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GOURMET NEWS JULY 2014 www.gourmetnews.com Specialty Distributors & Brokers SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTORS & BROKERS 1 3 BRIEFS KeHE Hosts Vitality Products Category Carousel KeHE Distributors, a leading distributor of natural, specialty, multicultural and fresh products, recently hosted a Category Carousel focusing on vitality products. The invitation-only event brought together best-in-class brands and retailers for assortment, merchandising and promotional planning related to products that deliver rejuvenation, sustained energy and longevity. The format of the two-day event included a mix of education and planning, meetings and networking. A wide variety of products were showcased, including vitamins and supplements, herbs and homeopathics, anti- aging products, weight management products, sports nutrition and protein products, energy bars, medicinal teas and functional beverages. Based in Romeoville, Ill., KeHE Distributors provides natural and organic, specialty and gourmet, international and multicultural and fresh products to over 35,000 retail outlets throughout North America. For more information about KeHE, visit www.kehe.com. PRAIM Group Debuts DreamWorks Chocolate Bars PRAIM Group, a food licensing, marketing and distribution company best known for its all- natural chocolate bars in chic and humorous packaging, recently announced a licensing agreement with DreamWorks. PRAIMGroup will create and distribute a DreamWorks chocolate collection featuring the production company's animated characters on the packaging of seven different chocolate bars. All bars are milk chocolate, 3.5 ounces, kosher and all-natural. Established in 2006, PRAIM Group is a one- stop resource solution for helping successful consumer brands expand their reach into the tricky world of food logistics, marketing and sales. With offices in Boston and Los Angeles, For more information, visit www.praimgroup.com. True North Salmon Now Distributed Through FreshDirect True North Salmon recently announced expanded product distribution through FreshDirect, a leading online fresh food grocer. A product of the United States, True North Salmon is now being delivered fresh to FreshDirect, from the Gulf of Maine within 48 hours of catch, ensuring customers have the highest-quality and best-tasting salmon. FreshDirect customers will enjoy True North Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon in several varieties, including filets, family packs, whole-side filets, boneless steaks, traditional steaks and whole fish options. In addition, FreshDirect and True North Salmon will offer the convenience of a double fillet on a cedar plank for an effortless and delicious outdoor grilling experience. True North Salmon sells a broad spectrum of BAP Certified salmon products into the Canadian and U.S. markets. True North Salmon also delivers wild-caught seafood to market under the Jail Island Seafood brand. New Functional Beverage Company Sealand Natural Resources Announces Expanded Distribution with Wegman's Sealand Natural Resources Inc., a new product development company which manufactures, markets and sells functional beverages, recently announced expansion into new Wegmans store locations and Wegmans special event promotions. "Our flagship product Sealand BIRK has been selling well in Wegmans stores, and distribution with UNFI East … is growing as Wegmans opens new store locations," said Lars Poulsen, Chief Executive Officer of Sealand Natural Resources Inc. "We are very proud to be associated with Wegmans specialty grocery chainstore, voted best grocery store in the eastern region of the United States." "In cooperation with Wegmans, Sealand BIRK will be supporting Wegmans Nature's Marketplace special events, Healthy KIDS day at the Corning, NY YMCA and the ROAR – Ride On for Autism Research 2014 event to support the Kennedy Krieger In- stitute," Poulsen added. "We look forward to supporting these great local organiza- tions and expanding with Wegmans into their latest location in Chestnut Hill, Mass. … Wegmans now has 84 stores in 7 states." BIRK is currently selling three bever- ages, including original, blueberry and ginger lime, in 48 Wegmans stores. The company expects to increase Sealand BIRK distribution to all Wegmans stores by the end of summer. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a family- owned U.S. regional supermarket chain headquartered in Gates, N.Y. Wegmans currently has 83 stores in the mid-Atlantic region, including locations in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Mas- sachusetts and Virginia. Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. is a re- search and new product development com- pany that manufactures, markets and sells functional beverages, organic nutriceuti- cals, health supplements, medicinal raw materials and health foods worldwide. The company offers products through direct sales, wholesale and retail sales, as well as through distribution and licensing. Sealand Natural Resources Inc. serves specialty re- tailers, co-op stores, health- and science-re- lated companies and chain stores. For more information, visit www.sealandnr.com. GN Treehouse Foods Completes Acquisition of Canadian Protenergy Natural Foods TreeHouse Foods, Inc. recently announced the completion of its previously-announced acquisition of Canada-based Protenergy Nat- ural Foods, a developer and manufacturer of premium quality food and beverage prod- ucts, namely private label broths, soups and gravies. Protenergy Natural Foods had 2013 sales of approximately CAD $130 million. TreeHouse paid CAD $170 million (approx- imately US $150 million) in cash for the business, subject to an adjustment for work- ing capital. The company financed the trans- action under its existing credit facility. Protenergy Natural Foods Corp. is a tech- nologically-advanced innovative manufac- turer of premium quality natural food and beverage products. The company is cen- trally located in the Greater Toronto area and provides innovative product develop- ment expertise. Its state-of-the-art manufac- turing facility enables customers to receive products of the highest quality. Cost savings are based on economies of scale, as well as a highly-efficient manufacturing process. In addition, Protenergy has improved shelf life for its products through the manufacturer's processes and fully-integrated operations. More information on Protenergy Natural Foods is available at www.prot energyfoods.com. TreeHouse is a food manufacturer servic- ing primarily the retail grocery and foodser- vice distribution channels. The company's products include non-dairy powdered creamers and sweeteners, condensed, ready- to-serve and powdered soups, refrigerated and shelf-stable salad dressings and sauces, powdered drink mixes, single-serve hot bev- erages, specialty teas, hot and cold cereals, macaroni and cheese, skillet dinners and other value-added side dishes and salads, salsas and Mexican sauces, jams and pie fill- ings, pickles and related products, aseptic sauces and liquid non-dairy creamer. The company is one of the largest manufacturers of pickles and non-dairy powdered creamer in the United States, as well as one of the largest manufacturers of private label salad dressings, powdered drink mixes and instant hot cereals in the United States and Canada, based on sales volume. For more information on TreeHouse Foods, including information on the com- pany's acquisition of Protenergy Natural Foods, visit www.treehousefoods.com, email info@treehousefoods.com, or call 708.483.1300. GN Republic National Distributing Co. Appointed Exclusive Distributor for Pernod Ricard USA in Eight Markets Pernod Ricard USA, the premium spirits and wine company, recently reaffirmed its longstanding relationship with Republic National Distributing Company, one of the country's leading spirits and wines distrib- utors, as its exclusive distributor in eight markets, effective July 1. The appointment, which came after an extensive review process, creates a tighter alignment between the companies at the local market level. RNDC will represent Pernod Ricard spirits and wines brands in Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Washington, D.C. RNDC also will sell Pernod Ricard wines in Virginia, Georgia and New Mexico under National Distrib- uting Company. And RNDC will continue to act as an authorized distribution agent for Pernod Ricard USA in Michigan. "Our renewed partnership with RNDC significantly enhances our powerful route to consumers," said Bryan Fry, President and CEO of Pernod Ricard USA. "RNDC has a strong track record of success with Pernod Ricard in its appointed markets, and we look forward to further leveraging their excellent planning and execution capabilities." Tom Cole, RNDC's President, said RNDC is pleased to enhance its relationship with Pernod Ricard USA. "We are confident that we can build upon the momentum enjoyed by Pernod Ricard's leading brands, which are desired by bartenders, retailers and con- sumers alike," he said. Cole added that he expects the leadership teams of both com- panies to jointly develop even stronger, mutually beneficial initiatives in support of Pernod Ricard's portfolio. RNDC is the second largest distributor of premium wine and spirits in the United States. The distributor employs more than 7,800 individuals nationwide. For more information on RNDC, visit www.rndc-usa.com. Pernod Ricard USA supplies a number of prestigious wine and spirits brands, includ- ing Absolut ® Vodka, Chivas Regal ® Scotch Whisky, Glenlivet ® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson ® Irish Whiskey, Malibu ® Rum, Kahlúa ® Liqueur, Beefeater ® Gin, Ply- mouth™ Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry ® Gin, Martell ® Cognac, Hiram Walker ® Liqueurs, Avión™ Tequila and Jacob's Creek ® , Bran- cott Estate ® , Perrier-Jouët ® and G.H. Mumm™ wines. For more information, visit www.acceptresponsibility.org. GN

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