Get Adobe Flash player

NatureSweet Constellation Holiday Medley Debut

NatureSweet ConstellationThis holiday season, NatureSweet is bringing festive cheer to kitchens nationwide with its Constellation blend of red and green snacking tomatoes. Perfect for adding a pop of color and flavor to festive appetizers, charcuterie boards, salads and seasonal dishes, this 10-oz holiday medley offers a delightful balance of sweet red Cherubs and floral green grape tomatoes, enhanced by subtle hints of aromatic herbs.

“At NatureSweet, we love to make memories, even with our favorite, sweet snacking tomatoes,” said Mary Pettis, brand manager at NatureSweet. “Many consumers have shared how excited they are to try green tomatoes and create beautiful platters to share with guests. Families may also enjoy leaving these little red and green tomatoes out for Santa and his reindeer— a fun way to incorporate healthy options alongside traditional holiday treats. We’re proud to offer healthy snacking choices year-round, and especially during the holiday season when everyone’s enjoying delicious food together.”

Available for a limited time this December, the Constellation Red and Green Blend is a seasonal favorite and is available in a 10-oz package at select retailers, including Roundy’s Supermarkets, Hy-Vee, Topco, Peirone Produce, and Big Y. Suggested retail price is $3.49.

Make this holiday season even more special with NatureSweet Constellation tomatoes, a flavorful and colorful way to elevate your favorite dishes and celebrate the season.

NatureSweet, the leading brand in snacking tomatoes, is your single-source solution for greenhouse-grown vegetables. As the largest vertically integrated controlled environment agriculture company in North America and greenhouse grower, NatureSweet owns over 1,400 acres of greenhouse space.

With a dedicated team of approximately 9,000 Associates, we carefully grow, harvest, and package a variety of fresh vegetables, both organic and conventional, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers. Available in major retailers across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, our produce is handpicked at peak freshness to ensure superior quality. Committed to making a positive social, environmental, and economic impact, NatureSweet’s purpose is to transform the lives of millions of agricultural workers through a scalable and profitable business model. Our dedication to sustainability and social responsibility is reflected in our B Corp, Fair Trade and Equitable Food Initiative certifications.

For more news of interest to the produce industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Squishmallows Cupcakes Sweeten the Holidays

Squishmallows is getting its most decadent collaboration to date! Jazwares, one of the world’s leading toy companies, is teaming up with Baked by Melissa, America’s favorite mini cupcake brand specializing in “bite-size” miniature cupcakes, to bring fans an exclusive collection that is as cute as it is delicious. Transforming fan-favorite Squishmallows into bite-sized delights, each cupcake is bursting with flavor and is as fun and playful as the cuddly plush pals themselves.

“It has been so much fun bringing these iconic plush characters to life as bite-size cupcakes,” said Melissa Ben-Ishay, co-founder and CEO of Baked by Melissa, who designed every cupcake herself. “Baked by Melissa is an essential addition to any celebration, big or small, and we know this collaboration will be the perfect spin on our holiday treats for both Baked by Melissa and Squishmallows fans alike.”

“Squishmallows is a premiere lifestyle brand for every season and this holiday fans can treat themselves, family, and friends to this delicious colorfully customized assortment of indulgent bite-size cupcakes,” said Gerhard Runken, executive vice president, brand & marketing, Jazwares. “Collaborating with Baked by Melissa was a delicious new way for fans to experience Squishmallows this holiday season.”

Perfect for gifts, parties, and events this upcoming holiday season, this tasty collab will be available through Dec.31, and features six yummy, bite-sized cupcakes representing six lovable Squishmallows characters.

  • Jericho (Cookie Cow): Calling all cookie lovers! This cupcake features light brown vanilla cake, cookie dough stuffing, and cookie dough icing, topped with micro chocolate chips and red sprinkles.
  • Ricardo (Fruit Bat): It’s bat-tastic! This vibrant cupcake features red and white tie-dye cake, pink vanilla stuffing, and green vanilla icing, topped with dark chocolate and red sprinkle brittle.
  • Tolef (Cookie Bear): Another option perfect for Christmas! Our final cupcake features white vanilla cake and sugar cookie icing, topped with red and green drizzle.
  • Cam (Calico Cat): As one of the most well-known and beloved characters, this cupcake features vanilla and chocolate tie-dye cake with milk chocolate icing, topped with green drizzle and colorful nonpareils.
  • Ethel (Candy Cane Hot Chocolate): Pink lovers unite! This cupcake features pink vanilla cake, hot cocoa stuffing, and white vanilla icing, topped with white chocolate candy cane brittle.
  • Myla (The Christmas Tree): Oh Christmas tree, how lovely is this cupcake? Our next option features chocolate cake, dulce de leche stuffing, and green vanilla icing, topped with white chocolate sprinkle brittle in the shape of Myla’s beloved star.

