Oser Communications Group

GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com n JUNE 2018 n GOURMET NEWS 4 8 Lark Fine Foods Offers COOKIES-FOR-GROWN-UPS Since its founding in 2008, Lark Fine Foods has distinguished itself as an award- winning specialty foods company recog- nized for its innovative flavor profiles, dedication to quality and sophisticated clean-lined packaging. Lark's COOKIES- FOR-GROWN-UPS are the hallmark of this diversified 100 percent women-owned enterprise celebrating its 10th anniversary. Using sophisticated "grown-up" flavor combinations, Lark creates baked goods that are highly flavorful but not overly sweet, responding to a void in the specialty foods market. Ingredients, such as burnt sugar, fennel, rum, etc., are combined in unexpected ways creating an end-result certain to delight the culinary senses. Best described as "deliciously different," these wholesome indulgences feature sweet and savory elements that especially appeal to a discerning, mature palate. Available in 11 flavors with seasonal offerings, COOK- IES-FOR-GROWN-UPS boast the unique ability to be served easily with coffee and tea, or enjoyed as a cocktail cookie paired with wine and cheese. As a guiding philosophy, Lark operates on the premise that less is more when it comes to crafting its artisan treats. Ingre- dient selection undergoes a rigorous re- view process that is driven by compliance with non-GMO and kosher specifications. Strict adherence to high-quality standards differentiates Lark products as being free of preservatives and artificial additives. Lark Chief Executive Officer and Principal Brooke Carroll states, "Lark has always been committed to making a distinctively all-natural product. We feel fortunate to be positioned to address consumers' growing interest in healthier snack- ing." In addition, Lark makes every effort to source locally and produce baked goods in small batches to ensure the high- est quality. In June 2018, Lark Fine Foods launched a packag- ing redesign that provides retailers with greater ease of merchandis- ing and ensures freshness. Per Carroll, "Customers have always appreciated our beautiful packaging and clean-lined aes- thetic. Accordingly, our redesign preserves these elements and provides added con- venience for retailers and consumers alike." Recently, Lark's stylish seasonal holiday packaging was the recipient of the 2018 American Package Design Award in GDUSA. Concurrently, Lark is introducing a Sa- vory Biscuit line to accompany its existing French Olive Scourtin. The rollout in- cludes Sesame, Almond and Tuscan. "Leveraging our experience in the cookie industry makes ex- pansion into savory crackers a logical step for us. Fans of the Lark brand will appreciate our twist on this evolving segment of the specialty foods market," comments Carroll. A delicate nutty, buttery taste with a dusting of sea salt are the distinguishing features of Lark's Savory Biscuits. These crackers will be available to the retail mar- ket and via www.larkfinefoods.com as of July, 2018. Lark products are available at independ- ent grocers and several major retailers across the U.S., including Dean & Deluca, Whole Foods, Central Market, Kings and Balducci's. With an uncompromising com- mitment to quality, Lark bakes, packs and ships all products daily from its boutique baking facility 30 miles north of Boston in historic Essex, Massachusetts. Visit Lark at booth #6219. Jana Foods: Traditional, Fresh, Natural Founded in 1995, Jana Foods is a New Jer- sey-based importer of fine cheese from around the world. Over the years, the com- pany has established a strong portfolio of brands from many different countries, in- cluding Holland, England, Australia, Den- mark, Argentina, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Hungary and others. It carefully selects its suppliers and holds them to rigorous stan- dards of quality, consistency and value. All of its products are produced in the traditional way, and are made with only fresh and natu- ral ingredients. Its vast assortment of prod- ucts are offered in multiple sizes and pack- aging options to try and meet each customer's needs. It has maintained its small company values and attention to detail, with a staff that has over a century of industry ex- perience. Brand in categories: A Dutch Masterpiece Collection: (Rembrandt, Vincent, Vermeer, Frans Hals), Orange Windmill Collection: (Cablanca, Mediterranean Herbs, Leyden, Chili Pepper), Kroon Collection, Wyke Farms, Jana Valley, DairyVale, Gayo Azul, Oscar Wilde, Murray Bridge, La Paulina, Arvaniti and more. Featured Product: Rembrandt Extra Aged Gouda