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Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets Smash Cake Kit Celebrates Milestone

Traditional smash cakes are flying the coop. In celebration of National Chicken Month in September, Pilgrim’s, one of America’s largest poultry producers, is bringing a savory twist to the popular first birthday tradition with the launch of Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets Smash Cake Kit. This limited-edition kit is here to knock the boredom out of traditional smash cakes, helping parents celebrate their little “nugget’s” big day in an unexpected way.

More than ever, parents want to make their little nugget’s first birthday a smash, and what better way to celebrate the milestone than by giving them their first nibble of chicken nuggets, one of the top solid foods kiddos love. Complete with Pilgrim’s crunchy and juicy Ultimate Nuggets, creamy Idahoan mashed potatoes to be used as “frosting,” a fun birthday candle and festive accessories and décor, the Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets Smash Cake Kit is perfect for celebrating your little one’s first birthday or to delight the nugget lover in your life at any age. The kit includes step-by-step assembly instructions to make set up a breeze so party guests can get straight to feasting.

“Pilgrim’s is shaking up the smash cake celebration just like we did the chicken nugget game, so only the unexpected will do,” said Chelsea Parker, senior director of brand marketing at Pilgrim’s US. “The Ultimate Nuggets Smash Cake Kit lets parents create a memorable and delicious moment worthy of the ultimate celebration.”

Pilgrim’s released their new line-up of nuggets this past June, bringing the excitement of quick service restaurant chicken to the grocery store. Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets are reimagined to be the best tasting nugget in the frozen chicken aisle. Seriously flavorful, dangerously crispy and perfectly seasoned, these nuggets knock the boredom out of chicken to make snack time, dinner time and everything in between more delicious.

Pilgrim’s new line of chicken nuggets also includes Pilgrim’s Loaded Nuggets, available in Chicken Pot Pie and Cheesy Jalapeño flavors, and Pilgrim’s Mini Nuggets, available in Zesty Ranch, Buttery, and Original flavors.

Pilgrim’s is releasing 100 Ultimate Nuggets Smash Cake Kits that will be available for purchase for $7.99, the same price as a bag of Pilgrim’s nuggets. Parents and nugget fans can head to pilgrimsusa.com/smash-cake-kit to claim a kit while supplies last.

As a global food company with more than 62,000 team members, Pilgrim’s processes, prepares, packages, and delivers fresh, frozen, and value-added food products for customers in more than 100 countries. The company operates protein processing plants and prepared foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe.

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Aniai Introduces Alpha Grill for Foodservice Hamburger Cooking

Aniai, a leader in kitchen automation and AI solutions, announced its first North American showroom in Midtown Manhattan. Aniai’s flagship product Alpha Grill leverages advanced AI and robotics to automate the hamburger patty cooking process, enhancing efficiency and consistency in restaurant kitchens. Aniai has partnered with several notable, North American, quick-service restaurant brands to conduct pilots, with an anticipated rollout at multiple locations over the next year.

With the launch of its New York showroom, Aniai is excited to offer existing and potential restaurant operators a direct glimpse of its Alpha Grill in action.

“We look forward to welcoming customers and industry professionals to our New York showroom to witness the future of kitchen automation,” says Eric Hansen, head of sales, North America. “I genuinely feel that we’re at the very beginning of a significant paradigm shift within the foodservice industry- a shift that embraces robotics to improve the lives of employees by reducing labor intensity and providing myriad ancillary benefits for restaurant operators over the long run.”

For restaurant operators who want to see firsthand the future of kitchen robotics sooner, Aniai made its second consecutive appearance at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, where it showcased the Alpha Grill along with several enhancements, most notably, Alpha Cloud. Using cloud-based AI, Alpha Cloud can discern the color of hamburger patties and assess their quality in real-time through vision sensors that monitor the cooking process; promptly notifying kitchen staff about patty quality while ensuring rigorous and enhanced quality control.

“Seeing is believing,” said Aniai CEO Gunpil Hwang. “When introducing innovative technology that’s the first of its kind, it’s important that potential adopters can see it in action and to fully understand exactly how it can enhance their businesses. This is what we’re planning to accomplish with our New York showroom, a permanent extension of what we’ve offered at the NRA Show.”

Founded in 2020 and based in New York City, Aniai is a global innovator in automation and AI within the foodservice sector. The company’s mission is to empower restaurants to improve their kitchen operations by delivering intelligent solutions that increase production and enhance quality and service.

Aniai’s flagship Alpha Grill empowers restaurant team members to focus on crafting high-quality burgers while improving the employee experience by automating numerous mundane and repetitive tasks, including grill cleaning and cook time management. The semi-autonomous grill features a rapid cooking system with a double-sided grill capable of preparing up to eight hamburger patties at a time (or 200 patties per hour) and features an innovation self-cleaning function.

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Reser’s Kicks Off Good Times Tour in Cincinnati

The Reser’s Good Times Tour is hitting the road and visiting nine festivals in 2024. Reser’s is inviting fans to come enjoy the good times at some of America’s favorite events!

Reser’s Fine Foods, Proud Sponsor of Good Times, is on a mission to spread joy and deliciousness to all. Whether it’s camping, tailgating, or enjoying a day at the park, Reser’s Deli Salads and Sides are the perfect addition while having a good time with friends and family.

“At Reser’s, we know that great food turns moments with friends and families into memories,” said Anne Nelson, senior brand strategy manager, deli. “We are excited to make every festival stop a memorable celebration.”

During each stop of the Good Times Tour, fans will be able to sample Reser’s mouth-watering Deviled Egg Potato Salad and Original Macaroni Salad, while enjoying amazing activities. Fans can make their own custom sunglasses at select festivals, take photos on the Reser’s pergola swing, cool down with a misting station, and challenge friends to a friendly game of ‘ring on a string’. Each event is guaranteed to put smiles on faces!

The ‘Good Times Tour’ will make stops at these festivals throughout 2024:

  • Taste of Cincinnati (Cincinnati) – May 25-27
  • Roots Picnic (Philadelphia) – June 1-2
  • Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (Washington, D.C.) – June 22-23 (sampling only)
  • Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest (Columbus, Ohio) – July 19-21
  • Minneapolis Aquatennial (Minneapolis) – July 24-27
  • Chicago Air & Water Show (Chicago) – Aug.10-11
  • Art, Beats and Eats (Detroit) – August 30-Sept.2
  • The Big E (West Springfield, Mass.) – Sept. 13-15
  • American Royal (Kansas City, Mo.) – Oct. 30-Nov. 2

The Reser’s Good Times Tour is part of a larger campaign that celebrates the fun of being together with family and friends. Visit Reser’s Good Times Central at www.resers.com/goodtimes to win awesome prizes in our Good Times Sweepstakes, track the Good Times Tour Schedule or find your favorites salads and sides to enjoy with friends and family.

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