NFL Great to Help Celebrate Pork Rind Appreciation Day
Get ready to CRUNCH into the 16th annual Pork Rind Appreciation Day campaign, “It’s Crunch Time,” brought to you by Southern Recipe pork rinds. Southern Recipe has partnered with NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas (Class of ’07) to support Coach Mike Ditka’s Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, which assists former NFL players in need, and to celebrate Pork Rind Appreciation Day. Football fans and snack enthusiasts alike are invited to participate in the “It’s Crunch Time” campaign, culminating in the biggest football day of the year on Feb. 9.
Consumers can join the fun and help raise awareness for one of football’s most vital charities. Enter to win a travel package to the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, CA, that includes two Super Bowl tickets, hotel and airfare, and, of course, a year’s supply of pork rinds!
From now until Pork Rind Appreciation Day on Feb. 9, fans can engage on PorkRinds.com, where they can enter to win the Grand Prize of two tickets to the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif. and a year’s supply of pork rinds. Don’t miss out—visit PorkRinds.com to get in on the action.
This year’s Pork Rind Appreciation Day “It’s Crunch Time” campaign is set to amplify Southern Recipe’s passion for football and highlight the perfect pairing—pigskins and pig skins. In honor of this beloved foodie holiday, Southern Recipe is rolling out the red carpet for all pork rind fans—from tailgating aficionados to recipe lovers and peewee players. And who better to champion this year’s campaign than Thomas, a legendary running back for the Buffalo Bills who dazzled fans with his remarkable career. Thomas is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was a key player in the Bills’ four consecutive Super Bowl appearances during the early 1990s.
“Partnering with the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund highlights our commitment to supporting football legends who’ve given us so much,” says Mark Singleton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Rudolph Foods. “In our 16th year of celebrating Pork Rind Appreciation Day, we’re proud to support this vital charity and show our gratitude to these athletes who continue to face challenges long after they retire.”
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund plays a crucial role in supporting former NFL players who face difficulties once their careers end. Often, these players struggle with health insurance, retirement benefits, and medical costs. GGAF provides essential assistance to these athletes who may no longer receive the recognition and support they once enjoyed. Each year, Southern Recipe takes pride in raising awareness through a celebration that resonates with all: Pork Rind Appreciation Day.
About Southern Recipe
Southern Recipe— “The tastiest crunch in the South—is a premium brand of pork rinds. Known for delivering iconic flavors in a nostalgic recipe, Southern Recipe offers this classic Southern snack in internationally inspired varieties that feature eight grams of protein, low in carbs, and are naturally gluten-free. For more information, visit https://porkrinds.com/.
About Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) is a non-stock, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing financial grants and ‘pro bono’ medical assistance to retired NFL players in dire need. GGAF focuses on the humanitarian side of post-football issues, including coordinating social services for players who need support due to inadequate disability benefits or pensions. For more information, visit www.GridironGreats.org.
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Chef Scott Conant to Give Keynote at Winter Fancy Food
As the 49th Winter Fancy Food Show approaches this month, the Specialty Food Association has announced a second keynote speaker: Scott Conant, a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality, will speak to the Fancy Food Show audience on the first day of the event. Conant joins previously announced keynote speaker Molly Baz.
“Scott Conant on Simplicity and Success, from the James Beard Awards to the Chopped Kitchen” will offer insights into Conant’s storied career in the kitchen and in front of the camera, beginning at 11 am PT on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Structured as a conversation with journalist Patranya Bhoolsuwan, the keynote will also explore foodservice success, how trends flow from restaurants to CPG, and Conant’s philosophy about the beauty of simplicity.
“I’m thrilled to share my passion and industry insights with some of the most innovative food entrepreneurs in the country,” Conant said. “I remember attending the Fancy Food Show for years as a young chef, and it still impresses and continues to evolve all these years later. Las Vegas is one of the world’s premier hospitality hubs, and I’m honored to be a small part of it.”
Known to many in the United States and beyond as a recurring judge on Food Network’s Chopped and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay, Conant has been an influential presence in the foodservice industry for decades. He’s won two James Beard Awards for Best New Restaurant, as well as a Food & Wine Award for Best New Chef. In this moment of burgeoning specialty food sales in the foodservice channel, Conant’s perspectives, experience, and vision for the future couldn’t be more relevant to the Fancy Food Show audience.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scott Conant, a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, as a keynote speaker for this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show,” said SFA president Bill Lynch. “Scott’s journey embodies the passion and innovation that define the specialty food industry. His insights will inspire attendees to think creatively about food and its evolving role in today’s marketplace. Buyers attending the show will gain a unique perspective on emerging trends, flavor innovation, and what’s next in specialty food from one of the industry’s most respected voices. It’s a keynote you won’t want to miss!”
Programming will run on all three days of the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show and will cover topics from funding to innovation, trends to tariffs, and buying to marketing. New Show features include First Taste Experience, the Winter Show’s very own food hall, located on the Show Floor and featuring only the newest products in the market; Spark Showcase, a dynamic area offering all-day programming that will spark new ideas, new connections, and new discoveries; Ask the Experts, an interactive space dedicated to 1:1 and small-group sessions; Debut District section of the Show Floor, featuring first-time exhibitors, new products, startups, and incubators; Tastemaker Conference Co-location, an annual gathering of food bloggers and content creators; and Maker Prep Course Graduation, a celebration of the first class of manufacturers to complete the reimagined six-month Maker Prep Course.
The Show is open only to qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates, and journalists. To learn more and register for the Show, visit the SFA website.
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ReposiTrak Adds 50 Suppliers to Its Traceability Network
ReposiTrak, the world’s largest food traceability and regulatory compliance network, leveraging its established inventory management and out-of-stock reduction SaaS platform, is preparing to welcome 50 new dairy and dairy-alternative suppliers into the queue for the ReposiTrak Traceability Network. These new members will efficiently exchange intricate, FDA-required Key Data Elements for each Critical Tracking Event in their supply chains, ensuring proactive compliance well before the January 2026 deadline.
Among the 50 new suppliers are 3 standout members with a rich history. One is a Wisconsin-based, family-owned cheesemaker founded more than a century ago, now recognized as one of the nation’s top premium cheese and whey products makers. Another is a U.S.-based cooperative founded in 1938, consisting of 600 farm families and 7,000 associates. With award-winning milk, cheese, and other dairy products, it serves 30% of the U.S. market while emphasizing sustainable dairy practices. The third is a Swedish pioneer in plant-based alternatives, with its oat-based products available internationally.
“ReposiTrak’s network, the largest operational traceability network, is helping dairy and plant-based suppliers achieve seamless compliance with FDA regulations and retailer traceability requirements,” said Randy Fields, chairman and CEO of ReposiTrak. “By joining the network, these suppliers can efficiently share traceability data with an unlimited number of in-network customers, all without the need for additional hardware or software.”
The ReposiTrak Traceability Network requires no additional hardware or software and the ReposiTrak team assists in making the connections needed under the new regulation. Suppliers can connect to an unlimited number of trading partners and share data for a low, flat fee.
ReposiTrak provides retailers, suppliers, food manufacturers and wholesalers with a robust solution suite to help reduce risk and remain in compliance with regulatory requirements, enhance operational controls and increase sales with unrivaled brand protection. Consisting of three product families – food traceability, compliance and risk management and supply chain solutions – ReposiTrak’s integrated, cloud-based applications are supported by an unparalleled team of experts. For more information, please visit https://repositrak.com
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