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GOURMET NEWS DECEMBER 2014 www.gourmetnews.com Supplier Business SUPPLIER BUSINESS 1 1 BRIEFS Nestle Announces Farm Animal Welfare Commitment Nestle has announced a major pledge to improve the welfare of the farm animals in its supply chain, following the signature of a partnership agreement with NGO World Animal Protection. The agreement means that the hundreds of thousands of farms that supply Nestle with their dairy, meat, poultry and eggs will have to comply with tighter animal welfare standards. Nestle, with its global purchasing footprint, also becomes the first major food company to form an international partnership with an animal welfare NGO. World Animal Protection, which has been working with governments, communities and international agencies to improve animal welfare for more than 50 years, welcomed the agreement. Nestle has some 7,300 suppliers from whom it buys animal-derived products directly, including milk, meat and eggs. Deep Eddy Vodka Unveils New Distillery Deep Eddy Vodka, the Austin-based premium vodka company, recently opened its new distillery in Dripping Springs, Texas on October 10. The distillery is designed to serve as a multi-purpose facility with manufacturing and production areas, as well as areas specially designed to accommodate guests. The new distillery will allow Deep Eddy to host the public for the first time for tours, vodka tastings and private events. The distillery will be open to the public on weekends for tours and tastings: Friday and Saturday 11am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm. Reservations for tours and tastings for private groups are available throughout the week. Perfect for a wedding reception and other special events, the Deep Eddy Distillery will be available for private events seven days per week. The Deep Eddy Vodka distillery is located just 25 miles west of Austin. Carroll Shelby Foundation Launches Southwestern Food Line The Carroll Shelby Foundation has launched the Carroll Shelby's Terlingua Texas line of authentic Southwestern products. Branded with the colorful Texan's signature dynamic style and infused with Southwestern flavor, the line launched with a broad range of infused olive oils and vinaigrettes. Proceeds will benefit the Carroll Shelby Foundation. Inspired by Shelby's original recipes, the foods are made from authentic, all-natural ingredients inspired by the region. Additional food products are in development and will be released at a later date. Products can be ordered online or at Carroll Shelby's Stores in Gardena, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Carroll Shelby Foundation was created by legendary racer and automotive manufacturer Carroll Shelby. Headquartered in Gardena, California, the Foundation is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in need, including children, educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefiting the Shelby Automotive Museum. BY LORRIE BAUMANN Darégal Gourmet is a family-owned French company that works with French growers to produce culinary-quality herbs, which it deep-freezes and packs in cartons. The herbs can come out of the home freezer to be used just like freshly chopped herbs without thawing. Darégal processes more than 40 varieties of herbs within a few hours of harvest, utilizing a quick-freez- ing process that preserves color, flavor, texture and aroma. Only the plants' tender leaves are used, and the products are certi- fied non-GMO and gluten-free. In addition, they contain no salt or preser- vatives – just 100 percent herbs. For the consumer, there is none of the spoilage that comes with buying fresh herbs for a recipe that requires a tablespoon of chopped herbs, and there is no salt or other additives that can alter the flavors of the dish. Unlike dried herbs, Darégal prod- ucts do not lose their potency within a few months of harvest, and essential oils are preserved. The herbs are regularly honored at the SIAL trade show in France. Darégal was founded in 1887 by a fam- ily that is now in its fifth generation as herb growers and processors. In 1976, Darégal invented the IQF process that al- lows home cooks to store herbs in their freezers all year round and just take them out, shake them over a pan or plate and put them right back into the freezer. "The product will last three years in the freezer. When you freeze the product, you're retaining all its nutrients, while fresh herbs start losing their flavor and aroma within 24 hours of picking," says Christine Cooney, Director of the com- pany's U.S. retail division. All Darégal Herbs intended for retail sale are grown in France from seeds that are de- veloped by Darégal. The one exception is the company's basil, which is grown in Spain. Relationships between Darégal and its farmers have spanned two