sustainable solutions.” To read the original press release, visit: https://www.nnw.fm/qyVGS Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

The Coretec Group, Inc. (OTCQB: CRTG) recently announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in KIB Plug Energy Co., Ltd. (“KIB Plug Energy”), a prominent KOSPI-listed enterprise in South Korea, as part of a broader initiative to solidify its status as a global powerhouse in energy and technology. KIB Plug Energy operates across 53 countries, offering design, engineering and manufacturing services, as well as maintenance solutions for chemical and petroleum production plants. Over the past five years, the company has maintained annual revenues exceeding US$70 million, underscoring its financial stability and growth trajectory. “This acquisition marks a transformative moment in our journey,” Dr. Kim, co-chairman of Coretec, stated in the press release. “We are redefining the energy landscape through groundbreaking innovations and a relentless commitment to sustainable solutions.” To read the original press release, visit: https://www.nnw.fm/qyVGS Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services, and the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, recently announced that it is working to strengthen the connection between quantum optimization, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) by extending its product development roadmap with enhancements to its Leap quantum cloud service. These enhancements are designed to bring new quantum AI solutions to the commercial market. The roadmap is intended to help customers address a variety of AI/ML workloads, including pretraining optimization, more accurate and efficient model training, and opening new AI business use cases that require the integration of AI and business optimization. “We’re seeing early evidence that annealing quantum computing could play a key role in helping AI/ML with more efficient model training, reduced energy consumption and faster time-to-solution,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. “With results demonstrating our annealing quantum computer’s ability to outperform classical techniques, coupled with rapidly increasing demand from our customers for Quantum AI solutions that integrate with their business optimization requirements, we believe the impact of D-Wave’s Quantum AI solutions could be transformative, bringing a powerful set of new computing tools for generative AI.” To read the original press release, visit: https://ibn.fm/eb3UH Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services, and the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, recently announced that it is working to strengthen the connection between quantum optimization, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) by extending its product development roadmap with enhancements to its Leap quantum cloud service. These enhancements are designed to bring new quantum AI solutions to the commercial market. The roadmap is intended to help customers address a variety of AI/ML workloads, including pretraining optimization, more accurate and efficient model training, and opening new AI business use cases that require the integration of AI and business optimization. “We’re seeing early evidence that annealing quantum computing could play a key role in helping AI/ML with more efficient model training, reduced energy consumption and faster time-to-solution,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. “With results demonstrating our annealing quantum computer’s ability to outperform classical techniques, coupled with rapidly increasing demand from our customers for Quantum AI solutions that integrate with their business optimization requirements, we believe the impact of D-Wave’s Quantum AI solutions could be transformative, bringing a powerful set of new computing tools for generative AI.” To read the original press release, visit: https://ibn.fm/eb3UH Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

The TechMediaWire Podcast’s latest audio production features Brian Collins, CEO of Horizon Fintex and Co-Creator of Upstream, a MERJ Exchange stock market and global trading app. To begin the interview, Collins discussed the relationship between Globex-U.S., Horizon, Upstream and MERJ as it relates to a recently launched capital raise inviting retail investors to own a piece of the proprietary trading and exchange technology powering Upstream. “The investment opportunity is in Globex-U.S., an American entity which owns Horizon, a Swiss software company that licenses technology to MERJ for one of their markets called Upstream, a trading application that tokenizes real world assets and earns trading fees,” he said. “Those trading fees from Horizon’s technology deployment as an exchange are shared between MERJ, which is the regulated entity, and Horizon, the software company. Those profits, of course, also flow up to Globex-U.S., the company doing its funding round.” “We really want people to come into a trading platform that allows us to open securities trading to everybody. It's no longer an elite kind of club where, especially outside of America, where you're from would preclude you from stock trading. In particular, investment opportunities that we feel are really exciting in America, with micro-cap and mid-cap companies, have been almost impossible to reach from here in Switzerland, the rest of Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.” “When those companies list in the States, they can come and do a list on our platform. It brings liquidity to those companies, driving their balance sheet and their liquidity in the U.S., as well as, of course, opening them up to an international retail investor community. What we want to really be able to do is have people invest in us so that we can bring even more companies to our exchange, add more value to U.S. companies that list with us and allow access to international retail investors… We want to have people as part of an exchange for a change.” Join IBN’s Jonathan Keim and TechMediaWire’s latest podcast guest to learn more about how positioning retail investors as owners of the technology powering Upstream aligns with the overall vision to introduce the next generation of trading. Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

