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OCG Show Daily 6 9 Sunday, June 4, 2017 along with decorative labels and instruc- tion sheets to assist deli operators in assembling and marketing the salads. "Jar salads are one of the most pop- ular product categories on social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram," says Chef Douglas Bond, New Product Development Manager for Freshway Foods. "These new salads appeal to con- sumers who want healthy meals that fit into a busy lifestyle," he adds. "When assembled in pint-sized, wide-mouth canning jars, the salads really capture your attention." Freshway Foods plans to show the new salad kits at the IDDBA show. "Consumers have been packing salads in jars for some time now, but this is new for retailers, so we expect these salads to be very popular at the show," says Bond. "We are offering three classic salad com- binations and one new salad with plant- based protein," he adds. "These salads will appeal to consumers of all ages." The new jar salad kits include: Chicken Caesar Salad – Traditional Freshway Foods (Cont'd. from p. 1) Caesar flavor, with romaine, tri-color rotini, cooked white meat chicken and parmesan cheese. Chef Salad – A perennial favorite, with romaine, tomatoes, carrots, cheddar cheese, turkey, ham and eggs. Cobb Salad – A classic salad with romaine, tomatoes, green onions, blue cheese, bacon and eggs. Protein Salad – On-trend flavors that foodies prefer, with baby spinach, broc- coli, corn, chickpeas, green peas, organic quinoa, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and Parmesan cheese. The kits are designed for maxi- mum flexibility, as operators can utilize packaging they already have available in the deli area. The salads can be packed in pint-sized wide-mouth can- ning jars (not included), pint-sized cups or 24-ounce lidded bowls. Ingredients are packaged in the kits to allow deli operators to prepare six com- pleted salads at a time, to maximize shelf life and prevent shrinkage. To learn more about the salads, visit Freshway Foods at booth #3770. Ready. Chef. Go! meals enable cus- tomers to quickly cook tasty, healthy meals for their entire family with zero food preparation and minimal clean up. Grocers, in turn, can experience a signif- icant lift in sales of perishable products and an opportunity to further differentiate themselves in the marketplace. The Ready. Chef. Go! program has two different steam cooking bags – one for oven and microwave use, and the other for grill and oven use that grocers can use to create pre-packaged meals that feature fresh, raw ingredients that customers can cook themselves at home in as little as three minutes. "Both products provide a high level of convenience to consumers," said Matthew Banghart, Director of the Ready. Chef. Go! brand. This year at Dairy-Deli-Bakery, Elkay Plastics is introducing two new exciting bags to the Ready. Chef. Go!. First, a two compartment bag that allows for proteins and produce or other meal components to be separated within the same bag. "The dual compartment bag will allow grocers to provide consumers a more visually attractive product that will enhance its merchandising capabili- ties as well as alleviate any cross con- tamination concerns," Banghart said. The other new bag features a laser-perf film which provides extended shelf life for meals. "The extended shelf life bags will offer both retailers and processors with a product that will reduce spoilage and provide greater product appearance adding to the convenience brought by Ready. Chef. Go! bags." Elkay (Cont'd. from p. 1) This product line also offers grocers the opportunity to differentiate them- selves from competitors through enhanced merchandising, and that's going to produce results in higher sales volume and profit margins for meat, seafood and produce departments. "With our vast experience in implementing suc- cessful Ready. Chef. Go! programs, we can deliver solutions to customers that will increase their sales and profit mar- gins while reducing their total procure- ment costs," Banghart said. Elkay Plastics is a leading U.S. supplier of flexible packaging for the foodservice, healthcare and industrial markets. Founded in 1968 and head- quartered in Los Angeles, California, Elkay Plastics has eight strategically- located divisions that stock almost 3,000 items. Elkay Plastics sells prima- rily through wholesale distributors and offers the broadest line of flexible pack- aging solutions available anywhere. "Our goal is to help our distributor cus- tomers deliver the best possible solu- tions to the end user. We are able to achieve this by utilizing one of the industry's few direct sales teams that are continually trained and educated on technical and industry issues," Banghart said. "Our innovation stems from the solutions we develop directly through our continuous interaction with our customers." For more information about Ready. Chef. Go! cooking bags or any of your packag- ing needs, visit Elkay Plastics in booth #2721. After the show, call 810.772.9488 or visit www.elkayplastics.com or www.readychefgobags.com to learn more. three flavors – Powdered Sugar, Cinnamon & Sugar and Cookies & Cream – have gained placement in retail- ers such as Wegmans and Whole Foods, and continue to gain distribution across the country. The Original Cannoli Chips are sold in 5.1-ounce bags, and the chips contain no artificial ingredients, no trans fats, no preservatives and are nut free. The prod- uct is being sold as a retail snack in super- markets, delis and in specialty depart- ments coast to coast. Golden Cannoli intends to launch a larger club pack, as Golden