generations. The combination of high-quality, fresh flavor and less loss of herbs to spoilage is leading to growing ac- ceptance among American retailers as well as home cooks, says Cooney. Darégal's best-selling herbs, includ- ing basil, parsley, cilantro and garlic, are currently distributed in the northeastern United States at Stop & Shop, Giant Landover and Shaw's stores and in the South at Central Market stores. In addition, Amazon.com offers more than 20 varieties. Fresh Direct will begin carrying the company's products this winter. And Hy-Vee and Full Circle have private-labeling programs shipping in 2015. "Retailers like the innovation, uniqueness and freshness," Cooney says. For more information, visit www .daregalgourmet.com. GN Darégal Herbs Offers Herbs with Fresh Flavor and Freezer Convenience Atlantic Natural Foods LLC recently an- nounced the acquisition of the Loma Linda™ brand of canned shelf stable alter- native meat analog products. ANF will also license the Worthington Foods brand and will transition these products to the Loma Linda brand in the near future. Previously, these two brands were marketed solely by Kellogg Company. Atlantic Natural Foods has been the sole producer of these prod- ucts since 2008. In addition, ANF also pur- chased Kellogg Company's Kaffree Roma™ alternative coffee beverage unit. "Transferring the business allows ANF to increase focus on development of shelf sta- ble alternative meat analog products that provide value to consumers," said Kelly Krause, CEO of Atlantic Natural Foods. "The Loma Linda brand is iconic, and we are pleased to be a part of their long tradi- tion of providing innovative vegetarian and vegan products. We believe that the demand for healthy alternative protein products will grow as more consumers incorporate non- meat choices as part of a healthy diet." "We are pleased this transaction with our long time partner, Atlantic Natural Foods, ensures brand authenticity and continued commitment to providing great foods," said Wendy Davidson, President of U.S. Spe- cialty Channels for Kellogg Company. "It also allows us to increase our focus on our core Kellogg Specialty Channels business." Atlantic Natural Foods markets Caro- line's™, Meatless Select™ and Loma Linda™ canned vegetarian products and Kaffree Roma™ roasted grain instant bev- erage products. Based in Nashville, North Carolina, the company operates its own product development kitchen, manufactur- ing, and distribution facilities. For more in- formation, contact the company by phone at 252.212.9000 ext. 102, by email at info@atlanticnaturalfoods.com or online at www.atlanticnaturalfoods.com. With 2013 sales of $14.8 billion and more than 1,600 foods sold, Kellogg is a leading cereal company, the second largest producer of cookies, crackers and savory snacks in the country and a leading North American frozen foods company. The company's brands include Kellogg's ® , Keebler ® , Special K ® , Pringles ® , Kellogg's Frosted Flakes ® , Pop-Tarts ® , Kellogg's Corn Flakes ® , Rice Krispies ® , Kashi ® , Cheez-It®, Eggo ® , Mini- Wheats ® and more. For more information, visit www.kelloggcompany.com. GN Atlantic Natural Foods Acquires Kellogg Company's Loma Linda, Worthington Foods and Kaffree Roma Lines Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter, joined by local officials and community leaders, recently announced that Amy's Kitchen, the nation's leading maker of organic and non- GMO convenience foods, will expand its family-owned operations by purchasing the 500,000-square-foot facility in Pocatello, formerly operated by Heinz. The new facil- ity plans to be operational by December. "On behalf of the State of Idaho, I am proud to welcome Amy's Kitchen to our great state. Idaho is a world-renowned leader in food processing – not only as a re- sult of our wide diversity of exceptional agricultural products, but largely due to our talented workforce with decades of ex- perience in the industry," said Governor Otter. "The reopening of this state-of the- art facility in Pocatello by a family-owned company that extends its family-style at- mosphere to its employees is exciting news for both the community and the state." Amy's CFO, Mark Rudolph, expressed gratitude for the assistance and support that Amy's has received from the Gover- nor's Office and local leaders. "We are thankful for the extensive support and warm welcome to the state," said Rudolph. Amy's plans to hire 200 full-time bene- fited employees initially and ramp up to over 1,000 employees over the next 15 years. When the project is fully staffed over 15 years, the economic impact to Idaho will include new total wages of $342 million and new state tax revenues of $35.7 million. GN Organic Food Giant Amy's to Open Pocatello, Idaho Production Kitchen

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