The adorable cupcakes will be available in all Baked by Melissa store locations and online at bakedbymelissa.com for nationwide shipping, store pickup, and same-day Manhattan delivery. Customers can enjoy a 25-pack of the Holly Jolly cupcake assortment with Jericho, Ricardo and Tolef’s flavors ($37), the Under the Mistletoe cupcake assortment with Cam, Ethel, Myla’s flavors ($37), or all six flavors in the Seasonal Squad assortment ($42). This limited-time assortment will also be available with all flavors in a 6-pack ($10.25 in stores or online in a bundle of 4 for $41), 50-pack ($70) and 100-pack ($135).

Each assortment will be wrapped in a festive Baked by Melissa x Squishmallows sleeve and will be accompanied by one of six exclusive recipes by Melissa Ben-Ishay for holiday treats to make at home, all of which are inspired by Squishmallows characters. Videos of the recipes will also be shared across Baked by Melissa’s popular TikTok and Instagram, where Ben-Ishay has amassed almost 4 million followers with her everyday cooking.

For more information on Squishmallows, visit Squishmallows on XFacebookInstagramTikTok, and Squishmallows.com. For more information on Baked by Melissa, visit Baked by Melissa online at bakedbymelissa.com, on TikTok, and Instagram.

For more news of interest to the specialty foods industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Lindt & Sprüngli Hosts U.S. Debut of Lindt Dubai Chocolate

To make the holiday season even brighter, Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) is holding the U.S. debut of Lindt Dubai Chocolate, which will be available for New York City locals and visitors to taste and purchase during an in-store celebration on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Available in a limited quantity, the handmade Lindt Dubai Chocolate will debut in the Lindt New York Empire State Shop in Manhattan at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 until they sell out. The bars – delivered in high-quality, luxurious packaging – will retail for $14.99 each. Additionally, each guest who purchases a bar will receive a hand-numbered certificate and complimentary Lindt goodies to enjoy. More bars will later be rolled out across the USA in various other Lindt Retail Stores in limited quantities.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Lindt Dubai Chocolate Bar to the U.S. for the first time this holiday season, and there’s no better place to launch it than New York City,” said Ann Czaja, Lindt master chocolatier. “Our Master Chocolatiers have skillfully crafted the ingredients by hand, allowing chocolate lovers to taste the global flavor sensation that’s taken the world by storm in an unforgettable, luxurious experience.”

The first recipe for Dubai chocolate was created in 2021 by Sarah Hamouda of FIX Dessert Chocolatier and gained viral notoriety on TikTok by various creators. Now, the Lindt master chocolatiers are picking up on this global trend and are proudly presenting their own recipe. Lindt Dubai Chocolate invites fans across the globe on a journey into the luxurious world of Dubai-inspired flavors and textures.

Packed with exquisite ingredients that are skillfully combined by hand, these Lindt Dubai Chocolate bars make every bite a unique taste experience. With the chocolate’s texture being of the utmost importance, the melt-in-the-mouth Lindt milk chocolate is generously filled with the finest pistachio butter, crispy kadayif (crunchy pastry shreds) and velvety tahini. The combination of the luxurious Lindt milk chocolate and crispy, creamy filling makes Lindt Dubai Chocolate an unforgettable, indulgent experience that can’t be missed.

The kick-off celebration event at the Lindt New York Empire State Shop on Dec. 12 will include chocolate-filled experiences throughout the day. Guests can enjoy free chocolate samples, take-home coupons, and enter for a chance to win a year’s supply of Lindt Chocolate (details to follow). Though the Lindt Dubai Chocolate bars are a limited quantity, every guest who visits is sure to be delighted by the delicious fun that awaits them at the celebration event!

Store Location and Hours:

  • 7 W. 34th St. New York, NY 10001
  • 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Can’t make it to the New York City Lindt Dubai Chocolate event? Don’t worry, a limited number of bars are coming soon to other Lindt Chocolate shops. Follow @Lindt_USA Instagram and TikTok to keep up with all Lindt USA news. To be the first to learn about upcoming promotions, flash sales, and store events, join Lindt’s email list on lindtusa.com.

Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 175 years. The long-established Swiss company with its roots in Zurich is a global leader in the premium chocolate product sector. Lindt & Sprüngli produces quality chocolates today at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA. Its products are sold by 36 subsidiaries and branch offices in around 530 of its own stores as well as via a network of more than 100 independent distributors around the globe. With more than 14,500 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales of CHF 5.2 billion in 2023.

For more news of interest to the confections industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.