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Gourmet Food

Sugar Plum Introduces Wonderful Winter Chocolate Collection

Sugar Plum Chocolates‘ just-released Wonderful Winter Chocolate Collection of five gourmet snacks is sure to be a hit at any winter festivity.

The Wonderful Winter Chocolate Collection is a delectable assortment that encapsulates the enchantment of the winter season in every bite. This delightful gift box of chocolate treasures is carefully curated to bring warmth and joy to your winter celebrations. The Wonderful Winter Chocolate Collection is not just a gift box of chocolates; it’s a delightful journey through the tastes and textures of the season.

Share these delectable chocolates with loved ones, or savor them yourself as you bask in the festive ambiance of the most wonderful time of the year. This collection is an enchanting gift that will sweeten any winter gathering and create cherished memories for years to come.

The box includes 4 ounces of Milk & White Chocolate Peppermint Snowflakes, 3 ounces of Milk Chocolate Holiday Pretzel w/ Red and Green Drizzle, 3 ounces of Milk Chocolate Holiday Nonpareils, 3.6 ounces of Milk Chocolate Holiday Sandwich Cookies with Red and Green Drizzle and 4 ounces of Holiday Milk Chocolate Spiced Cookie Bark. Retails for $39.95 online.

On March 1, 1995, Sugar Plum Chocolates opened its first store in Northeast Pennsylvania, marking the inception of a remarkable journey. The mission was clear: to craft a candy business dedicated to spreading joy, one delectable bite at a time. Fran, alongside her son Neil, founded the company with an unwavering commitment to quality, exceptional service, and unbeatable value. This dedication allowed them to rapidly expand their local presence. In 1996, with the launch of their first website, Sugar Plum Chocolates took a giant leap toward reaching a nationwide audience, achieving that goal by 2000.

For over 28 years, the Edley family has delighted clients with their premium chocolate confections, using only the finest ingredients to create irresistible treats. Customers have come to rely on Sugar Plum for marking their most cherished moments.

From the very beginning, their vision centered on being a creative, independent, female-owned business. Their unwavering focus remains crystal clear – to make a positive impact on people’s lives by offering high-quality, delicious treats perfect for employee recognition, client appreciation, weddings, birthdays, and a plethora of other special occasions.

Sugar Plum has earned accolades from a plethora of media outlets, including Women’s Day magazine, Bridal Guide, PARADE Magazine, USA Today and The Today Show, among others. With a seamless shopping experience available 24/7, 365 days a year, the company is committed to catering to the needs of its customers and clients consistently.

Showcasing an array of gift baskets suitable for every occasion – from Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving and Halloween to Secretary Day, baby showers, bridal showers and other significant holidays and events throughout the year – Sugar Plum is also renowned for its ability to customize baskets to meet customers’ preferences, including corporate chocolate gifts and large quantity orders.

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Publix Donates 1.3M Pounds of Produce to Feeding America Food Banks

Publix donates to food banksAs part of Publix’s ongoing commitment to helping alleviate hunger, the company is purchasing and delivering another 1.3 million pounds of fresh produce to 32 Feeding America partner food banks this holiday season. This donation is in addition to the 1.3 million pounds of produce Publix donated at Thanksgiving.

These donations are part of the company’s commitment through its biannual Feeding More Together register campaign. Publix donates $10 million each year to purchase and deliver produce to Feeding America partner food banks. Customer donations provide shelf-stable and additional perishable food for local food banks and pantries. In 2023 alone, Publix has donated more than 24 million pounds of produce to Feeding America partner food banks.

“As we head into a season that should be full of joy, many families and individuals in our communities struggle to put food on their tables,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “We want to help make this time a little brighter by providing fresh produce for people in need. At Publix, we’re committed to helping alleviate hunger and doing good, together for our communities.”

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 250,000 associates, currently operates 1,359 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 26 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.

