Heinz, Mustard Debut Heinz Mustaaaaaard
After taking the internet by storm earlier this year, HEINZ and award-winning producer, Mustard, are back with this summer’s hottest drop: limited-edition HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD. A smoky and sweet chipotle honey mustard with a kick, this BBQ essential blends real chipotle peppers with a touch of honey for a bold spin on HEINZ’s gold standard. Mustard himself carefully crafted the sauce at HEINZ headquarters in his newly appointed role as the brand’s first-ever Chief Mustard Officer. For the next two weeks, fans can exclusively try HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD at Buffalo Wild Wings locations across the country before the sauce becomes available at retailers nationwide.
As masterful on the grill as he is on the beats, Mustard has long used HEINZ Mustard as his go-to staple when grilling for friends and family. Now, he has his own remix, handpicking each flavor and ingredient in this never-before-seen sauce to uplevel summertime staples. HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD boasts a thick, creamy texture and just the right balance of smokiness, heat and sweetness. It’s just as delicious when used as marinade for wings and ribs as it is when topping burgers, salmon and more.
“HEINZ Mustard has always been the base and most important ingredient of my grilling secret weapons,” says Mustard. “I knew I wanted to make my own sauce one day, something that wouldn’t be like anything else out there. Adding mustard gives you that nice browning, bark formation, and grilling, but that’s just step one. I tasted a bunch of remixes with the HEINZ team, trying different ingredients like jalapeños, bacon, and chipotle peppers until I got the perfect flavor. It came down to three top competitors, but this is the one, the ‘Mustard’ of all mustards.”
Starting today, HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD will be available at Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars nationwide for an exclusive, first-taste. While supplies last, fans who order beef menu items for dine-in at Buffalo Wild Wings will receive a free bottle of HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD.* Following, HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD will roll out nationwide at Walmart.com, Target, 7-Eleven, and on Amazon, while supplies last.
The launch marks the first national innovation for HEINZ Mustard in nearly a decade and was brought to market in four months – just in time for summer grilling. HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD is also the first time the iconic condiment brand has ever co-created a new sauce with a partner in the United States.
“HEINZ MUSTAAAAAARD is delicious and will undoubtedly be the ‘sauce of the summer,’” said Peter Hall, President of Elevation, North America at Kraft Heinz. “This launch is the latest example of our ability to bring innovation and unexpected flavors to market faster-than-ever before. We are committed to elevating dining experiences for fans anywhere they’re eating, both in and away from home.”
Fans can learn more about limited-time sauce offering and hear about every exciting drop HEINZ and Mustard have planned this year at www.MustardxMustard.com. To find your nearest Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar, visit www.buffalowildwings.com/locations.
*Lim. time at particip. locs. while supplies last. Walk-in/dine-in only. Offer not avail. via web, app or 3rd pty. deliv. Ask server for availability before placing your order. Lim. 1. TM & © 2025 Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC), inspired by our Purpose, Let’s Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2024 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of eight consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we’re dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting www.kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn.
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‘Every Second Counts’ for US Foods at Food Fanatics 2025
Chef Scott Conant
US Foods Holding Corp. – one of America’s leading foodservice distributors, has unveiled programming for the most all-encompassing foodservice solutions show in the company’s history: Food Fanatics 2025 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Aug. 19-20. Themed “Every Second Counts,” the event will bring together more than 5,000 foodservice operators, culinary professionals, vendors, industry experts and an exciting roster of celebrity chefs, for two days of immersive content and experiences designed to provide countess solutions to address operators’ most pressing needs. Registration is open for the highly anticipated event that will feature 180,000 square feet of activities including access to industry thought leaders and celebrity chefs, expert educational sessions and panels, one-on-one consultations, more than 60 vendor exhibitors, culinary demonstrations and networking opportunities with peers.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and celebrity chef Jet Tila will kick off the event with inspiring keynote addresses. Celebrity chefs Scott Conant, Stephanie Izard and Jet Tila will serve up expert insights during interactive cooking demonstrations in addition to supporting other activities across the show floor.
“As foodservice operators continue to navigate ongoing industry macro-challenges, we are taking our promise to help our customers Make It to an unparalleled level by bringing Food Fanatics 2025 attendees more of what they need to succeed across every aspect of their operation,” said Diane Hund, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Unlike traditional shows that may focus only on food products, US Foods will provide comprehensive business solutions to help foodservice operations thrive. What happens in Vegas on the show floor should not stay in Vegas, in this instance, as we expect operators to take back and implement a wide variety of best-in-class business learnings and new product ideas aimed at elevating their success.”
Food Fanatics 2025 experiences and content are designed to highlight solutions to help attendees enhance their operations, including:
MORE QUALITY – Drive traffic up and costs down with high-quality and innovative products
- Unique food and vendor experiences: Sample and engage with high-quality, differentiated US Foods Exclusive Brands and vendor product innovations from center-of-plate to produce and grocery and non-food product solutions.
