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sofi Awards Finalists for Year’s Top Specialty Foods Announced
A national panel of specialty food experts tasted and evaluated 1,885 products across 30 categories to generate a list of 109 finalists for the 41st annual sofi Awards for outstanding specialty foods and beverages of 2013.Sponsored by the Specialty Food Association, sofi (Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation) is considered the highest honor in the $86 billion specialty food industry. This year’s finalists include Tasmanian Orangewood Honey, Cardamom Ice Cream, Cherry Seed Oil and Spicy Korean Barbecue Marinade. The complete list of finalists can be found here. The sofi Awards are open to members of the Specialty Food Association, a not-for-profit trade association ... |
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SunRidge Farms Updates Packaging for Organic and Natural Products
Royal Oaks, Calif.-based SunRidge Farms has begun rolling out a new version of its branded resealable packaging for its organic and natural nuts, seeds, dried fruits, snacks, confections and granolas.The new bags feature brighter designs intended to make it easier for retailers to merchandise them and consumers to easily recognize their benefits. The new packaging is gradually being introduced, initially starting with 30 products, half of the company’s stock keeping units.The new packaging was redesigned with each food category in mind. Updates to the bags include a banner along the bottom front of the packaging featuring product-specific health claims; consistent ... |
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Seminars and Special Events Highlight 3rd Annual Edition of Artisan Resource
A four-day schedule of educational sessions and special events will be offered during Artisan Resource, a market offering U.S.-based importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to meet with international artisanal producers.The semiannual event takes place Aug. 18-20 at Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94 in New York, and runs concurrently with NY NOW (formerly NYIGF).“These programs are designed to orient Artisan Resource exhibitors to U.S. market trends, etiquette and opportunities while also providing Artisan Resource attendees with basic importing dos and don’ts,” said Allison Rober, Artisan Resource sales manager. “Artisan Resource participants also can enjoy networking activities during the ... |
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The Chefs’ Warehouse Acquires Qzina Specialty Foods
The Chefs’ Warehouse, premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States, has acquired all of the equity interests of Qzina Specialty Foods North America, based in Pompano Beach, Fla. Founded in 1982, Qzina is a leading supplier of gourmet chocolate, dessert and pastry products dedicated to the pastry professional. It currently supplies more than 3,000 products to serve some of the finest restaurants, bakeries, patisseries, chocolatiers, hotels and cruise lines throughout the United States and Canada.“We are thrilled to have Qzina join the Chefs’ Warehouse family,” said Chris Pappas, chairman and chief executive officer of The Chefs’ Warehouse. ... |
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Chocolate Works Franchises Candy Shop Concept
Chocolate Works, a new franchise concept that is an extension of New York-based 5th Avenue Chocolatiere, is now awarding franchises in New York and New Jersey with plans to expand throughout the United States.Chocolate Works transforms the corner candy shop into an interactive chocolate factory experience. Beyond the colorful candy bins and cases of chocolates, kids and adults are invited to indulge in a hands-on learning experience, molding, decorating, dipping, enrobing and crafting their own chocolate and candy creations. Based on the success of its three current locations on Long Island, Scarsdale and Manhattan, and the requests from customers, Chocolate ... |
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Quality Cheese Ricotta Crowned Grand Champion at Canadian Competition
Quality Cheese Ricotta was named the Grand Champion at the eighth edition of the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix in Montreal. The ricotta made history as the first fresh cheese and the first cheese from Ontario to be honored as Grand Champion. A jury of top Canadian food industry experts selected it from 20 category winners. Sponsored and hosted every two years by Dairy Farmers of Canada, the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix celebrates the high quality, versatility and great taste of Canadian cheese made from Canadian milk.“The jury found this ricotta refined, delicate and well-balanced,” said Phil Bélanger, Canadian Cheese Grand ... |
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Krups, Voters Name Best Coffee Shops in America
Krups USA, a worldwide leader in coffee, espresso and kitchen appliances, announced the winners of this year’s Krups Best Brew Awards. The annual campaign, now in its third year, was introduced to discover the best coffee shops across the nation. Determined by a call for entries and a public vote through the Krups Facebook page, fans voted for their favorite coffee shops in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco from March 18 to April 12. The campaign drew more than 1,800 votes as well as write-in entries.Winners are Condesa Coffee, Atlanta; ... |
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Honey Producers File Class Action Over Honey Dumping Issue
Three domestic honey producers – Adee Honey Farms, Bill Rhodes Honey Co. and Hackenberg Apiaries – filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, following on the nearly five-year “Honeygate” investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over alleged honey dumping from China.In addition to the three named honey producers, the lawsuit asserts claims on behalf of a nationwide class defined as all individuals and entities “with commercial beekeeping operations (300 or more hives) that produced and sold honey in the United States during the period from 2001 to the present.” ... |
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Chukar Cherries Debuts Pouch Design, New Product
Chukar Cherries of Prosser, Wash., has debuted new zip pouches for its entire line of dried fruit, chocolates and energy mixes, and introduced dark chocolate Tangerine Cherries to its collection of chocolate-covered cherries, berries and nuts. Chukar’s new zip pouches highlight the company’s foundation in the Northwest by featuring illustrations by Washington artist Jim Hays. In addition to the illustrations of cherries and berries, the packaging boasts an eye-catching design, zip tops, large product windows and the same size and weight as previous pouches. Pam Montgomery, Chukar’s founder and CEO, said, “The new packages were designed to make shopping easier ... |
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Starbucks to Cut Coffee Prices 10 Percent in Grocery Stores
Next month, Starbucks Corp. will lower prices by 10 percent for its Starbucks and Seattle’s Best brand packaged coffees sold in supermarkets and other retail stores.Prices will decrease from $9.99 to $8.99 for a 12-ounce bag of Starbucks coffee beginning May 10, Jim Olson, a spokesman for the Seattle-based company, told Bloomberg in an interview. “This will allow us to both enhance the value that we’re providing our existing packaged coffee customers, and hopefully increase the frequency [with] which they purchase Starbucks and Seattle’s Best coffee, as well as attract new customers,” he said. In 2011, Starbucks raised prices of ... |
