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Gourmet Food

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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Impossible Beef Hot Dogs to Debut for 1 Day Only in NYC

On Saturday, Dec. 16, Impossible Foods will debut an exclusive sneak preview of its latest meat-from-plants innovation – all-new Impossible Beef Hot Dogs – available for one day only in New York City.

As hungry holiday shoppers descend on Midtown Manhattan in search of the perfect gifts, Impossible will be serving up a gift of its own: free Impossible Hot Dogs on Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Impossible fans can tune into the brand’s Instagram page for the address drop in the days leading up to the event.

The giveaway marks the first taste of Impossible’s newest product, which promises a fresh but familiar take on the classic American hot dog and is set to launch in restaurants and grocery stores next year. The juicy, savory links offer a similar cooking and sensory experience to traditional animal beef hot dogs, but are made with high-quality ingredients derived from plants.

Impossible Hot Dogs outperform the animal on several key nutritional metrics: they contain 50% less total and saturated fat than a leading brand of animal beef hot dog served in restaurants, in addition to featuring a whopping 12 grams protein (versus 6 grams) and 0 milligrams cholesterol.2 Unlike most animal-based hot dogs, the franks also contain no added or synthetic nitrates or nitrites, instead using only those naturally occurring in cultured celery powder.

“Hot dogs are an undeniably classic part of American culture and not to mention, they’re a burger’s best friend. It’s long been a priority to add them to our product portfolio,” said Peter McGuinness, CEO and President of Impossible Foods. “Our adaptation replicates that quintessential hot dog taste, while offering consumers a nutrient-dense product that’s better for the planet. We want people to see that there’s really no compromise when you choose Impossible products. It’s as easy as throwing an Impossible Hot Dog on the grill – right next to an Impossible Burger.”

The craveworthy, nostalgia-inducing hot dogs cook up just like their animal beef counterparts and are primed for a variety of delicious toppings – from classic condiments like ketchup or mustard, to plant-based Impossible Beef Chili. And because they’re made from plants, Impossible Hot Dogs account for 84 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, 77% less water and 83 percent less land than an animal beef hot dog.

Impossible Hot Dogs mark the seventh new product to be released by Impossible in the last 12 months. Earlier this year, the company doubled-down on its beef-from-plants portfolio with the Impossible Indulgent Burger – a gourmet patty that recently rolled out across Ruby Tuesdays nationwide – and Impossible Beef Lite – a heart-healthy, plant-based take on lean beef. Impossible also expanded its chicken-from-plants portfolio with new offerings like Impossible Spicy Chicken Nuggets & Patties and Impossible Chicken Tenders. Meanwhile, its flagship Impossible Beef product remains the top-selling plant-based meat product in the United States by dollar sales and volume, across both the retail and foodservice sectors, and its Impossible Meatballs are the #1 best-selling plant-based meatball in the United States.

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