- Inspiration from celebrity chefs: A variety of cooking demonstrations by the company’s Food Fanatics chefs and other culinary powerhouses will inspire and ignite menu innovation. Highlights include celebrity chefs Scott Conant, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality, Stephanie Izard, Executive Chef and Owner of Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra, and Jet Tila, a globally renowned culinary expert who oversees culinary for Pei Wei Group’s 148 restaurants and is Managing Partner of Dragon Tiger Noodle Company in Las Vegas. Conant and Izard will also appear as guest judges for the highly anticipated main stage cooking competition featuring US Foods Exclusive Brands products, in which four top chefs from across the country will compete in a culinary skills showdown.
MORE SUPPORT – Navigate operational challenge with help from the experts
- 1:1 consultative support: Attendees will have access to a variety of US Foods and industry experts who have extensive experience and years of firsthand knowledge helping operators modernize operations, drive traffic, and reduce costs.
- Informative discussion panels: Talk Shop Live panels will feature a diverse roster of thought leaders from across the industry aimed at unveiling new opportunities for navigating a variety of operational challenges.
MORE TOOLS – Drive business efficiencies using the latest technology solutions
- Industry-leading technology and tools: Attendees will discover and interact with the cutting-edge technology solutions designed to help run their business with ease including US Foods’ MOXē platform, CHECK Business Tools and additional solutions from best-in-class technology partners dedicated to supporting foodservice operators.
- Educational sessions: Sixteen expert-led education sessions will spotlight technology and tools needed to address operators’ biggest opportunities, including marketing, staffing, profitability and the evolving industry landscape.
MORE DELIVERIES – Boost more flexibility, frequency and responsiveness for deliveries
- Solutions for optimized deliveries: Participants will learn more about how US Foods delivers excellence with its innovative delivery solutions that offer more flexibility, more frequency and more responsiveness, including Pronto and US Foods Direct. US Foods trucks of various sizes will be on site for customers to experience firsthand.
Food Fanatics 2025 is open for registration now. Visit www.usfoods.com/foodfanatics2025 for more information.
With a promise to help its customers Make It, US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 customer locations and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With more than 70 broadline locations and more than 90 cash and carry stores, US Foods and its 30,000 associates provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.
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Thompson Street Acquires NJ’s Bubbakoo’s Burritos
Thompson Street Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in St. Louis, has acquired Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a New Jersey-based franchisor of fast-casual Mexican-fusion restaurants. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2008 in Wall Township, N.J. by restaurant industry veterans Bill Hart and Paul Altero, Bubbakoo’s delivers a bold twist on traditional Mexican fare. With a focus on made-to-order food and a vibrant restaurant experience, Bubbakoo’s began franchising in 2015. The brand has since expanded to more than 130 locations across 15 states, primarily along the East Coast and Midwest.
This acquisition comes at a time when the fast-casual category continues to outperform broader foodservice segments, driven by evolving consumer preferences for flavorful, customizable cuisine and growing investor appetite for scalable restaurant concepts.
“Bubbakoo’s has created an innovative and compelling brand that resonates with a broad and growing customer base,” said Bob Dunn, Managing Partner at TSCP. “Bill and Paul have built something special—an exciting concept with strong franchisee relationships, consistent unit growth, and a passionate following. We are thrilled to partner with the team as they enter this next phase of expansion.”
“We see tremendous opportunity to support Bubbakoo’s continued growth by investing in technology, brand development, infrastructure, and franchisee support systems,” said Joe St. Geme, Managing Director at TSCP. “The Company has built a strong foundation, and our team is eager to help accelerate growth while maintaining the culture and values that have made Bubbakoo’s a success.”
“From our earliest days in New Jersey to now having more than 130 locations across the country, we’ve been incredibly proud to see our vision resonate with guests, franchisees, and communities,” said Mr. Hart, Co-Founder of Bubbakoo’s. “Our growth has always been grounded in our commitment to food quality, hospitality and a culture that values individuality and innovation.”
“Thompson Street Capital Partners brings deep experience in scaling founder-led businesses and shares our passion for supporting franchisees and delivering great experiences to customers,” added Altero, Co-Founder of Bubbakoo’s. “With their support, we’re confident Bubbakoo’s can accelerate its growth into new markets, invest in technology and infrastructure, and continue building a world-class franchise system.”
Sidley Austin acted as legal advisor to TSCP.
Thompson Street Capital Partners (tscp.com) is a middle-market private equity firm that helps transform already exceptional businesses into market leaders. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, TSCP invests globally in the life sciences and healthcare, software and technology, business and consumer services and products sectors. TSCP partners with management teams to increase value by accelerating growth, both organically and via complementary acquisitions.
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