Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/310725
Re s ta u ra n t D a i l y N e ws 5 5 Fri d a y, M a y 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 the dinner table – it's been about meat. It's who we are. RDN: According to the Family Business Institute, only three percent of family- owned companies remain viable into a fourth generation. How have you man- aged to buck those tremendous odds? RE: I think there are two reasons. First, a family love for this business. All of us truly enjoy feeding families and continu- ing on the traditions started by my father. Second, my father started the company on the principle that you never skimp or sacrifice when it comes to our products, and it's remained that way ever since. We now have six descendants of my father working in leadership positions here. It's a family business in every sense of the word. RDN: You have become somewhat of a celebrity over the last few years, featured in the company's advertising as 'Momma Dietz.' Do you get recognized when you're out and about? RE: That does happen sometimes, yes. I was hesitant at first to be featured like that, but it has been great fun. It helps to remind our customers that we are a family business, and family matters when it comes to food. The best part has been getting to meet so many of our customers and personally thank them Dietz & Watson ( Cont'd. from p. 1) for their loyalty. RDN: Dietz & Watson started as a small, regional company, but you have grown to service customers all across the U.S. How have you managed such explosive growth? RE: I think we always knew that Dietz & Watson had such tremendous potential. We have such loyal customers in and around Philadelphia, which as you know is our home. We knew how much they loved our meats and cheeses that felt con- fident others would, too. When we start- ed to grow, we made a commitment to sticking with what made us successful in the first place. Even today, everything that we produce is handcrafted. Human eyes and human hands inspect each and every product, which isn't easy at our size. It's all about quality, just as my father said from the very beginning. RDN: Congratulations, Ruth, on the company's 75th anniversary. How will you celebrate? RE: With my family, of course. We hope families all across the country enjoy Dietz & Watson meats and cheeses for their own celebrations this year and many years ahead. We never would have reached this anniversary without them. For more information, visit www .dietzandwatson.com, call 800-333-1974 or stop by booth #2240. FAMOUS BRANDS TO COMBINE MRS FIELDS AND TCBY IN NEW DUAL-BRAND CONCEPT Famous Brands International, which owns Mrs. Fields and TCBY, will almost exclu- sively develop newly-designed, dual- brand Mrs. Fields/TCBY locations as the company looks to significantly grow its international and domestic presence. This move seamlessly pairs the two legacy brands under one roof and creates three streams of revenue for franchisees. In addition to sales from cookies and frozen yogurt, franchisees for the first time will be able to sell Mrs. Fields gift merchandise, which brought in $50 mil- lion for Famous Brands last year, right in the store. Dual-brand locations will devote retail space for gift products and include all-new online ordering kiosks, known as Mrs. Fields Gifting Stations, which let customers browse and send gifts to friends, family and business asso- ciates through MrsFields.com. "Our new dual-brand Mrs. Fields/TCBY concept is the biggest thing to happen to either brand since Debbi first picked up a cookie pan," said Famous Brands CEO Neal Courtney. "This will propel our global growth, cre- ate more revenue streams for franchisees and provide consumers with access to their favorite treats not available any- where else." The new store design, the first of which opens in Houston in June, repre- sents the next evolution for the two sto- ried brands. A handful of co-branded Mrs. Fields/TCBY locations currently are open, but do not integrate the two brands to the extent of the new concept, which contains equal branding elements of both TCBY and Mrs. Fields, a single point of sale and will even offer new treats that unite both brands, such as cookie-and-yogurt sandwiches and Mrs. Fields brownies mixed in frozen yogurt. Domestically, Famous Brands is seeking franchise partners to develop dual-brand locations throughout the country, including key markets such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix, among others. Strategic international growth markets for Famous Brands include South America, Mexico, India, Japan, UAE and most of Europe. Together, TCBY and Mrs. Fields have more than 900 locations in 33 countries. Total initial investment for a dual- branded store ranges from $150,000- $450,000 depending on unit size. Although the new locations will fully represent both brands from menu items to branding, the franchise fee is $35,000, the same as traditional TCBY franchises, meaning the Mrs. Fields $25,000 fran- chise fee is essentially waived. Famous Brands is a portfolio compa- ny of Z Capital Partners, LLC, a leading private equity firm founded in 2006 with approximately $2 billion of