Cannoli (Cont'd. from p. 1) well as a smaller convenience pack, in early 2018, as well as seasonal flavors. Golden Cannoli Shells Company, Inc. has been in business since 1970, and has been recognized for impeccable customer service, commitment to quali- ty and on-time deliveries. Now, second- generation family owned, the legacy continues while breaking into this new category. For more information, visit Golden Cannoli at booth #4158, email info@golden cannoli.com, call 617.868.2826 or visit www.originalcannolichips.com and www.goldencannoli.com. items. All of the items are all natural and sourced from independent farmers who believe as McKenzie does in rais- ing animals without antibiotics or growth hormones – ever. If you haven't tried the products, you should. With McKenzie Natural Artisan Deli, you never have to trade off product quality for the benefits of natural and antibiotic free. Each delicious item is clean tast- ing and delivers clean ingredients that your family will come back for time and time again. You can try the line in New York City at the Summer Fancy Food Show if you are planning to attend. The line includes turkey breast, uncured ham, rBST-free cheeses, chick- en and American Angus roast beef. All items are crafted with natural ingredi- ents like whole muscle meat, raw milk and pure Vermont maple syrup. McKenzie received Non-GMO Project certification on both beef and ham McKenzie (Cont'd. from p. 1) items and will be rolling out the hams this summer. As a complement to the behind-the- glass deli items, McKenzie has a line of pre-sliced deli meats and cheeses. These items are perfect for people looking for the convenience of having product ready to use when they are. The product also comes in a convenient resealable ziplock package for easy storage. When you choose McKenzie's Natural Artisan deli meat, that's just what you're getting – all-natural deli meat. Not meat plus hormones, meat plus antibi- otics or meat plus anything, but all natu- ral, locally sourced ingredients like pure Vermont maple syrup and premium spices bathed in a signature blend of hardwood smoke. It's not just the tastiest way to do business; it's the only way McKenzie knows how. Find more information on McKenzie on Facebook at McKenzieDeli or at www.mckenziedeli.com. Learn more by calling 888.685.2686. for long-term success of the segment. Some categories fare better than others when it comes to consumer satisfaction. One place that has had a hard time crack- ing the code on gluten-free is bakery, which has lagged behind in finding suc- cess with consumers. Gluten-free cakes and cookies with gluten-free substitutes used for common ingredients often fall short on texture and taste. That leaves gluten-free eaters yearning for a better cookie that truly tastes like a treat, and families wishing they could find a cookie that satisfied the whole family – whether they eat gluten-free or not. What happens when someone realizes the absolutely delicious cookie his or her family has enjoyed for more than a genera- tion just happens to be naturally gluten-free? For two women – who by-the-way have been friends since the second grade – the answer was easy: share them with the world! Meli's Monster Cookies was found- ed by Melissa Blue and Melissa Mehall, two moms with an entrepreneurial spirit who recognized a need for a better-tast- ing gluten-free cookie in the market. Inspired to start Meli's Monster Cookies when her niece was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance, Melissa Blue realized the importance of having something to enjoy with a group of family or friends without having to worry about feeling left out because they were eating gluten- free. Then she realized the favorite cook- ie recipe her family had grown up loving was naturally gluten-free. With that same family recipe, and a business partner in Melissa Mehall, Meli's Monster Cookies began out of a kitchen in Austin, Texas. Meli's Monster Cookies (Cont'd. from p. 1) Today they can be found in hundreds of retail locations around the country. Unlike traditional cookies that list flour and sugar as the first two ingredi- ents, Meli's Monster Cookies begin with certified gluten-free oats and nut butter. That makes them unlike other gluten-free cookies on the market, and also a better- for-you cookie that everyone can feel better about serving and eating. They are moist, chewy and delicious. Perhaps most importantly, they taste so good they are enjoyed by everyone, whether they are eating gluten-free or not! Meli's Monster Cookies come in three delicious, fresh-baked flavors. Original, the family recipe that started it all, is made with crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips, plain and peanut butter M&Ms. Chocolot features crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips, chocolate chunks and white chocolate chips. Meli's newest fla- vor, Cashewlicious, is made with crunchy cashew butter, dark chocolate chips, fine macaroon-style coconut and dried cherries. All Meli's Monster Cookies are made with real, wholesome ingredients and do not contain hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, arti- ficial flavors or preservatives of any kind. It may be the delicious combination of oats and nut butter that give these cook- ies a luxurious texture and rich flavor. Or perhaps what makes Meli's Monster Cookies so great is that they began as a delicious cookie recipe, not as a gluten- free cookie replacement. Whatever the reason, Meli's Monster Cookies prove that gluten-free cookies and better-for-you cookies can taste absolutely amazing! For more information, go to www.melis monstercookies.com.