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Ex-Football Player Clay Matthews Stars in Bar-S Parody Brand Spot

Former professional linebacker Clay Matthews takes on the role of Golden Locks in Bar-S Foods’ new parody brand spot, Golden Locks and the Three Fridges.

Bar-S consumers’ affinity for football, paired with the former pro athlete’s iconic long blonde hair, made Matthews the perfect celebrity partner for the campaign. Research showed that the fairytale theme would resonate with our target audience and their children, thus reinforcing the brand’s commitment to family-friendly values and accessible, delicious products.

“I loved being part of Bar-S Foods’ reimagined fairytale—it’s funny, clever, and guaranteed to make everyone smile,” said Matthews.

The 90-second parody commercial mirrors the original Goldilocks plot and supports the brand’s new tagline, “Bar-S. It’s Just Right.” However, rather than face a few bowls of porridge, Golden Locks has to choose from three refrigerators. The first is home to a loudly dressed designer meat “salesman” who offers Golden Locks name-brand meats that are way overpriced.

The second holds a roughly 40-year-old man who lives with his mom and has no taste or variety in his meal choices. It isn’t until he discovers the third fridge, stocked with Bar-S products, that Golden Locks finds the perfect balance of quality and value, appealing to his sense of taste and budget.

“Since the majority of our consumers have young children, we saw parody fairytales as the perfect vehicle for reaching the whole family,” said Linda Rodriguez, Bar-S’ marketing director. “The campaign not only showcases our diverse range of products but also highlights our dedication to providing exceptional value without compromising on taste.”

The creative strategy was orchestrated in collaboration with Heart & Soul Marketing, a full-service creative agency based out of Phoenix, Arizona. The campaign will be aired on CTV in select markets and across digital and social media.

To watch the full-length parody commercial visit this link and be sure to follow @barsfoods on YouTubeInstagram, and Facebook.

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Newport Avenue Market Joins in Donating Peanut Butter for Kids

Some things are better together: peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and chocolate…and peanut butter and children. It’s true: for growing bodies, peanut butter provides a whopping eight grams of protein per serving and acts as the main building block for strong muscles, bones and immune systems. But for students facing food insecurity, separated from reliable, low-/no-cost school-year meal programs, summer can be a time of hunger. Further, area food banks regularly run low on this precious and nutritious commodity.

Enter Newport Avenue Market and Kendall Auto Group, who stirred up a plan to blow the lid off their annual peanut butter donations to NeighborImpact—Central Oregon’s longtime nonprofit that supports neighbors in need of food, housing and other resources. An area-wide call to action mobilized generous shoppers and Kendall Auto Group patrons, and organizers collected a remarkable 9,700 jars of golden goodness—over 1,500 more containers than last year which, frankly, is just…nuts. A lot of nuts. 

“No one wants to think of kids going hungry, especially during summertime, when life should be most carefree. But the old adage about many hands making light work is true; coming together, we were able to accomplish even more,” said Lauren G.D. Redman, CEO & president, Newport Avenue Market. “Having a dedicated, community-minded partner like Kendall Auto Group, plus many mission-focused neighbors, helped us make this enormous donation of a much-needed commodity. We’re always grateful to be a part of this annual event and are already planning on how to break the 10,000-jar mark next year.”  

Some might say that’s spreading it on a little thick, but Redman and her community cohorts are committed to ensuring the sweetness of summer for area students who need it most—one sandwich at a time.

Located on the west end of beautiful Bend, Oregon, and locally owned since 1976, Newport Ave. Market serves as the food hub of Central Oregon, offering shoppers both mainstream and specialty grocery options, all in a vibrant environment. Their expansive selection of high-quality, in-demand food and beverage items keeps shoppers on their toes. The store employs over 180 “internal foodies,” and is 100% employee owned.

With an atmosphere where people in the community come together for all things food, not to mention a selection of over 500 brews to choose from, Newport Avenue Market has become the food hub of Central Oregon. For more information about Newport Avenue Market, please call 541-382-3940 or visit www.newportavemarket.com

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McLane Unveils Innovation Kitchen at Texas Headquarters

McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, recently held the grand opening of its Innovation Kitchen at the company’s headquarters in Temple, Texas.

Designed for customers as a full-scale replica of the complete c-store experience, this state-of-the-art space showcases how cutting-edge retail foodservice equipment and products seamlessly fit into various footprints and counter spaces while exploring the world of McLane Fresh, Emerging Brands and CVP private label brands. From visualizing how a range of products and equipment integrates into their store layout and planograms to sampling products and exploring marketing materials, customers will gain valuable insight into how McLane’s offerings can elevate their retail product mix and boost customer experience.

Beyond the showcase experience, the space will serve as a dedicated hub for development and innovation, allowing the McLane Fresh team to conceptualize and test new menu items that cater to evolving consumer trends and customer requests. Customers will be invited to sample these creations, ensuring that McLane remains at the forefront of product innovation and collaboration and delivers data-informed solutions tailored to their needs.

“We are excited to unveil the McLane Innovation Kitchen, a space that embodies our dedication to innovation, collaboration and a world-class customer experience,” said Vito Maurici, McLane customer experience officer. “This facility showcases our commitment to setting new standards for excellence in the industry and underscores our role as a trusted partner in our customers’ success. Through this platform for product testing, creation and display, we have the opportunity to engage with customers at every stage of their retail foodservice journey.”

The Innovation Kitchen provides something to satisfy every craving, with offerings including Cupza!, McLane’s award-winning beverage line, Central Eats grab-and-go products for every daypart, Prendisimo pizza and made-to-order options.

McLane offers customizable solutions for retail and restaurant customers, from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising, aimed at eliminating barriers to entry for smaller retailers and solving logistical challenges for large chains. More information on convenience store solutions from McLane is available at mclaneco.com/cstore-solutions. To learn more about McLane and its retail, restaurant and e-commerce solutions, visit mclaneco.com.

For more news of interest to the foodservice industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.