regulatory assets and committed capital under man- agement. For more information on the dual-brand franchising opportunity, visit www .franchise.tcby.com/ LIVING ESSENTIALS INTRODUCES CHERRY FLAVORED 5-HOUR ENERGY Living Essentials, LLC continues to sup- port military causes with the introduc- tion of a new, limited edition cherry fla- vor of 5-hour ENERGY ® . From May 1 through July 31, 2014, Living Essentials is donating five cents from the sale of every specially marked red, white and blue bottle of cherry flavored 5-hour ENERGY to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), a top-rated nonprofit organization that supports the military's special operations forces and their families through college scholar- ships, family services and financial stipends. The minimum guaranteed donation is $75,000. "We are honored that Living Essentials is sharing proceeds from sales of the limited edition cherry flavored 5- hour ENERGY shot with the SOWF," said Vice Admiral and Navy SEAL (Ret.) Joe Maguire, President of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. "This donation will go a long way toward sup- porting the families of America's special operations troops and our wounded oper- ators," said Maguire. Since 1980, over 900 Special Operations personnel have lost their lives on operational missions or during intense training programs and over 1,000 chil- dren survive these oft-unsung heroes. "With over 140 students eligible for college each year, and 650 students in the pipeline for future scholarships, the Warrior Foundation's financial need is approxi- mately $125 million," said Maguire. The SOWF has 139 students enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. In 2012, the organi- zation provided $3.9 million in scholar- ship grants, financial aid and beneficiary support to families of fallen SOF person- nel, and to wounded and hospitalized SOF personnel. "SOWF is a small organization that does tremendous work for America's heroes and their families," said Manoj Bhargava, Founder, 5-hour ENERGY. "This program will not only raise money to SOWF's efforts, but it will bring to light a cause that deserves much more attention." About 5-Hour ENERGY 5-hour ENERGY is a liquid energy shot that provides a feeling of energy and alertness that lasts for hours. It contains a blend of B-vitamins and amino acids, zero sugar, four calories and caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading pre- mium coffee. It is available at retail out- lets in the United States and Canada as well as throughout the U.K., Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and South Africa. About the Special Operations Warrior Foundation The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) was founded in 1980 to serve the military's special oper- ations forces and their families. A tax- exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organiza- tion, the SOWF is dedicated to ensuring no-cost college scholarship grants and educational counseling to the children surviving special operations personnel who lose their life in the line of duty. Additionally, the SOWF provides funds to the families of severely wounded and hospitalized special operations personnel to meet their immediate financial needs. THE COMEBACK OF CUSTOMIZATION AND GOOD NEWS FOR BLOODY MARY LOVERS In today's "experience economy," con- sumers in growing numbers are fashion- ing their own experiences with brands. Customization is king, a paradigm shift that's also spreading to the culinary world. More enlightened customers have become increasingly concerned about what they eat and drink, from caloric and fat content to being able to control spiciness, acidity and more – whether they're ordering from a menu or making it themselves at home. Out of this culture of customization, Stu's This Is Bloody Mary concentrate was born. The product of a chef, this one-of-a- kind concentrate leverages the power of homegrown sour pickle juice to create a unique and flavorful Bloody Mary. It's per- fect for people who make or sell Bloody Marys looking for one professionally craft- ed mix that leads to countless possibilities. There's also no tomato juice in Stu's, which allows the option to add whatever tomato juice people prefer, including a low-sodium option. This also allows Stu's concentrate to stay fresh longer. Stu's This is Bloody Mary concentrate is designed to work with several types of produce, varieties of liquor, tomato juices and any other canned, jarred or fresh accou- terments necessary to create the perfect Bloody Mary. In addition to its versatility, Stu's is known for layered, complex flavors that are spicy, peppery, savory and unlike any Bloody Mary mix available. The pick- le juice comes from real pickles sourced from Michigan. In an era when consumers are demanding their brands be customizable, Stu's is the one answer that provides count- less answers for all types of Bloody Mary connoisseurs – no matter what their palate. Stu's This Is Bloody Mary is avail- able in cases, each containing 12 jars. For more information, call toll free at 855- 228-0838. For more information, visit www.stuskitchen.com, call 855-228-0838 or stop by booth #9210.