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IDDBA, ACS Team Up to Offer Salumiere Certification Exam

The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association has launched a partnership with the American Cheese Society to offer another opportunity for an in-person Certified Salumiere Professional exam.

The comprehensive exam encompasses product knowledge, merchandising techniques and consumer expectations that create the art of charcuterie. Certified professionals join an elite group of industry experts. The exam is perfect for deli meat aficionados and cheese mongers. It also provides an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers to learn about one of the largest consumer deli trends in the last decade and ultimately grow sales.

“The elite exam is known throughout the industry as a tremendous way to elevate skill sets and knowledge, said Miles Allen, IDDBA education coordinator. Increased demand for the certification led to the partnership with ACS to offer the exam July 10 in conjunction with the ACS 2024 Annual Conference in Buffalo, N.Y. The first 2024 in-person exam will be held at IDDBA 2024 in Houston.

“We are immensely grateful to IDDBA for collaborating with us in administering the charcuterie exam at this year’s American Cheese Society conference,” said Tara Holmes of the ACS. “IDDBA’s expertise and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our mission. Together, we look forward to providing attendees with unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and advancement.”

More information about IDDBA’s In-Person Certified Salumiere Professional (CSP) Exam can be found here:
Become a Certified Salumiere Professional

The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese, and supermarket foodservice industries. Member companies enjoy exclusive benefits and services including the annual tradeshow, leading-edge research, training programs, management tools, and an annual trends report.

ACS is the leading organization supporting the understanding, appreciation, and promotion of artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheeses produced in the Americas. At 2,300 members strong, ACS provides advocacy, education, business development, and networking opportunities for cheesemakers, retailers, enthusiasts, and extended industry. ACS strives to continually raise the quality and availability of cheese in the Americas. Since its founding in 1983, ACS proudly hosts the foremost annual educational conference and world-renowned cheese judging and competition in North America. ACS is a 501(c)6 nonprofit association headquartered in Denver.

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Harry Potter Kinder Joy Collection Available for Limited Time

Kinder Joy

Ferrero North America, the makers of Kinder Joy, the delicious treat plus toy made to help parents create everyday surprises for their children, is partnering with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products and Funko, for a of Harry Potter Kinder Joy Eggs.  The assortment features 16 Funko toys specially designed to bring families together to create magical memories. This limited-edition lineup includes two pencil toppers, two sticky notes, two bookmarks and 10 Funko figurines that include Harry Potter, Ron WeasleyHermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid and more.

In celebration of this new collection, Kinder Joy is partnering with the beloved Harry Potter film actor and everyone’s favorite Slytherin, Tom Felton.

Kinder Joy’s ability to capture some of the magic of the franchise gives fans a new way to experience its excitement and allows its legacy to be passed along to an all-new generation of witches, wizards and Muggles,” said Felton. “Through playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films I have seen firsthand how connected the fans are and I can’t wait to see how much they enjoy the Harry Potter Kinder Joy eggs.”

Fans, parents and children alike will be able to discover the full Harry Potter collection which includes the iconic Kinder Joy treat featuring delicious layers of cocoa and sweet-cream and topped with crispy wafer bites filled with cocoa cream. All 16 toys can also be scanned and brought to life in Applaydu, an app that uses augmented reality to extend playtime. The free app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

“We are excited to bring the new Harry Potter collection to families and have Kinder Joy be a part of those special moments of wonder shared between parents and children,” said Amber Hansinger, vice president of marketing for Kinder Joy. “Harry Potter is a franchise loved by people of all ages, and through this collection, we are hoping to play a small part in how parents introduce their kids to the iconic Harry Potter films.”

The Kinder Joy Harry Potter toy collection is available nationwide while supplies last. For more information on the Kinder brand and where to find Kinder Joy eggs in retail, please visit www.Kinder.com as well as the pages for Kinder US on FacebookX and Instagram.

Kinder Joy is part of the portfolio of brands by Ferrero U.S.A., Inc., the confectionery company known also for Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac and Nutella The Original Hazelnut Spread. Kinder Joy first broke onto the U.S. confectionery scene in 2018, quickly winning over American consumers with its delicious creamy layers, chocolate-covered wafer bites and exciting surprise toy. It has quickly become a beloved treat and toy, earning the title of “2019 Product of the Year” within the Kids Novelty Snack category by Product of the Year USA. For more information on the Kinder® brand and where to find Kinder Joy® eggs in retail, please visit www.Kinder.com, Kinder US Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, and Ferrero Rocher. More than 38,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life’s special moments. The Ferrero Group’s family culture, now in its generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate.

Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,100 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United StatesCanada and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger®, CRUNCH®, Keebler®, Famous Amos®, Mother’s Cookies®, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com.

From the moment 11-year-old Harry Potter met Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, his adventures have left an indelible mark on popular culture. Today, over 25 years later, the Harry Potter phenomenon thrives as one of the most successful and best-loved entertainment properties in history.

J.K. Rowling’s best-selling Harry Potter novels have been brought to life in an ever-evolving, interconnected universe which is loved by millions of fans worldwide. Eight blockbuster Harry Potter films and three epic Fantastic Beasts films bring the spellbinding action to life on screen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child mesmerizes on stage, and state-of-the-art video and mobile games from Portkey Games allow players to experience the wizarding world like never before. Fans can proudly showcase their passion through innovative consumer products, and thrill at spectacular location-based experiences – including five theme park lands at Universal Studios locations around the world.

This expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts offerings includes ground-breaking touring experiences and events, each developed to celebrate special moments and locations that fans cherish, as well as the Platform 9 3⁄4 retail shops and iconic flagship store – Harry Potter New York. Wizards, Witches and Muggles alike can also discover something new as they explore behind-the-scenes secrets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter.

With a new Max Original TV series based on the Harry Potter books on the way, this extended world continues to provide the community with fresh and exciting ways to interact. For its global fans, and for generations to come, it invites everyone in to find the magic for themselves.

For the latest Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts news and features, visit www.wizardingworld.com.

Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, part of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands, Franchises and Experiences, extends the company’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBDGCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim, and more. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, and promotional partnerships, WBDGCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

Headquartered in Everett, Wash., Funko is a leading pop culture lifestyle brand. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, board games, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters. Learn more at https://funko.com/, and follow us on X (@OriginalFunko) and Instagram (@OriginalFunko). Loungefly™ are registered trademarks of Funko, LLC.

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

HARIBO Creates Treat Retreat for National Unicorn Day

America’s #1 gummi brand, is celebrating its brand-new Unicorn-i-licious gummies by offering fans a one-of-a-kind, overnight experience in the heart of New York City’s Soho neighborhood.

Free two-night stays in HARIBO’s unicorn-themed Treat Retreat will go live on HariboTreatRetreat.com at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 9 (National Unicorn Day).

The Treat Retreat brings HARIBO’s fun and colorful Unicorn-i-licious gummies to life for kids and kids at heart. The 1,800-square-foot, 2-bedroom loft is outfitted from floor to ceiling with countless Instagram-worthy moments, including:

  • A family-friendly mini bar stocked with free HARIBO treats
  • A life-size unicorn statue for photo opportunities
  • A build-it-yourself pillow fort
  • A ball pit overflowing with more than 1,000 plush unicorn stuffed animals
  • A gummi wall art installation
  • Unicorn-i-licious gift bags (filled with fun swag)

“At HARIBO, every new gummi we introduce is a chance to spark excitement in our fans, and Unicorn-i-licious is the latest example of that,” said Avery Jukes, senior brand manager at HARIBO of America. “We know our fans love our iconic treats like Goldbears, Twin Snakes and Starmix, and at the same time they’re interested in new, innovative products. With Unicorn-i-licious, we wanted to inspire childlike happiness for fans of all ages, so we crafted a whimsical unicorn shape, new fun flavors and brought a magical, colorful, immersive dream space to reality for our consumers in one of the most exciting places in the world, New York City.”

Groups of up to four people can claim a stay at the Treat Retreat for the following dates:

  • Wednesday, April 10 to Friday, April 12
  • Saturday, April 13 to Monday, April 15
  • Tuesday, April 16 to Thursday, April 18

Unicorn-i-licious marks HARIBO’s first-ever unicorn-shaped gummi, as well as the debut of cotton candy and tangerine flavors in the U.S., joining a tasty assortment that also includes apple, blue raspberry, banana and berry punch.

For more information on HARIBO and the Treat Retreat, visit haribo.com and follow along at @HARIBOUSA on Instagram.

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