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GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com n JANUARY 2019 n GOURMET NEWS 5 8 Raymundo's Food Group Redefines Identity An interview with Bob Levi, Chief Executive Officer, Raymundo's Food Group, LLC. GN: What does Raymundo's Food Group offer? BL: Raymundo's Food Group is a manufac- turer of ethnically inspired, refrigerated desserts, snacks and dairy products. Our port- folio of Raymundo's branded gelatins, flans, puddings, crème parfaits and other ready-to- eat products has strong connectivity to the growing Hispanic population with crossover appeal into the general market. Our Greek yogurts, drinkable yogurts and other specialty and ethnic dairy products such as Aura™ Dahi Yogurt are made with no artificial col- ors, flavors or sweeteners. Our products pro- vide a unique value proposition and are dis- tributed through mass retailers, conventional grocery retailers, convenience stores, club stores and local ethnic retailers. GN: Tell our readers how you've redefined the company. BL: We have redefined our identity based on four principles of our foundation: great taste, ethnic flavors, innovation and wholesome, feel-good food. Great taste is paramount and showcases the breadth of our values in one simple state- ment. It means delicious, family-forward, classic and wholesome. Ethnic flavors mean we focus on reposi- tioning global traditions for a modern, hectic world that still craves authenticity. When we talk about innovation, we mean that we are re-inventing the presentations of traditional flavors to bring convenience to modern fami- lies. Being wholesome in our approach means that our brands are food choices that are reflective of a healthier, modern lifestyle. We make products that our customers feel good about feeding their families. GN: Do you have any innovative new prod- ucts launching? BL: Absolutely. In addition to our fast-turn- ing core lineup of refrigerated desserts and yogurts we have several innovations. The first we are unveiling is Raymundo's Pud- ding Toppers™. Toppers and mix-ins repre- sent over 10 percent of the yogurt category and grew at 11 percent in 2017. I think these delicious combinations of pudding and in- dulgent toppings will create strong in- cremental growth in the desserts cat- egory as well. Flavors include Dark Mexican Chocolate Pudding + Churro Pieces, Vanilla Pudding + Chocolate Brownie Pieces, Flan Pud- ding + Salted Caramel Crumble, Rice Pudding + Granola and Key Lime Pie + White Chocolate Crumble. Our second new-to-the-world innovation is Raymundo's Mini Churro Dippers. The two-compartment snack segment is on fire, and Mini Churro Dippers brings a Millennial favorite to the party. Dark Chocolate and Carmel Dipping Sauces make for a delicious on-the-go snack. We also have several new flavors and va- rieties of Raymundo's Yogurt Smoothies and Greek Yogurt Cups. For more information, contact Paul Nojaim at 513.560.8189, go to www.raymundos.com or email contactus@raymundos.com. Introducing Hammond's Gourmet Cookies and New Chocolate Bar Flavors Hammond's Brands, the parent company of Hammond's Candies and Old Dominion Peanut Company, has announced exciting additions to its product lineup for 2019. Fur- ther expanding into the snacking category, it has introduced a collection of rich, buttery, bite-sized tea cookies. Hammond's has also added two flavors to its much-loved assort- ment of gourmet chocolate bars. Hammond's cookies will be available in January 2019 in four delicious flavors: Lemon Raspberry, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip. A fifth seasonal flavor, Chocolate Peppermint, will be added to the collection for holiday 2019. Each flavor comes in a 5 ounce box packed 8 per case with an MSRP of $5.99. The two new chocolate bars will also hit shelves in January 2019. Coconut Cream Pie is a milk chocolate treat with coconut flakes and a rich, creamy ganache, and Sodapop! is a unique, cola-flavored milk chocolate bar featuring fizzy popping candy which repli- cates the carbonated beverage. Each 2.25 ounce bar is packed 12 retail units per display with an MSRP of $2.99. "We are excited to kick off the new year with these great new products," said Andrew Whisler, Hammond's Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. "We're especially excited to enter the cookie category provid- ing consumers with even more great every- day treats with Hammond's quality. From classic Chocolate Chip to delicious Salted Caramel, there is a flavor to satisfy every sweet tooth." "We're always working on new flavors to expand our chocolate bar as- sortment," added Andrew Schuman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Customers will love the decadent flavor of Coconut Cream Pie, and Sodapop! is