Ford’s Gourmet Foods Awarded NA Marketer of the Year
Ford’s Gourmet Foods, the master distributor for North Carolina-produced brands including Wine Nuts, Fire Dancer Jalapeno Peanuts, Earth Family Organics & Naturals, Southern Yum Pecan Brittle and acclaimed Bone Suckin’ Sauces, started on a drop-down shelf in the Ford’s Produce warehouse and has been awarded the 2024 North American Marketer of the Year Award from The North American Agricultural Marketing Officials.
“Lynn and Sandi Ford and their family have been bringing quality products to market since 1946 at the old city market of Raleigh,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Their gourmet line really took off in 1992 when the entire family got involved and they began selling Bone Suckin’ Sauce at local retailers and at the State Farmers Market.
“Ford’s Gourmet Foods was built on hard work, service to customers and quality products. They embraced international marketing and worked closely with our staff to broaden their customer base. You can now find their products in over 80 countries,” Troxler said. “International markets hold tremendous growth opportunities for food businesses and farmers and we are committed to helping them get there.”
Ford’s Gourmet Foods is a fourth-generation, Raleigh, N.C.-based family business with a focus on making and distributing only the best. “We’re very proud as a company and as a family to receive this award and recognition,” said Vaughn Ford, vice president. “North Carolina is a great state to do business in and the Department of Agriculture has given us the support we needed.”
“The harder you work, the luckier you get,” said Patrick Ford, vice president. “This isn’t a journey you can do on your own, you have to nurture your relationships both with your customers and with government agencies. You need both to make it work and be successful. We are also appreciative to our great employees.”
Learn more about Ford’s Gourmet Foods
Learn more about Bone Suckin’ Sauce
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De Novo Gets $4M in Funding for Fermented Lactoferrin
De Novo Foodlabs, a food technology company focused on creating rare protein-based functional ingredients, has announced fresh capital, bringing its total investment to $4 million. This investment will enable De Novo to fast-track the commercialization of its revolutionary precision fermented lactoferrin product, NanoFerrin. The raise, spearheaded by sustainable protein venture capital firm Joyful Ventures, highlights the immense potential of De Novo’s state-of-the-art, animal-free protein solutions to reshape the health and wellness landscape.
Lactoferrin, a functional protein primarily found in milk, plays a crucial role in infant development, and offers numerous health benefits for adults, such as improved immunity, brain health, iron absorption, gut health, and longevity. Lactoferrin has been shown to be effective in alleviating aging-related changes through its anti-oxidation, anti-cellular senescence, and anti-inflammation properties, among others. Traditional extraction methods from cow milk are not only prohibitively expensive but also plagued by sustainability and ethical challenges. De Novo Foodlabs was established to tackle these issues head-on by developing an alternative lactoferrin that delivers all the health benefits without the ethical and environmental drawbacks.
“The lactoferrin market has long been hindered by high prices and inconsistent supply,” said Jean Louwrens, CEO and co-founder of De Novo Foodlabs. “Our team of leading scientists and engineers has dedicated themselves to overcoming these challenges through precision fermentation technology, and we are thrilled to have achieved a breakthrough. NanoFerrin is not only more affordable and eco-friendly; importantly, it also provides a reliable supply source compared to traditional bovine lactoferrin products. We are excited to collaborate with our investors to elevate De Novo to new heights.”
“De Novo Foodlabs exemplifies the innovation and sustainability we champion at Joyful Ventures,” said Milo Runkle, general partner at Joyful Ventuers, and co-founder of the Good Food Institute. “Their advancements in precision fermentation technology and dedication to creating impactful alternatives to high-value animal-derived ingredients pave the way for scalable and profitable industry solutions.” As part of the investment, Runkle will join De Novo’s board of directors.
This latest funding round follows initial investments from Sustainable Food Ventures, Siddhi Capital, Pascual Innoventures, UM6P Ventures, Cult Food Science and Prithvi Capital, bringing De Novo’s total funding to $4 million since its inception in 2021.
The global lactoferrin market, valued at $773 million in 2023, is projected to grow annually by 15.8 percent over the next decade, presenting tremendous opportunities for innovators and investors to enhance the supply chain and satisfy consumer demand. De Novo’s NanoFerrin offers an unmatched ingredient for the food, beverage, and supplements sectors, facilitating rapid market expansion and category growth.
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Graeter’s Summer Flavor Is Chocolate Raspberry Truffle
Graeter’s Ice Cream, renowned for its indulgent, handcrafted flavors, signature chocolate chips, and Old World French Pot process, unveils the newest Bonus Flavor of the summer: Chocolate Raspberry Truffle. This decadent flavor combines rich, velvety chocolate ice cream with raspberry swirl and chunks of chocolate truffles, creating a truly indulgent experience in every scoop.
The balance of chocolate and tart raspberries offers a sophisticated taste that’s both rich and refreshing, perfect for enjoying as we transition from summer to the cooler days ahead.
Each seasonal flavor is considered a “limited time only” offering, and once the season ends, they’re retired for the year. Now is the perfect time to treat yourself to these indulgent flavors before they’re gone.
Fans are encouraged to visit a scoop shop near them, go to the Graeter’s online store or App to try each limited time flavor for themselves.
To learn more about Graeter’s Ice Cream or to buy the limited-time Bonus Flavors online, visit https://www.graeters.com or visit Graeter’s on social media @Graeters.
Graeter’s Ice Cream, celebrating its 154th anniversary, produces craft ice cream using French Pots, a small batch, artisanal method of production dating back over a century. Graeter’s has won the hearts of ice cream enthusiasts across the country as well as the respect of the nation’s most influential foodies. Tasted among 13 national brands, Graeter’s was voted the #1 Vanilla Ice Cream by MyRecipes.com in 2019.
Famous for its signature chocolate chips, the Cincinnati-based company remains family owned and operated and continues to handcraft ice cream 2 1⁄2 gallons at a time. Today, Graeter’s has 56 retail stores and ships over 300,000 pints annually for online mail order sales and corporate gifting. Graeter’s can also be found in more than 3,000 grocery stores in 46 states. Visit www.graeters.com for more information.
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