Gourmet News

Blue Diamond Launches Limited-Edition Ranch Flavored Almonds

Published May 15, 2024

Blue Diamond Growers, the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, has launched Ranch Flavored Almonds. With cool, zesty herbs and spices, these limited-edition almonds pack a delicious, ranch-flavored punch along with a satisfying, crave-worthy crunch.

Blue Diamond is a world-class leader in consumer trend analysis and flavor forecasting, which has led to award-winning flavor additions including the 2023 People magazine Food Award winner Chilé ‘N Lime, a now permanent product in the snack portfolio, and the 2024 Good HousekeepingBest Snack Award winning Thin Dipped Double Dark Chocolate.

Recent research found 70 percent of ranch usage occurs outside the salad bowl, presenting an exciting opportunity to introduce a flavor that consumers are craving across all food varieties, just in time for summer.

“We’re so excited to bring a flavor that is loved by so many to our Blue Diamond snack portfolio,” said Maya Erwin, vice president, marketing & innovation. “We’re always looking for new ways to incorporate trending flavors into our products, and with Ranch, we hope our customers feel inspired to take their taste buds to a new level of deliciousness.”

Blue Diamond’s Ranch Flavored Almonds are not only flavorful, but also nutritious. Each serving contains six grams of plant protein and is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin E. These almonds meet various dietary needs, being Kosher, Keto-certified, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Available in a variety of sizes, the 6-ounce, 40-ounce and 45-ounce options are portable and resealable, making Ranch Almonds the perfect addition for summer entertainment, family gatherings or whenever hunger strikes! The limited-edition flavor will be available in select sizes at the following retail locations:

Walmart – 6-ounce cans will be available May to October.
Costco – 45-ounce bags will be available May while supplies last.
Sam’s Club – 40-ounce bags will be available August while supplies last.

For more information on Blue Diamond Almonds, visit BlueDiamond.com

Blue Diamond Growers, a grower-owned cooperative representing over 3,000 of California’s almond growers, is the world’s leading almond marketer and processor. Established in 1910, it created the California almond industry and opened world markets for almonds. Blue Diamond is dedicated to delivering the benefits of almonds around the world and does so by providing high-quality almonds, almond ingredients, and branded products. Headquartered in Sacramento, the company employs more than 1,800 people throughout its processing plants, receiving stations and gift shops.

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Study Shows Efficiency of Vollrath Food Processor

Published May 15, 2024

An independent study conducted this past year examining the performance of The Vollrath Company‘s Insta Cut® 5.1 manual food processor compared to using traditional knife skills delivered impressive proof of the efficiency and labor-saving capabilities.

According to the study, the Insta Cut 5.1 manual food processor cut a tomato into a quarter-inch dice up to 74 percent faster than a chef using only a knife. It was up to 66 percent faster when dicing onions, stressing its exceptional speed and precision in specific food preparation tasks.

The Insta Cut 5.1 has the potential to pay for itself with labor savings alone over the course of a year, making it a cost-effective investment for foodservice establishments that strive to optimize their operations. It also reduces food waste, which results in additional savings. For operations with several locations, it helps ensure consistency between locations by reducing human errors.

“Vollrath’s Insta Cut 5.1 manual food processor is not a high-tech tool, but it is a huge time saver in the commercial kitchen,” comments Becky Guentner, Vollrath’s product manager for Countertop Equipment. “The time and labor savings it can provide are significant in an industry where margins are increasingly slim.”

Vollrath will showcase the Insta Cut 5.1 as well as a wide variety of its comprehensive foodservice equipment, smallwares and serving systems at the National Restaurant Association Show from May 18 to 21 in Chicago. Attendees are invited to visit Vollrath’s booth, #4420, to learn more about its innovative products and solutions.

Founded in 1874 and based in Sheboygan, Wis., The Vollrath Company is a privately held, family-owned and, today, a six- and seventh-generation woman-owned company. It has nine factories spread across the United States, Europe and China that manufacture products to exacting quality standards globally, backed by outstanding customer service. The company focuses on quality design, engineering and manufacturing across its business divisions for foodservice and custom and specialty products. For more information, visit vollrathcompany.com.

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SFA Announces Gold Winners of 2024 sofi Awards

Published May 15, 2024

The Specialty Food Association has revealed the winners of its 52nd annual sofi Awards. Well-known and coveted markers of quality in the food industry, the sofi Awards are a celebration of creativity, innovation, and culinary excellence.

The sofi Gold Award-winning products represent the best of the best in each of 48 specialty food and beverage categories, from Appetizers & Snacks to Meat & Poultry to Water & Functional Beverages. Click here to view all 48 winners.

Characteristics such as spicy-sweet flavor profiles, global ingredients, and gluten-free formulas were shared among multiple Gold Award-winning products, indicating key trends to watch across the food industry. From a vegan, gluten-free tamarind-flavored recipe that took the Barbecue Sauce category to the smoky paprika and fleur de sel potato chips that won the red-hot Chips, Pretzels, Rice Cakes, & Salty Snacks category, bold flavors in unique combinations can be found throughout the list of winners.

“Congratulations to all of the 2024 Gold Award winners for receiving the top scores in extremely competitive categories,” said Phil Robinson, senior vice president of member development at SFA. “The level of innovation, creativity, and quality among the pool of entries we received this year was remarkable, and underscores the dynamism of specialty food and beverage makers across the industry and the world.”

Available only to product-qualified members of SFA, the sofi Awards were judged at the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University, SFA’s partner for the awards. FIC experts as well as specialty food buyers, influencers, and members of the media evaluated products in anonymous tastings using criteria that included flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation.

The 2024 sofi Gold Award winners will be showcased in a dedicated area of the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show, running June 23-25 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Additionally, the five top-scoring products from each category will enter into an anonymous-tasting round, live at the Show, for the chance to take home one of the sofi Grand Honors Awards: Product of the Year/Food, Product of the Year/Beverage, Outstanding New Product, Outstanding Classic, and Outstanding Packaging.

SFA will celebrate the 48 Gold Award winners and announce the five Grand Honors Award winners at the inaugural sofi Awards Gala during the Summer Fancy Food Show. Taking place in the evening of Monday, June 24, and hosted by Kristen Kish of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” the Gala is a ticketed event open to all Summer Fancy Food Show participants. Click here for more information and tickets to the Gala.

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