EDENS Announces Three Finalists to Launch Next Generation in 2019 Retail Challenge

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- EDENS, a leading national retail real estate owner, operator and developer, is pleased to share the announcement of three finalists for its 2019 Retail Challenge, an annual competition to discover and launch the next generation of retail. The finalists will present their concepts to a panel of esteemed judges on Friday, March 8th at Washington, D.C.'s famed Union Market District.

The three finalists are:

1. Turner Hoff and Ariane Valle of Vegetable + Butcher: This subscription-food service delivers chef-designed, dietitian approved prepared meals to home or office.
2. Mike and Dan Friedman of Tall Order (University of Virginia): These two brothers produce unique socks for men with larger foot sizes while supporting families of trauma.
3. Jessica Holton of Blaze Skincare (Stanford University): This daily-dose skincare brand offers a simplified beauty & wellness retail experience tailored to untapped consumer needs.

This year, the EDENS Retail Challenge spanned 29 universities, including Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, as well as entrepreneurs with a retail or consumer-packaged good concept, idea or pre-seed stage company. These concepts were evaluated on a variety of criteria including: concept and brand viability; innovation; consumer demand and market potential.

"EDENS has always supported and celebrated entrepreneurship and innovation in the retail industry," said Jodie W. McLean, CEO of EDENS. "A primary differentiator of the EDENS Retail Challenge is the mentoring and access to a network of experts offered to the finalist. I commend all of the finalists on their innovation, passion and hard work."

Previous winners include Rhoback (2016), a high-end, activewear lifestyle brand; Follain (2013), a wholesome beauty store curated with health-focused products; and Artis (2013), coffee retail store and café introducing America's first live-roast experience.

The finalists will work with business mentors and EDENS leadership for mentorship, concept innovation and business plan development and refinement. The Retail Challenge will culminate in a live presentation hosted at Angelika Theater in the Union Market District in Washington, D.C. in March 2019, and will be presided over by judges including: Taryn Jones Laeben, Former SoulCycle COO; Jenny Abramson, Founder & Managing Partner ReThink Impact; David Hall, Partner, Rise of the Rest Seed Fund; and Jodie W. McLean, CEO, EDENS.

For more information please visit www.edensretailchallenge.com.

ABOUT EDENS

EDENS is a retail real estate owner, operator and developer of a nationally leading portfolio of 125 places. Our purpose is to enrich community through human engagement. We know that when people come together, they feel a part of something bigger than themselves and prosperity follows— economically, socially, culturally and soulfully. EDENS has 250 employees across offices in key markets including Washington, D.C., Boston, Dallas, Columbia, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Houston and Denver. For additional information about the company and its retail real estate portfolio, visit www.edens.com or follow @WeAreEDENS.

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