Bell Flavors & Fragrances Takes Citrus Collection on the Road
Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is hitting the road to exhibit its citrus collection at the Institute of Food Technologists’ 2022-2023 Regional Section Suppliers’ Events spanning coast-to-coast. IFT’s Regional Sections offer a way for networking with professionals steeped in the science of food to make strategic connections at a local level. These engaging events provide the opportunity for networking and education, and allow suppliers to debut their latest products and services supporting the science of food community.
Bell recently exhibited at the Minnesota Section IFT Annual Suppliers’ Expo and the Intermountain Section IFT Symposium and Suppliers Night, showcasing menu items with bold fruit and spice flavor blends, including Urfa Chili Meyer Lemon Snack Mix, Caviar Lime Nimbu Soda, Ponzu Togarashi Popcorn, Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites and Caviar Lime and Dragonfruit Taffy. Following recent events, the Bell team will be heading to upcoming 2022 IFT Regional Section Suppliers’ Events to debut their new citrus-infused menu:
- Nov. 1: Chicago Section IFT (CSIFT) Annual Suppliers Expo and Symposium (booth #308)
- Nov. 16-17: Longhorn Section IFT Suppliers Expo (booth #242)
“The Bell team is excited to embark on our Regional IFT Roadshow to connect with fellow industry colleagues and release our new menu featuring citrus flavors, like Ruby Red Grapefruit and Calamansi. Consumers continue to gravitate toward food and beverage items that contain natural flavors given a rising interest in clean label. And, with the stress of current events, they’re gravitating toward comfort and products that provide an uplifting mood boost. Given their vibrant colors and sweet-tart tastes, citrus is typically associated with feelings of joy, and we’re delivering a bit of happiness and a boost of flavor bite by bite, said Benjamin Stanley, CRC, corporate chef – sweet applications manager.
Bell will be joining exhibitors on the Expo floor to showcase a new citrus collection, educational resources and a team of culinary experts. Across the globe, consumers continue to lean into citrus, with 52% of U.S. consumers indicating that they like or love it and one-quarter (25.7%) of U.S. menus featuring it. Citrus flavors resonate particularly well among those looking to support their immune systems and increase their vitamin C intake. Bell offers iconic, natural flavors in its citrus collection, such as Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange and Meyer Lemon in addition to specialty citrus flavors, like Buddha’s Hand and Meiwa Kumquat. These flavors can be added to a multitude of applications, including confectionery, sauces and dips, beverages, snacks, sweet goods and more.
Inspired by consumer preferences and marketing data, Bell will showcase the following refreshing, citrus-flavored menu items:
Sudachi Snack Mix
This snack mix features Bell’s Sudachi flavor to lend tart and fresh notes of a Japanese Sudachi lime. Sudachi is a small, round, green citrus fruit and is a specialty of the Tokushima Prefecture in Japan. Given its natural sourness, it’s not typically eaten as a fruit, but rather used as a flavor in place of lemon or lime.
This delicious mix also features Bell’s Wasabi flavor to impart a heat-driven spice while Bell’s Kokumi technology makes the snack mix more rich and complex.
Citrus Slice Gummy Medley: Buddha’s Hand, Calamansi and Blood Orange
Buddha’s Hand: Bell’s Buddha’s Hand flavor has a distinct flavor profile, boasting notes of lemon and yuzu with a sweet, lemon blossom aroma and offering a unique spin on the classic fruit slice candy.
Calamansi: Bell’s Calamansi flavor displays blended notes of tart lemon, lime and orange. This citrus fruit is commonly used in Filipino and Southeastern Asian cuisines and can range from green to yellow to orange in color.
Blood Orange: Bell’s Blood Orange Citrus flavor has notes of navel orange with hints of tartness and floral fruits and is usually less acidic than a traditional orange.
Pink Limoncello Champagne Spritz Mocktail
Whether savored on a hot, summer day or enjoyed during a cozy dinner party with friends, this mocktail is sure to be refreshing and provide a mood boosting pick-me-up. The mashup of Bell’s natural Champagne Type flavor, Pink Lemon Type flavor extract and Lemon flavor (Sorrento type) deliver sweet-tart citrus notes with a hint of bubbly.
Ruby Red Grapefruit IPA Popcorn
This seasoned popcorn features Bell’s natural Ruby Red Grapefruit, IPA, and Hop flavors, which blend together to impart notes of fresh squeezed grapefruit and hoppy IPA beer. A refreshing spin on an everyday snack, this popcorn will inspire memories of sweet summertime and sipping on a cold beer.
Kumquat Madeleine
These mini madeleines are a condensed version of a traditional French madeleine. They’re flavored with Bell’s Kumquat and Vanilla flavors, giving them a distinct citrus note that is sweet with notes of sour and tang. Vanilla rounds out this sweet treat to elevate the cookie.
Bell’s presence at IFT’s Regional Section Suppliers’ Events will foster strong brand awareness and spark interest in delivering food and beverage products that spotlight its citrus collection. In tandem with citrus-infused samples, discussions around Bell’s proprietary technology capabilities and annual Spark trends will drive successful commercial connections among prospects and customers.
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Albertsons to Offer Cost-Saving Solutions for Pet Care, Meds
Albertsons Companies, Inc. is introducing pet care time and money-saving solutions for customers who are struggling to afford the cost of medications and veterinary services. With more than 1,700 pharmacies located nationwide inside neighborhood grocery stores such as Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and more, shoppers can have their pet prescriptions conveniently transferred and filled at an Albertsons Cos. pharmacy and pay less than what vet offices normally charge.