The TechMediaWire Podcast’s latest audio production features Brian Collins, CEO of Horizon Fintex and Co-Creator of Upstream, a MERJ Exchange stock market and global trading app. To begin the interview, Collins discussed the relationship between Globex-U.S., Horizon, Upstream and MERJ as it relates to a recently launched capital raise inviting retail investors to own a piece of the proprietary trading and exchange technology powering Upstream. “The investment opportunity is in Globex-U.S., an American entity which owns Horizon, a Swiss software company that licenses technology to MERJ for one of their markets called Upstream, a trading application that tokenizes real world assets and earns trading fees,” he said. “Those trading fees from Horizon’s technology deployment as an exchange are shared between MERJ, which is the regulated entity, and Horizon, the software company. Those profits, of course, also flow up to Globex-U.S., the company doing its funding round.” “We really want people to come into a trading platform that allows us to open securities trading to everybody. It's no longer an elite kind of club where, especially outside of America, where you're from would preclude you from stock trading. In particular, investment opportunities that we feel are really exciting in America, with micro-cap and mid-cap companies, have been almost impossible to reach from here in Switzerland, the rest of Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.” “When those companies list in the States, they can come and do a list on our platform. It brings liquidity to those companies, driving their balance sheet and their liquidity in the U.S., as well as, of course, opening them up to an international retail investor community. What we want to really be able to do is have people invest in us so that we can bring even more companies to our exchange, add more value to U.S. companies that list with us and allow access to international retail investors… We want to have people as part of an exchange for a change.” Join IBN’s Jonathan Keim and TechMediaWire’s latest podcast guest to learn more about how positioning retail investors as owners of the technology powering Upstream aligns with the overall vision to introduce the next generation of trading. Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

BTQ Technologies Corp. (NEO CA: BTQ) (OTCQX: BTQQF) (FSE: NG3), a global quantum technology company focused on securing mission-critical networks, recently announced groundbreaking research findings that redefine the energy-efficiency paradigm in quantum computing. "Our findings mark a pivotal moment in the exploration of quantum computing, highlighting its potential to revolutionize both computational speed and energy efficiency," Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ, stated in the news release. "The application of quantum computing in reducing the environmental impact of digital networks exemplifies our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for solving real-world problems. We stand on the brink of a new computing era, where quantum technology not only enhances performance but also champions sustainability." To read the original press release, visit: https://nnw.fm/vzsTR Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

BTQ Technologies Corp. (NEO CA: BTQ) (OTCQX: BTQQF) (FSE: NG3), a global quantum technology company focused on securing mission-critical networks, recently announced groundbreaking research findings that redefine the energy-efficiency paradigm in quantum computing. "Our findings mark a pivotal moment in the exploration of quantum computing, highlighting its potential to revolutionize both computational speed and energy efficiency," Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ, stated in the news release. "The application of quantum computing in reducing the environmental impact of digital networks exemplifies our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for solving real-world problems. We stand on the brink of a new computing era, where quantum technology not only enhances performance but also champions sustainability." To read the original press release, visit: https://nnw.fm/vzsTR Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