Rembrandt Extra Aged Gouda is 100 percent naturally and master- fully crafted from the milk of grass-fed cows. Traditionally ripened for one year, it is made from an exclusive Dutch Gouda recipe, a traditional approach that was spe- cially created for pro- ducing and maturing the cheese in a classic, nat- ural way. This award- winning Dutch cheese has the sharpness of an aged Gouda balanced with a smooth, firm tex- ture. It has a golden color and subtle caramel flavor. It is a true Dutch Masterpiece. Visit Jana Foods at booth #947. For more in- formation, go to www.janafoods.com, email info@janafoods.com or call 201.866.5001. San Francisco Salt Company: Pure and Simple The San Francisco Salt Company ® is the fastest growing salt brand in America. Es- tablished in 2002 by Lee Williamson, it supplies premium salt products to in- crease well-being from the inside out. The company's core mission is to serve its loyal customers with a salt of the earth experience and to provide them with pure and simple products that enhance their lives. You will find that the company's values share the same qualities as its products: pure and simple. SF Salt chooses only the best premium salts from suppliers around the world based on taste, texture and ap- pearance. Its gourmet and personal care brands are: San Francisco Salt Company – This is a leading brand of natural culinary sea salts from a variety of origins in unique flavors and distinctive packaging. Its latest innova- tion is the 5-ounce space-saving stackable salt shakers in 12 distinctive flavors. This well-designed interlocking packaging struc- ture also boasts a shaker and scoop top open- ing. Stackables are popular due to their easy storage and will soon become the new classic salt shaker. Epsoak ® – The fastest growing Epsom salt brand delivers targeted benefits to the con- sumer including mus- cle recovery, stress relief, sleep quality and detoxification. Ep- soak is a premium beauty spa and athletic re- covery product. All Epsoak Everyday soaks are USP-grade with all natural essential oils like lavender, peppermint and ylang-ylang. Epsoak Sport is the new bridge from training to recovery. Its brand ambassadors include elite athletes who seek a superior recovery solution. The company's tremendous sales growth is driven by its strong brand and consumer loy- alty. Its exceptional consumer brand loyalty is extremely high, with 92 percent like- lihood of recom- mending the brand based on user experi- ences with the prod- uct. It is dominating e-commerce with 99.8 percent positive reviews on Amazon. With its newly designed retail packaging and e-commerce momentum, the company is rapidly scaling its presence into national re- tailers. San Francisco Salt Company continues to receive substantial media exposure and ac- colades in popular magazines and blogs. For more information, go to www.sfsalt.com, and visit the company on Facebook and Instagram. McJak Candy Introduces A Christmas Story Oh Fudge Tins A Christmas time favorite, McJak Candy adds a 12-ounce tin to its Oh Fudge product line up available in chocolate and chocolate walnut. Featuring an image of Ralphie from the classic holiday movie, Oh Fudge is hand stirred in copper kettles using the finest in- gredients, creating a smooth and creamy tex- ture. In 2009, McJak partnered with Warner Brothers and licensed A Christmas Story, with Ralphie uttering his infamous line "Oh Fudge!" SRP is $8.99. McJak Candy's handmade fudge is pro- duced in small batches using family recipes. The result: fudge that is rich and creamy every time. It is not the biggest, but the com- pany believes its recipes, ingredients and cooking methods create some of the best tasting products available. But don't take the company's word for it ... its products have received recogni- tion at a national level and have tri- umphed in several independent taste tests. McJak's deli- cious home-style fudge, gourmet lollipops, cotton candy and toffee are proudly made in its family-owned candy fac- tory in Medina, Ohio. Its mission is to pro- duce great tasting confectionery products using traditional cooking methods, such as mixing individual ingredients in copper ket- tles over an open fire. The milk and butter used in the company's gourmet confec- tions comes from cows that are happy to call Ohio dairy farms their homes. Packing materials, such as cartons, wrappers, boxes and lollipop sticks are made in the U.S. McJak became SQF Level 2 certified in 2012. Confectionery manufacturers, retailers and distributors looking for co-packing and pri- vate labeling, check out the options McJak has to offer at www.mcjakcandy.com.

• Cover