US Foods to Open Fourth Foodservice Store
US Foods Holding Corp. will open a CHEF’STORE in Spartanburg, S.C. Located at 300 W. Blackstock Road, the 33,000-square-foot foodservice store will join three existing locations across South Carolina.
CHEF’STORE is a one-stop-shop for restaurant operators, food industry professionals, community groups and at-home chefs to stock up or replenish ingredients and supplies in various sizes and offerings. The store will offer more than 4,000 restaurant-quality products at competitive prices, including fresh meat, produce, dairy, deli items and frozen seafood. Customers will also be able to shop for baking ingredients, beverages, catering essentials, janitorial supplies and other restaurant essentials. CHEF’STORE is open to the public seven days a week and no membership is required.
The three existing locations are in Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Columbia. The new Spartanburg foodservice store is scheduled to open in Fall 2022.
US Foods acquired Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores in April 2020 to accelerate growth in the cash and carry market and rebranded all Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores to US Foods CHEF’STORE in February of 2021. With the addition of the Spartanburg location, US Foods will have 83 CHEF’STORE locations across the continental United States.
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TA Associates to Acquire Stonewall Kitchen
“Stonewall Kitchen, known for its high-quality artisan products, has been beloved by consumers around the world since its founding more than 30 years ago,” said Tim Alexander, a managing director at Harris Williams. “The company has thrived in partnership with Audax, and we are excited to see what it achieves in its next chapter with TA.”
“Stonewall Kitchen is building a one-of-a-kind family of brands that spans multiple categories. The brands possess a unique level of cohesiveness from a product positioning and brand ethos standpoint, and when combined with the power of the platform are generating strong growth relative to the categories in which they compete,” added Ryan Freeman, a managing director at Harris Williams.
“The successful expansion beyond food and into high-growth personal care and home fragrances categories speaks to Stonewall Kitchen’s platform strength,” added Kelly McPhilliamy, a managing director at Harris Williams. “The company is successfully executing an exciting strategy that delivers continued runway for growth.”
Stonewall Kitchen is a leading specialty food, home goods and personal care producer headquartered in York, Maine. Founded in 1991 by partners Jonathan King and Jim Stott, the two established the Stonewall Kitchen brand by selling jams and jellies at local farmers’ markets with a flavorful line of distinctive and high-quality products. Over time, they expanded the brand to include sauces, condiments, crackers, and baking mixes, always focusing on innovative product development, beautiful packaging, and exceptional guest service.
Stonewall Kitchen is a premier specialty food and home goods platform in North America, home to a family of premium quality brands including the flagship Stonewall Kitchen brand; the Vermont Coffee Company brand of high quality, non-GMO, certified organic coffee; the Urban Accents brand of globally-inspired spice mixes, seasonings, and sauces; the Village Candle brand of fragranced candles, gifts, and accessories; the Tillen Farms brand of pickled vegetables and cocktail cherries; the Napa Valley Naturals brand of olive oils, culinary oils, balsamic vinegars, and wine vinegars; the Montebello brand of artisan organic pasta imported from Italy; the Vermont Village brand of organic apple sauce and apple cider vinegars; the Michel Design Works brand of elegantly designed and crafted personal and home care products; and the Legal Sea Foods brand of restaurant-quality seafood sauces and condiments. The company boasts national and international distribution; a thriving catalog and online division; a cafe in York, Maine; and 10 retail stores throughout New England.
As winners of more than 30 prestigious awards from the Specialty Food Association and the recipient of the coveted Outstanding Product Line Honors three times, Stonewall Kitchen is proud to be one of the most awarded specialty food companies in the country.
Stonewall Kitchen’s origins are explored in the March issue of Gourmet News.
2022 Sizzles So Far for Craft Meat Producer The Baconer
As published in the March issue of Gourmet News.
California-based craft meat producer The Baconer, which was featured in a front cover story in February’s Gourmet News, is off to a good start this year with a new partnership, new award and new way to invest in its growth.
The Baconer, based in Emeryville, has announced a partnership with Eataly, the immersive Italian marketplace. Eataly shoppers can discover The Baconer craft meat products including the 2022 award-winning XXL Bacon Steaks, Smoked Lardons, Small Batch Bacon Strips and Ground Bacon.
The Baconer’s lineup of craft meat products is available in the meat department next to the butcher counter in Eataly stores including Eataly Boston, Eataly Chicago, Eataly Dallas, Eataly L.A., Eataly NYC Flatiron and Eataly NYC Downtown.
“In identifying a partner for The Baconer’s next phase of growth, it was important to find a leading food marketplace with a shared passion for inspiring people with the most authentic, high-quality and hand-crafted products,” said Camilo Velasquez, CEO and co-founder. “Eataly is a gastronomic wonderland. Their value proposition to bring the best regional food products to consumers aligns with our vision, and propels us forward as we continue to disrupt the bacon category.”
The Baconer is a leading craft producer focused on redefining how Americans think about, prepare, cook with and enjoy responsibly sourced, premium quality bacon and related products.
Eataly operates quality Italian markets in 11 countries around the world. Eataly is well regarded for its authentically prepared Italian foods and its use of high-quality Italian and local ingredients. Eataly locations offer an expansive marketplace, restaurant and even cooking school – the combination of which makes for an experience not found anywhere else.
“When shoppers come to Eataly – they know to expect high-quality ingredients, which is why partnering with Baconer was a perfect fit,” said Pete Molinari, Eataly’s head of meat and seafood. “They craft artisanal bacon products that are not only delicious, but crafted with care, by people who share our passion for eating better and living better.”
Perhaps Eataly shoppers will enjoy The Baconer’s XXL Smoky Paprika Bacon Steaks as much as Good Food Award judges did.
The steaks won in the charcuterie category at the 12th Annual Good Food Awards.
Crafted from responsibly sourced pork and cut ½-inch thick, the XXL Bacon Steaks bring serious flavor served on burgers, cozied up with eggs or straight up as the main event.
And perhaps bacon lovers will love all the products enough to invest in the company. Shares of The Baconer will be sold through the crowdfunding online investment site www.startengine.com.
Keep reading Gourmet News for updates on The Baconer and many other specialty food companies. Subscribe online at www.gourmetnews.com.
