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NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n MARCH 2015 n GOURMET NEWS N H 4 2 Gluten Intolerance Group Provides Assurance for Consumers Seeking Gluten-Free Products An interview with Judi Thomas, Application Manager, Gluten Intolerance Group of North America. GN: Tell our readers about your company. What's your main line of business? JT: The Gluten Intolerance Group is a non- profit organization bringing awareness about Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance to a global audience. Our Industry Program, the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO), started in 2005. GFCO certification is a voluntary, third party certification process that creates consumer assurance that the product meets strict standards for gluten- free through the provision of a highly recog- nizable certification seal. We currently certify over 1,369 brands, more than 22,050 products and conduct audits in 27 countries. GN: What would you say makes your com- pany unique? JT: GFCO differentiates itself from other gluten-free certification organizations by conducting annual in-person inspections of facilities to assure that standards are met. We strive to provide a strong, working relation- ship with clients during their certification process to keep them informed and educated as to the procedural steps being taken and creating a bond that allows them to feel comfortable in asking us any questions that come to mind. GN: To what do you attribute your com- pany's success? JT: I have been with the organization for just over two years and have a background in human resources and high-end customer service. GIG has been a true joy to work for, as it is truly a family environment with a strong team behind it. Each employee is ded- icated, passionate and has his or her own set of unique qualities. I feel very proud to work with such a great team that I can consider my extended family and look forward to our growth and transformations that are currently happening and coming in the near future. GN: How can our readers find out more about your company? JT: Should a com- pany wish to certify, I will be their first con- tact. They can visit our website at www.gfco.org where there is a "Request for More Information" link or they can email me directly at judi.thomas@gluten.net. The ap- plication and quote process is free to prospective companies, and there is no finan- cial obligation until your company is ready to move forward. We are also at several shows a year where they can find us walking around or at our GIG booth. We invite you to stop by, as we love to meet new people and visit with our current companies! For more information, visit www.gfco.org, call 253.218.2956 or stop by booth #5200. Record Crowds of Gift Providers Expected in Ohio Tom and Pam Newell, award-winning Ohio gift basket designers, national retail- ers, international speakers and founders of the National Gift Basket Professional Convention, would like to announce the record breaking pre-registered crowds coming to Canton, Ohio. They have kept the event in Ohio to keep it affordable and allow more gift basket professionals to at- tend. They love Canton because it is 10 minutes from the Akron/Canton airport, has affordable rates to keep the attendee and vendor cost down, has a convention center connected to the hotel, and is a per- fect fit to meet their goal to grow the gift industry with continued success. The pre- registration has been overwhelming and the classes are going to be filled with at- tendees and vendors united. Tom and Pam Newell (owners of Gift Bas- ket School Inc.) will be the kick off hosts and two of the featured 10 speakers at The 2015 GBP Rally & Ultimate Gift Show! It takes place August 20-22, 2015 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center connected to the Holiday Inn Hotel - Belden Village, in Canton, Ohio on Everhard Rd. and is promising to be over- flowing with gift providers united. The Can- ton, Ohio location will be a great fit housing Gift Basket Professionals "GBP," florists, balloon pros, gift retailers and industry ven- dors coming together for 2015. "This will allow the industry to get stronger, unite and keep growing," Tom said. Newell also said, "we had so many requests at our 2014 sold out event asking for three days and to expand the industries adding flo- ral, event planners, balloon pros and gift re- tailers, we listened and expanded this year to meet their requests." This Rally event is the 16th yearly Gift Basket Workshop & Seminar tradeshow hosted by the Newell's. It promises to be filled with expert instructors from their specialty fields, the best vendors for the industry, design classes for floral, baskets, balloons and gifts, marketing seminars, how to demos, product info, selling tech- nique, tradeshow, networking with profes- sionals united from all over the world, and much more in Canton, Ohio! This is a great career opportunity and you can get training when attending this three-day event to begin your career before the hol- idays. For more information, visit www.giftbasketpro fessional.com or call Pam at 330.478.0555. Benissimo Fulfills Consumer Demand with New Fruit and Seed Oils Benissimo takes great pride in producing natural, gourmet flavor-infused oils, and with consumers looking to it for new prod- ucts that follow the popular clean eating trends, it is proud to feature a new line of fruit and seed oils. These products are the perfect addition for retailers who are looking to attract customers interested in specialty oils. Like all Benissimo products, the Expeller Pressed Avocado Oil, Expeller Pressed Toasted Sesame Seed Oil and Refined Grapeseed Oils are all natural. To meet the most current consumer demand for new va- rieties of gourmet specialty oils, the new fruit and seed oils are also Non-GMO Project Ver- ified. With a high smoking point and a clean, fresh flavor, the Avocado and Grapeseed oils are great for a multitude of uses, including sautéing, roasting, marinades, sauces and dressings. The Toasted Sesame Seed Oil has a distinct sesame flavor that is perfect for dressings, sauces or any recipe that is complemented by a deli- cious, nutty flavor boost. All of the new fruit and seed oils are ideal for cooks who enjoy cook- ing with fresh, seasonal ingredi- ents, and they are especially appealing to those consumers who are interested in products that fit in with the newest real food and clean eating health trends. In order to stay true to its brand and repu- tation for producing the very best gourmet products, Benissimo packages the new fruit and seed oils in beautiful, sleek bottles and high quality oils to ensure that the line is true to its motto and "Tastes as good as it looks!" Benissimo offers a full line of nine all nat- ural flavor-infused oils, seven fla- vored vinegars and the three new fruit and seed oils, each of which has a range of fantastic uses from mari- nating and cooking to salad dress- ings and bread dippers. All Benissimo oils and vinegars are cre- ated and bottled in its SQF certified facility. For retailers interested in of- fering their own unique, upscale pri- vate label flavored oils and balsamic vinegars, Benissimo offers an established and extensive range of private label oppor- tunities. For sales and distribution, contact Source At- lantique at 201.947.1000, ext. 139 or online at www.sourceatlantique.com/brand/benissimo. Virtuous Living: Taste Freedom Nichole Thomas is the Founder and CEO of Virtuous Living. She created the com- pany and product line out of a need to feed her family, safely. Both she and her oldest daughter were diagnosed with a severe gluten intolerance and soon realized that the seasonings she had been using to pre- pare food for her family was making them sick. So she decided to create her own. The spice blends that came from this ambitious experiment are nothing short of amazing. They are hand-crafted, using only premium ingredients, and blended to perfection in a dedicated gluten-free envi- ronment. Virtuous Living is also one of very few companies that carries five inter- nationally recognized certifications, and that is something it is very proud of. She is grateful to have found a way to feed her family healthy, flavorful food, with- out compromising the spe- cific dietary needs they have. It brings Virtuous Living even more joy to offer the same things to others. Started as a family business, both Nichole and her cousin and business partner, Bronique, invite you to visit the website to learn more about their products and the Virtuous Living philosophy, and to share it with your friends and family. Their hope is by choosing to do something better today than we did yes- terday, we can all have a tremendous impact in the world. For more information, visit www.virtuous living.com.

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