This audio news release covers an announcement of Diamond Lake Minerals, Inc.’s (OTC: DLMI) strategic investment in Avrio Worldwide, PBC to support deployment of Avrio’s registered digital financial market infrastructure (dFMI) for the tokenization of digital assets across DLMI’s network of companies. Avrio is the parent of several companies delivering licensed digital financial market infrastructure and services across public, private and digital markets. “DLMI’s strategic investment in Avrio offers outstanding opportunities and synergies across the DLMI network of companies for the tokenization of real-world-assets (RWA) on Avrio’s registered dFMI, as well as opportunities to invest in Avrio’s companies and commercial partners that are growing the $16 trillion RWA-tokenization market opportunity,” stated Lawrence Wintermeyer, CEO of Avrio, in the press release announcing the investment. To read the original press release, visit: https://nnw.fm/nYKuE Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

This audio news release covers an announcement of Diamond Lake Minerals, Inc.’s (OTC: DLMI) strategic investment in Avrio Worldwide, PBC to support deployment of Avrio’s registered digital financial market infrastructure (dFMI) for the tokenization of digital assets across DLMI’s network of companies. Avrio is the parent of several companies delivering licensed digital financial market infrastructure and services across public, private and digital markets. “DLMI’s strategic investment in Avrio offers outstanding opportunities and synergies across the DLMI network of companies for the tokenization of real-world-assets (RWA) on Avrio’s registered dFMI, as well as opportunities to invest in Avrio’s companies and commercial partners that are growing the $16 trillion RWA-tokenization market opportunity,” stated Lawrence Wintermeyer, CEO of Avrio, in the press release announcing the investment. To read the original press release, visit: https://nnw.fm/nYKuE Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the IBN website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

The TechMediaWire Podcast’s latest episode features Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF), a clean technology company engaged in developing high-value, high-performance power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. To begin the interview, Currie provided an introduction to Hillcrest’s business model and operating markets. “We're a power conversion company specializing in high-value, high-power applications such as our EV traction inverter. Power conversion devices are critical in nearly every electrical system. For example, an inverter is a power conversion device used to convert a battery’s direct current into the alternating current needed to drive an electric motor in an EV,” Currie explained.

The TechMediaWire Podcast’s latest episode features Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. (CSE: HEAT) (OTCQB: HLRTF), a clean technology company engaged in developing high-value, high-performance power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. To begin the interview, Currie provided an introduction to Hillcrest’s business model and operating markets. “We're a power conversion company specializing in high-value, high-power applications such as our EV traction inverter. Power conversion devices are critical in nearly every electrical system. For example, an inverter is a power conversion device used to convert a battery’s direct current into the alternating current needed to drive an electric motor in an EV,” Currie explained.

CannabisNewsAudio's latest podcast features Luis Merchan, President and CEO of Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC), an internationally focused cannabis brand builder that leverages natural, cost-effective cultivation practices to supply cannabis derivatives to its diverse business divisions. Throughout the interview, Merchan discussed Flora Growth’s business model. “Flora Growth was founded three years ago under the idea of learning from early adopters in the cannabis industry. We wanted to grow cannabis in an outdoor way at the lowest production cost in the world,” Merchan said. “To do so, we selected Colombia, one of the most beautiful geographies located alongside the equator in the world. Of course, we built a world-class team of agronomists who are helping us grow cannabis in an organic way at a cost that cannot be competed with anywhere, worldwide.”

CannabisNewsAudio's latest podcast features Luis Merchan, President and CEO of Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC), an internationally focused cannabis brand builder that leverages natural, cost-effective cultivation practices to supply cannabis derivatives to its diverse business divisions. Throughout the interview, Merchan discussed Flora Growth’s business model. “Flora Growth was founded three years ago under the idea of learning from early adopters in the cannabis industry. We wanted to grow cannabis in an outdoor way at the lowest production cost in the world,” Merchan said. “To do so, we selected Colombia, one of the most beautiful geographies located alongside the equator in the world. Of course, we built a world-class team of agronomists who are helping us grow cannabis in an organic way at a cost that cannot be competed with anywhere, worldwide.”

