NatureSweet, North America’s leading vertically integrated agricultural company and the top selling brand in snacking tomatoes is teaming up with Barilla, the world’s leading pasta maker, to transform salads with the launch of their co-branded campaign, “Salads Done Right,” offering a new spin on salads.
The combination of NatureSweet Cherubs snacking tomatoes — packed with antioxidants — and Barilla’s newest addition to its line of Protein+ pastas – Cellentani (pronounced, “CHELL’-en-tah-nee”) — boosts the nutritional value of each salad. Barilla Protein+ Cellentani is a corkscrew shape pasta made with classic golden wheat and protein from chickpeas, lentils and peas. The pasta combined with sweet snacking tomatoes is a fusion of flavors and textures that elevate any salad to a delicious and nutritious meal.
“This partnership is creating mouthwatering summer pasta salads that are packed with protein, fiber, calcium, and even more vitamins and minerals,” says Lori Castillo, NatureSweet vice president of marketing. “Our fresh and sweet snacking tomatoes complement the pasta recipes beautifully, the perfect balance— light, refreshing, and satisfying— for families on-the-go, embarking on their next summer adventure.”
In addition to inspiring recipes, the “Salads Done Right” campaign will feature strategically located signage in both produce and pasta aisles, captivating custom displays, retail media placements, and targeted digital advertising to engage online consumers at Kroger and ShopRite stores.
“Pasta salad season is one of our favorite times of the year at Barilla,” says Angie Cotter, U.S. pasta brand marketing director, Barilla Americas. “Pasta is truly the perfect base to any salad and the addition of NatureSweet snacking tomatoes is a great pairing. We hope that our partnership together inspires fans to get creative in the kitchen as they prep for BBQs, picnics or weekly meals.”
For a summer filled with flavor and nutrition, NatureSweet and Barilla invite you to explore new ways to add protein to your diet through their exciting range of salad creations such as:
Barilla Protein+ Cellentani Caprese Pasta Salad with NatureSweet Cherubs
Cellentani Antipasto Pasta Salad with Cherubs
Penne with Spring Vegetables
The Barilla and NatureSweet campaign will run from May 27 to July 13.
NatureSweet is the single-source solution for greenhouse-grown vegetables and is the #1 best-selling brand in snacking tomatoes. The largest vertically integrated agriculture company in North America, NatureSweet guarantees great tasting produce year-round, both organic and conventional. Our vegetables are carefully grown, harvested, and packaged by more than 6,000 directly employed company associates.
NatureSweet tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers are handpicked at the peak of freshness and sold at major supermarket retailers throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. NatureSweet is dedicated to having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact within our communities, and our commitment is to transform the lives of agricultural workers throughout North America. This work, as well as our efforts regarding sustainability, have led us to earn B Corp, Fair Trade, and the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certifications.
Barilla is a family business, not listed on the Stock Exchange, chaired by the brothers Guido, Luca and Paolo Barilla. It was founded by their great-grandfather Pietro Barilla, who opened a bakery in Parma in 1877. Today, Barilla is renowned in Italy and around the world for the excellence of its food products. With its brands – Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Pan di Stelle, Gran Cereale, Harrys, Pavesi, Wasa, Filiz, Yemina and Vesta, Misko, Voiello, Academia Barilla, First, Catelli, Lancia, Splendor, Back To Nature and Pasta Evangelists – it advocates tasty, hearty and nutrition, inspired by the Mediterranean Diet and the Italian lifestyle.
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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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Gopuff, the app that gets you what you need in 30 minutes, and Grammy-nominated rapper Rick Ross are coming together to make this New Year’s Eve more Boss than ever. On Dec. 31, Ross is coming on board as Gopuff’s new Chief Delivery Boss to bring customers 21+ the best value on bubbly, party supplies and more, so they can ring in the new year in – attainable – luxury and style.
Ross said: “When Gopuff asked for my help in making sure all of their customers can throw Boss New Year’s Eve parties, I had only one request: we have to do it BIG! We’re bringing you Luc Belaire, 24¢ mini bottles of bubbly, and more – all delivered to your door in minutes on New Year’s Eve. It’s almost Too Good to Be True. Can’t wait to celebrate with Gopuff on Dec. 31.”
Gopuff FAM members shopping the Gopuff app or website can take advantage of several Boss New Year’s Eve Deals beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern on Dec. 31:
24¢ for select mini bottles of sparkling wine (limit two per customer)
24% off full-sized (750ml and 1.5L) bottles of Luc Belaire
50% off essential party supplies, including:
Confetti Cannons
Fool’s Gold Edible Glitter
Glow Sticks
Utz Cheddar Cheese Ball Barrel
Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider
Goslings Ginger Beer
Fever-Tree Ginger Ale
Basically, Red Cups
And more!
Plus, all Gopuff customers can get 15 percent off sparkling wines and Champagne when they purchase three bottles.
All offers are available while supplies last, in select markets and based on applicable state laws.
Nearly 80 percent of Gopuff customers said they plan to celebrate the new year at home and the number one beverage they plan to purchase for the holiday is Champagne. Whether customers are simply too busy to stop for supplies this season, run out of Champagne just before the ball drops, or forget a few important party essentials, Gopuff and its New Year’s Eve Chief Delivery Boss Rick Ross are here to save the day.
Gopuff remains committed to providing customers with high-quality essentials at affordable prices. Gopuff’s New Year’s Eve Boss Deals come on the heels of the company’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, which brought customers 62% off FAM memberships, and $0.31 Halloween candy deals.
Earlier this year, Gopuff introduced new benefits for its FAM members, including lower-than-Walmart prices on hundreds of top-selling essentials, and introducing weekly deals for even greater savings. As a result, FAM members save an average of $25/month ($300/year).
Gopuff is the leading instant commerce platform, bringing thousands of everyday products to customers in minutes. Gopuff stores everything from household essentials and groceries to OTC medication and more within hundreds of micro-fulfillment centers and omnichannel retail stores across the United States and United Kingdom. Founded in 2013 by co-founders and co-CEOs Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, Gopuff’s unique, vertically integrated platform offers customers a seamless and consistently fast shopping experience.
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