Gourmet News

Chrissy Teigen’s Baking Mixes, Banana Bread Available

Published December 13, 2022

Cravings, the food and lifestyle brand born out of New York Times #1 best-selling, award-winning cookbooks by Chrissy Teigen, is working with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the iconic global coffee and tea company, to make Teigen’s viral banana bread available by the slice for the first time.

The partnership comes on the heels of Cravings launching its viral line of home baking mixes, including Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread Mix, which is based on the banana bread recipe that broke the internet from Teigen’s Cravings: Hungry For More cookbook. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be the first shop in the country to offer the best-selling banana bread by the slice.

“It’s been amazing to see people all across the country baking this banana bread from the new Cravings mixes, and now that it’s available by the slice at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, it’s even easier for people to get a taste!” says Chrissy Teigen.

Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread from Cravings is available by the slice at 33 cafés across the Greater Los Angeles area from Dec. 14-23, and retails for $4.95.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Chrissy to offer one of her hugely popular treats exclusively at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf,” said Daniella Voysey, head of marketing, Americas, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. “We love how Chrissy inspires people to get in the kitchen and try new things, and we can’t wait to share her craveable creation with our guests during this holiday pop up.”

For more information on specific locations, visit https://www.coffeebean.com/chrissy-teigens-ultimate-banana-bread . For more information on the Cravings home baking mixes, or to purchase Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread Mix, visit CravingsbyChrissyTeigen.com.

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Blue Diamond Growers Names Bockmann President, CEO

Published December 12, 2022

Kai Bockmann will join Blue Diamond Growers, the agricultural cooperative and global consumer packaged goods leader, as president and CEO on Jan. 17. The board selected Bockmann after working with executive search and leadership advisory firm, Egon Zehnder, to recruit and consider candidates from across the country. Bockmann will succeed Mark Jansen, who announced his plans to step down after a successful 12-year tenure as CEO.

“The search process went well, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome,” said board Chair Dan Cummings. “Kai has more than a quarter of a century of global experience growing CPG companies, and we believe he is the leader we need to keep building our business and brand domestically and internationally, while continuing to deliver superior returns to our grower-owners.”

Bockmann most recently served as president and COO at Saputo Inc. – one of the world’s largest dairy companies – where he led operations that included 67 plants and 18,000 employees across the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina and the United Kingdom. From 2017 to 2021, he and his team grew revenue from $11 billion to $14 billion. From 2012 to 2021, the international business he led grew from less than $500 million to more than $4 billion. Prior to Saputo Inc., Bockmann was at McCain – the world’s largest producer of frozen potatoes – where he served as president of the international division and accelerated international sales across 60 export markets, doubling revenues over four years.

“I’m excited by this phenomenal opportunity to join one of the most consistent and fastest-growing food and beverage companies in the world,” said Bockmann. “I look forward to learning from growers and team members and keeping our immediate focus on maintaining business continuity and growth momentum.”

“We’re grateful for Mark’s support during the search and his commitment to helping set Kai and the cooperative up for continued success,” said Cummings. “We’re building from 112 years of success, and we know the future is bright for Blue Diamond because no one knows how to get almonds from growers’ farms to families worldwide better than us.”

Cummings said Blue Diamond’s snack almond business has more than a 50 percent market share in the United States and that Blue Diamond’s Almond Breeze is the leading almondmilk brand in the United States, South Korea, Thailand, Brazil and South Africa. In 2021, the company’s net sales totaled $1.6 billion.

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Publix Donates $5M to Support Housing Programs in Southeast

Published December 12, 2022

Publix Super Markets Charities is donating $5 million to support more than 240 nonprofit housing programs throughout the Southeast, including 126 Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Since 2014, PSMC has donated more than $33 million to housing programs, strengthening our communities and giving hope by building homes and supporting programs such as emergency shelters and transitional housing for individuals in need.

“We’re committed to helping people in our communities build hope by putting roofs over their heads,” said PSMC executive director Kelly Williams-Puccio. “Our founder, George Jenkins, believed that a home gives individuals and families safety, independence and hope. With this donation, we’re honored to continue his legacy by helping people facing housing insecurity.”

“We’re thankful for Publix Super Markets Charities’ continued support of Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the Southeast,” said CEO and executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Broward Nancy Robin. “While many in our communities continue to struggle with access to affordable housing, the generosity of Publix Charities enables us to help provide individuals and families with the resources needed to become homeowners.”

PSMC began supporting housing programs and Habitat for Humanity affiliates more than 30 years ago, with the first contribution going to Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County (Winter Haven, Fla.). To learn more about PSMC’s efforts, please visit publixcharities.org/hope.

George Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets and affectionately known as Mr. George, believed in giving. From the day he opened his first Publix, he made sure his associates, customers and community were taken care of. In 1966, Mr. George established the foundation with the vision it would continue giving long after he was gone. Publix Super Markets Charities remains committed to serving the communities in which Publix operates.

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