Even as the cannabis market continues expanding, pricing for wholesale cannabis has been under protracted pressure from oversupply and price cuts. Make no mistake — the cannabis market is still robust with large upside, and survivors of this supply side shake-out should secure ever-greater market share. The pressures may be most prevalent in California, the world’s biggest cannabis market, as light-deprivation crops reach market in 2021 and the potential for Type 5 cultivation licenses allowing for massive outdoor-growing facilities could be issued in California by 2023. To survive and thrive, companies will need to be nimble, diversify assets across the value chain and generate revenues from multiple venues. That’s preaching to the choir for Los-Angeles-based Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) (Profile). One of California’s publicly traded cannabis cultivators, NUGS has been actively diversifying into integrated operations complete with high-profile retail locations and new indoor grow facilities. NUGS views the shake-out as opportunity and fully expects to capture increased market share as the company continues to diversify. Throughout the last decade, as the “green rush” has swept across the globe, the wheat has been separated from the chaff, leaving strong companies — such as Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC), Curaleaf Holdings (OTCQX: CURLF), Green Thumb Industries (OTCQX: GTBIF) and Trulieve Cannabis (OTCQX: TCNNF) — still standing as they take necessary steps to secure market share going forward.

Even as the cannabis market continues expanding, pricing for wholesale cannabis has been under protracted pressure from oversupply and price cuts. Make no mistake — the cannabis market is still robust with large upside, and survivors of this supply side shake-out should secure ever-greater market share. The pressures may be most prevalent in California, the world’s biggest cannabis market, as light-deprivation crops reach market in 2021 and the potential for Type 5 cultivation licenses allowing for massive outdoor-growing facilities could be issued in California by 2023. To survive and thrive, companies will need to be nimble, diversify assets across the value chain and generate revenues from multiple venues. That’s preaching to the choir for Los-Angeles-based Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTC: NUGS) (Profile). One of California’s publicly traded cannabis cultivators, NUGS has been actively diversifying into integrated operations complete with high-profile retail locations and new indoor grow facilities. NUGS views the shake-out as opportunity and fully expects to capture increased market share as the company continues to diversify. Throughout the last decade, as the “green rush” has swept across the globe, the wheat has been separated from the chaff, leaving strong companies — such as Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC), Curaleaf Holdings (OTCQX: CURLF), Green Thumb Industries (OTCQX: GTBIF) and Trulieve Cannabis (OTCQX: TCNNF) — still standing as they take necessary steps to secure market share going forward.

As recently as 2015, the retail sales for alkaline waters, those with a pH between 7.0 and 10.0, were less than $95 million. With consumers taking a more proactive approach towards health, alkaline sales are booming. Industry authority Beverage Marketing Corp. forecasts retail sales in the category to balloon to $1.3 billion by 2023, representing 20% of the entire value-added water category. Drivers abound to support the 42.6% compound annual growth rate for the forecast period, which are undergirding exponential growth for The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) (Profile), the largest independent alkaline water company in the United States. Major grocers, including Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BJ), Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) and the Kroger Company (NYSE: KR), have benefited from and are following the category trend, many bottling their own alkaline brands while stocking their shelves and distribution centers to increase options and meet consumer demand.

As recently as 2015, the retail sales for alkaline waters, those with a pH between 7.0 and 10.0, were less than $95 million. With consumers taking a more proactive approach towards health, alkaline sales are booming. Industry authority Beverage Marketing Corp. forecasts retail sales in the category to balloon to $1.3 billion by 2023, representing 20% of the entire value-added water category. Drivers abound to support the 42.6% compound annual growth rate for the forecast period, which are undergirding exponential growth for The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ: WTER) (CSE: WTER) (Profile), the largest independent alkaline water company in the United States. Major grocers, including Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BJ), Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) and the Kroger Company (NYSE: KR), have benefited from and are following the category trend, many bottling their own alkaline brands while stocking their shelves and distribution centers to increase options and meet consumer demand.