Below are the 32 Feeding America partner food banks receiving produce:

Alabama

  • Central Alabama Food Bank
  • Feeding the Gulf Coast
  • Food Bank of North Alabama
  • Montgomery Area Food Bank

Florida

  • Feeding Northeast Florida
  • Feeding South Florida
  • Feeding Tampa Bay
  • Harry Chapin Food Bank
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
  • Second Harvest of the Big Bend
  • Treasure Coast Food Bank

Georgia

  • America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
  • Atlanta Community Food Bank
  • Feeding the Valley Food Bank
  • Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
  • Second Harvest of South Georgia

Kentucky

  • Dare to Care Food Bank

North Carolina

  • Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
  • Food Bank of the Albemarle
  • Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
  • MANNA FoodBank
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

South Carolina

  • Harvest Hope
  • Lowcountry Food Bank

Tennessee

  • Chattanooga Area Food Bank
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

Virginia

  • Feed More
  • Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
  • Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

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Elmhurst 1925 Brings Fan Favorite OatNog Back for Holidays

Elmhurst 1925 proudly announces the return of OatNog, just in time for the festive season – and makes a special guest appearance in country music sensation Walker Hayes’ latest music video, “Fancy Like Christmas.” Back on shelves this holiday season at retailers nationwide, it’s the perfect choice for anyone craving the nostalgic and delicious flavor of eggnog without the dairy.

A fan-favorite that year-after-year flies off shelves, OatNog is back by popular demand this holiday season, hitting stores across the country, including Publix, the newest addition to its seasonal retail lineup. Crafted to whisk you into a holly jolly mood from the first sip, Elmhurst’s OatNog is a blend of cozy holiday spices, whole grain oats and buttery cashews that’s so decadently creamy, you won’t believe it’s dairy-free.

“We’re so excited to be bringing back OatNog for the holiday season,” said Heba Mahmoud, senior director of brand marketing and innovation at Elmhurst 1925. “Year after year, our OatNog has been a clear hit with consumers. Winter’s really a time for cozy gatherings where we share these indulgent treats with friends and family. Whether shoppers are vegan, plant-based or just trying to eat healthier, we wanted give them permission to indulge in these festive traditions, so we crafted our dairy-free OatNog as a cleaner and more nutritious option. It’s got the creamy, cozy flavor everyone loves, but with less sugar and zero junk ingredients.”

Elmhurst continues to deliver exceptional seasonal products, driving substantial growth in the market. Following the groundbreaking success of the nationwide launch of OatNog in 2021 and its sustained strong sales in 2022, the brand anticipates a renewed surge in consumer demand for this festive favorite. Alongside the return of Pumpkin Spice Oat Creamer and the introduction of Apple Pie Spice Seasonal Blend, Elmhurst is poised for another season of strong consumer interest in OatNog.

In a heartwarming twist, country music star Hayes, a fan of Elmhurst 1925, showcases his affection for OatNog by pouring himself the beverage in his latest holiday music video, “Fancy Like Christmas,” for a kick of seasonal flavor adding to the excitement surrounding this delightful dairy-free beverage, and further resonating with his followers on Instagram and YouTube.

Elmhurst’s commitment to delivering outstanding plant-based beverages is evident in its careful selection of simple ingredients, ensuring that those opting for dairy-free options don’t miss out on the seasonal excitement. OatNog, renowned for its indulgent holiday appeal, offers an unbelievably creamy, rich taste with minimal sugar and no dilution. Crafted with only six simple ingredients, it’s vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, dairy-free, and OU Kosher, pleasing even the most fervent dairy enthusiasts.

Like all Elmhurst products, OatNog is crafted through a unique HydroRelease method, maintaining the full nutrition of the source ingredient without added gums or emulsifiers. This zero-waste process upcycles waste into renewable energy and is powered by 100 percent renewable hydroelectric power, championing sustainability every step of the way.

As a part of Elmhurst’s ongoing recycling program, currently saving approximately 10,000 mature trees annually, all cartons are 100% recyclable, made from FSC certified paperboard, and transitioned from plastic to paper-based shipping materials for direct-to-consumer orders now using primarily PCR materials for molded fiberboard trays and scrap corrugate as protective filler.

Elmhurst OatNog will be available for purchase at various nationwide retailers, including Publix, World Market, Sprouts, Wegmans, Thrive Market, New Seasons Market, Giant, PCC Community Market and additional locations soon, priced at $6.99 for 32 fluid ounces.

Elmhurst’s plant-based products are available in natural and traditional grocers nationwide, including Sprouts, Wegmans, Publix, Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Smith’s Food & Drug, Roundy’s, Bristol Farms, Gelson’s, Fairway, Shaws, Giant, Erewhon and more, along with online availability at Elmhurst1925.com and Amazon.com. To explore Elmhurst’s plant-based milks, visit Elmhurst1925.com.

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