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14 SUPPLIER BUSINESS GOURMET NEWS DECEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com Supplier Business Gluten-Free Cracker Line an Extension of What PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company is About: Quality, Nutrition and Taste BY JAZMINE WOODBERRY Back in 2010, PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company founder Marian Harris and family decided that their robust portfolio of all-natural crackers, cookies and granola was missing an important addition—a gluten-free alternative. After three years of formulation to develop a gluten-free cracker that does not rely on rice fillers and still maintains the company's standards of quality, nutrition and taste, the Free for All Kitchen™ line was born. "We've always based all of our products on clean, all-natural, wholesome ingredients and also them tasting good. It's important for us that the end result is gluten-free, but that it actually tastes good and is gluten-free," said Cara Figgins, the company's Vice President of the Free for All Kitchen line. "Getting the taste and the texture both was very challenging, as we were trying to adapt a gluten-free product that was also our style of product." The Free for All Kitchen gluten-free crackers are made from cassava root flour and a blend of five ancient grains, includ- ing amaranth, quinoa, millet, sorghum, and teff. It took the company years to develop the recipe, as it wanted to avoid including corn, soy or rice in the crackers. "A lot of gluten-free products have a bitter aftertaste, and we really wanted to stay away from using any rice, any corn or any soy," Figgins said. "Corn and soy tend to have GMOs and tend to have allergens, and rice because that's the common denominator between a lot of gluten-free products and we wanted to do something different." PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company, founded in 1992, has a diversity of options. The Mia Dolci Cookie Crisps, the Get Movin' Snack Packs, and the Partners Deli Crackers are among the company's newest releases. Now with the Free for All Kitchen line, the company hopes to provide consumers a worryfree option. Utilizing the highest selling flavor profiles from their traditional crackers, Roasted Garlic & Rosemary, Olive Oil & Sea Salt, and Olive Oil & Herb, the Free for All Kitchen line of gluten-free crackers will be available to suit a host of needs. It works for the on-the-go snacker, who can use the 0.75-ounce snack pack or clear pack. For the deli counters and home entertainers looking for a worry free option to serve, the 5.5-ounce deli tray can come in handy. And for a hungry teenager looking for a nice pairing for the hummus in the refrigerator, the 5-ounce snack carton can hit the spot. "We've had a really good response to the product," Figgins said, noting that her daughter is one of those teenagers using Free for All Kitchen gluten-free crackers as her dip pairing of choice. "We have a lot of things in our pantry, but she had out the gluten-free crackers." The crackers went into distribution in the Northeast, Midwest and eastern Canada in late October. They are also available on www.amazon.com. Throughout 2014, the crackers are poised to gain more traction and further distribution in several different channels, from grocery to deli. For Figgins what remains most important is how Free for All Kitchen is just an extension of what PARTNERS, A Tasteful Choice Company is all about. "I think that for me, a lot of what's important about Free for All, it's about the time and care that we've put into the product and what that says about us. We care about creating healthy, all-natural, tasty products," Figgins said. "There's not a lot of companies out there that are as focused on that as we are." For more information about Partners, A Tasteful Choice Company, visit www.partnerscrackers.com. GN Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Launches Line of Licensed Products Cracker Barrel Old Country Store™, Inc., launched its own line of licensed products, made available through a licensing agreement with John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. The products, under the CB Old Country Store brand, include maple bacon, smoked bacon, spiral ham, oven roasted turkey, smoked turkey, smoked ham and honey ham. All of the products in Cracker Barrel's new product line are now available for consumers to purchase as part of their regular shopping experience and to enjoy in their own homes. "Extending our brand beyond our physical locations is an important component of our strategic plan," said Sandra B. Cochran, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. "As a leader in consumer meat products, John Morrell Food Group has earned an outstanding reputation for quality and service that is a natural fit with our Pleasing People mission. We think the combination of strengths that our two companies consistently utilize to deliver high-quality products to our consumers will prove to be a success for our guests, retail shoppers and our retail trading partners." "Now, loyal guests of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. can find the types of choices that they enjoy when they dine in the restaurant, right there in the refriger- ated section of grocery stores, ready to bring home to enjoy," added John Pauley, John Morrell Food Group Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. Today, the company operates 624 locations in 42 states. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. provides a friendly home-away-from home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real homestyle food and shopping that is surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage. For more information, visit www.crackerbarrel.com. GN BRIEFS Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery Changes Name to Vermont Creamery Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery will change its name to Vermont Creamery. "We've been moving towards a more concise name for some time now," said company cofounder Allison Hooper. "Our products, which include both butter and cheese, are all made with pure, fresh and simple ingredients, and we feel that the name Vermont Creamery conveys what we do in a more memorable way." Pioneers in the artisan cheese movement, Vermont Creamery will continue crafting awardwinning artisanal dairy products, including fresh and aged goat cheeses, crème fraiche, mascarpone and cultured butter. "We've been making high quality cheese and butter now for almost 30 years," said company cofounder Bob Reese. "This is just another step in our company's story." For more information, visit www.vermontcreamery.com. Passage Foods Becomes Gluten-Free Certified Passage Foods' line of cooking sauces is now certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization. The Passage Foods line includes Passage to Mexico, Passage to Thailand, Passage to Morocco and Passage to Europe, as well as several other classic and ethnic product lines. Each of Passage Foods' 23 different simmer sauces is a blend of fresh ingredients, designed to create a recipe in the traditional flavors of its country. Offerings include Moroccan Harissa, Red Thai Curry, Spanish Chicken, Chipotle Lime and more. "It has always been in our brand's DNA that Passage Foods products be gluten-free, and we have always used third-party testing to detect gluten to a level of five parts per million," said Mark MacKenzie of Passage Foods. "The celiac community understands the importance of this testing, but there is a much larger share of the North America population that is now practicing a gluten-restricted diet as a healthy lifestyle choice." Hershey's Launches First New Brand in 30 Years The Hershey Company launched a new confectionery brand in the United States called Lancaster™, which will feature a line of caramel soft cremes rolling out nationwide in January 2014. The introduction of the Lancaster brand marks a significant milestone for The Hershey Company, as it is the first time the company has launched a new brand that is not a brand extension or acquisition in the past 30 years. The new brand is rooted in Hershey's heritage and is inspired by Milton Hershey's original confection company, The Lancaster Caramel Company. Lancaster Soft Cremes will be available in three flavors, including caramel, vanilla and raspberry. Lancaster Soft Cremes will be available in 8-ounce bags for a SRP of $3.99 and 4-ounce bags for an SRP of $2.49.

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