“Nearly 30 percent of pet owners are grappling with the rising costs of pet ownership amid inflation and most consumers don’t realize that our pharmacies offer prescriptions and over-the-counter medications for people and pets,” said Omer Gajial, chief digital officer and EVP health at Albertsons Cos. “Whether it’s delivering medication to their home, offering additional discounts through our Pet Health Savings Card, or partnering with innovative companies to provide convenient veterinary care, our commitment to our customers’ health and well-being applies to every family member, including the four-legged kind.”
- Albertsons Cos. pharmacies carry a variety of affordable pet medications including OTC tick, flea and heartworm preventatives.
- The Pet Health Savings Card, available at any Albertsons Cos. pharmacy or the grocery store mobile app, can save customers nearly 80 percent off the monthly cost of pet medications.
- When customers transfer a pet prescription to an Albertsons Cos. pharmacy, they will receive up to $75 in grocery gift cards after filling their fifth prescription.
- Pet medications are available for shipping and delivery and will soon be available via mail order.
To complement its pharmacy services, nearly all Albertsons Cos. banner stores offer a pet care aisle complete with an array of dog and cat food from leading brands such as Purina, Iams, Fancy Feast, Cesar and Racheal Ray Nutrish, along with treats, toys, grooming products and accessories.
In an effort to enhance convenience, the company is piloting two pet health service programs in Texas and California to help make routine veterinary care more accessible to pet owners.
Penny Paws mobile vaccine clinic visits towns throughout the state of Texas to offer communities low-cost, basic healthcare such as vaccinations, heartworm testing, heartworm prevention and microchipping. Currently, 15 Albertsons and Tom Thumb stores across the Dallas Fort-Worth metroplex host Penny Paws to provide neighbors with low-cost exams and vaccinations for dogs and cats. The company is exploring additional sites for the Penny Paws mobile vaccine clinic to include its Randalls supermarket locations in Austin and Houston.
“Our staff of licensed veterinarians is dedicated to helping pets live a long and healthy life, which is why our community outreach program is so important in protecting canines and felines against devastating and life-threatening diseases,” said Dr. Rob Franklin, DVM DACVIM and Penny Paws Veterinary Community Outreach lead. “Offering convenient vet appointments in the parking lots of their neighborhood grocers make this partnership a win-win for pet parents and their fur babies.”
Fuzzy offers unlimited access to a team of veterinarians who are available via video or virtual chat 24/7 to address common pet concerns such as digestion, dental hygiene, stress management and prescription medication. Launching exclusively this month at all California Safeway, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores, loyalty members can sign up for an annual Fuzzy household membership at a reduced rate of $59 for the entire pet family. Additionally, customers who sign up for Fuzzy using the grocer’s loyalty app will receive a $10 monthly credit that can be used to buy any pet care or food item in participating banner stores for up to one year.
Once a Fuzzy member, pet owners can track their pets’ medical history, prescriptions and vaccination dates, receive training and wellness tips and speak to a veterinarian at any time, resulting in less trips to a vet or emergency room clinic.
“We believe every person should have the opportunity to experience the joy of pet parenthood. To accomplish that, each day we are working to make pet care more accessible and affordable through personalized telehealth solutions. This unique partnership with Albertsons Companies is another step towards fulfilling that goal,” said Zubin Bhettay, co-founder and CEO of Fuzzy. “Albertsons is a company that cares deeply about its customers and understands the important role pets play in their lives. This partnership will empower pet parents with personalized, expert recommendations right from the store aisle.”
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Southeastern Grocers, Customers Donate $500K for Disaster Relief
Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross to support vital emergency assistance, disaster preparedness and disaster relief programs for communities in need. This donation includes $250,000 to SEG’s long-standing partner through the generous contributions of customers and associates during its recent community donation program held in all Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores.
The grocer’s charitable arm, the SEG Gives Foundation, donated an additional $250,000 to the organization earlier this year in preparation for hurricane season and disaster relief. Every cent donated will support the Red Cross Disaster Relief in helping families and individuals as they recover from natural disasters through food, shelter, counseling and other needed assistance.
Raymond Rhee, chief people officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, “After experiencing Hurricane Ian’s devastating force over our Florida communities, we’ve witnessed firsthand how the American Red Cross provides a lifeline to neighbors in need on the long road to recovery. We are humbled by our customers and associates who generously donated at our registers throughout the five coastal states we serve, and their support allows us to continue to stand with the Red Cross to support their crucial storm recovery and relief programs to strengthen and rebuild our communities when they are most vulnerable.”
Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers and associates throughout the Southeast supported the program by donating $1, $5 or rounding up their grocery bill to the nearest dollar while shopping their local stores during the month of September. Following the vast devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the donation program was extended through Oct. 18 in Florida stores to further support recovery and rebuilding efforts for affected communities.
Additionally, SEG immediately responded after the storm to ensure its associates and neighbors were taken care of by dispatching mobile pharmacies and providing essentials like bottled water, ice, nonperishable food and cleaning supplies to more than 2,000 Southwest Florida families.
SEG has a long-standing partnership with the Red Cross, a national nonprofit whose mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies through the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Last year, SEG, together with the SEG Gives Foundation and generous customers, donated more than $815,000 to aid and support disaster relief efforts.
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