completely unique. The popping candy throughout the bar delivers a fun and sweet surprise in every bite." Visit Hammond's at #booth 5528. For more in- formation, go to www.hammondscandies.com or call 888.226.3999. Follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hammonds candies and Instagram at @hammonds candies. Olive Your Heart from Carlson Carlson is well-known for its high-quality, award-winning omega-3 nutritional supple- ments, and now they're available in a pre- mium olive oil. For optimal heart health, the AHA (Amer- ican Heart Association) recommends substi- tuting good fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) for bad fats (saturated and trans). An easy way to do this is by choosing a healthy oil, such as olive oil. Blends are also a great choice. But Olive Your Heart ® may be the absolute best heart smart choice, combining the cardiovascular benefits of olive oil and marine-sourced omega-3s. High-quality extra virgin olive oil natu- rally contains important antioxidants, called polyphenols. Each serving of Olive Your Heart also offers a healthy dose of the impor- tant omega-3s EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The AHA suggests we eat at least two 3.5-ounce serv- ings of oily fish per week to receive the rec- ommended amount of omega-3s. Since most of us don't get this amount from diet alone, Olive Your Heart can be a great option. Carlson Olive Your Heart also naturally provides the omega-9 oleic acid, a staple of the Mediterranean diet. Omega-9s promote cardiovascular health and optimal wellness. When our body has enough omega-3s and omega-6s, it can produce omega-9s. If our levels are low, we must get omega-9s from our diet. For a delicious, premium olive oil that provides polyphenols and sneaks in the health benefits of omega-3s and omega-9s, choose Olive Your Heart. Try All 4 Flavors Basil: Savory and fragrant with a fresh peppery taste and slightly minty finish. Perfect for pesto or bruschetta, or driz- zled over seasonal vegetables. Lemon: Tart, tangy and per- fect for a salad dressing. It's also a flavorful addition to your favorite dips and pasta dishes. Garlic: Sweet, complex and nutty, making it an excellent addition to vinaigrettes and other dressings. Or try it as a dipping oil for fresh bread. Natural: Thinly textured and aromatic with a crisp polyphenol bite. It's a great finishing oil for nearly any recipe that calls for unfla- vored olive oil. How to Use Olive Your Heart Enjoy Olive your Heart directly from the spoon or incorporate it into a meal. Drizzle it over a salad, use it as a healthy bread dip, pour it over vegetables, stir it into a pasta dish, or mix up a finishing sauce for meat or fish. Olive Your Heart Makes a Deli- cious Salad Dressing: Balsamic Garlic Vinaigrette Ingredients: ¾ cup Carlson Olive Your Heart, Garlic ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tsp. honey or brown sugar ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. ground black pepper Directions: Place all ingredients in food processor or blender; blend until smooth. Making Healthy Food an Easy Choice Nature's Earthly Choice was founded on the principles of creating delightfully healthy products that are easy to make and easy to love. The launch of its signature grains started the company's mission to provide consumers and families of all personalities, dietary needs and preferences with healthy wholesome meals that are simple and deli- cious. The company is passionate about the products it creates and is committed to de- livering the best tasting, highest quality prod- ucts that support a healthy lifestyle. Simple, healthy, delicious and easy to prepare! Thanks to Nature's Earthly Choice, it's al- ways easy to bring the best of Mother Nature to your table. As a leader in the grains category, Nature's Earthly Choice continues to innovate, target- ing the convenience trends in its category. The company is introducing a line of "Great Day" powders and flours that includes Goji Berry Powder, Antioxidant Blend Powder, Maca Powder, Acai Powder, Nut Flour Blend and Apple Flour. This line com- bines the great taste and nutri- tion of nature's best ingredients in one con- venient powder or flour. The powders are a delightful complement to your favorite smoothie or hot breakfast cereal, adding a boost of nutrition and flavor. The flours can be added to any baked good to increase the amount of nutrients you are consuming. In a world where health and convenience are priorities, Nature's Earthly Choice offers the products you can be proud to feed your family. Nature's Earthly Choice makes healthy food an easy choice. For more information, go to www.earthly choice.com, call 208.898.4004 or email sales@earthlychoice.com.

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