St. Malachi Named Best of Show at ACS Competition
St. Malachi, an alpine-style cheese in the Farmstead category from The Farm at Doe Run of Coatesville, Penn., was named first place Best of Show among 1,454 entries at the American Cheese Society’s 2023 Judging & Competition. The results of the competition were announced at the 40 Years of Cheese Conference in Des Moines. The Farm at Doe Run received a total of 10 awards at this year’s competition – four first place, four second place, one third place and first place Best of Show.
The last time the ACS Annual Conference was held in Des Moines was in 2016 and The Farm at Doe Run won first place in the Farmstead category – aged 60 days or more, cow’s milk and then took home second place Best of Show for its St. Malachi Reserved.
The second place Best of Show went to Cumberland, a Tomme-style cheese from Sequatchie Cove Creamery of Sequatchie, Tenn. Three cheeses tied for third place Best of Show: Pleasant Ridge Reserve, a washed rind cheese from Uplands Cheese of Dodgeville, Wis., Prairie Tomme, a sheep’s milk cheese from Green Dirt Farm of Weston, Mo., and Basket Molded Chevre, a goats’ milk cheese from Pure Luck Dairy of Dripping Springs, Texas.
The five Best of Show cheeses are among the 370 total awards given at the ceremony – 113 gold medals, 127 silver medals, and 130 bronze medals among 141 organizations. ACS’ Judging & Competition, the largest event of its kind for American-made cheeses, wrapped up two days of judging at the Huntington Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in May. Cheeses in 131 different categories were submitted to be judged by an esteemed panel of 34 judges. Cheeses entered in the competition were received May 15-17, with judging from May 18-19. Growing from just 89 entries 38 years ago, the ACS J&C welcomed cheeses and cultured dairy products from 195 companies this year.
“J&C is a unique competition that focuses on providing expert constructive feedback with the goal of giving cheesemakers the guidance to produce better cheese and elevate cheese made in the Americas in the marketplace,” said American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Chair Rachel Perez. “The growth of this year’s competition truly reflects the vibrancy of the American cheese industry. As the industry’s highest honor, winning a medal at Judging & Competition or the coveted Best of Show is not only a sign of excellence but also increases winners’ visibility.”
The ACS competition shines the spotlight on American cheesemakers by showcasing their talents and work as leaders within the industry for their excellent cheesemaking. For the full list of the 2023 Judging & Competition winners and past winners, visit https://www.cheesesociety.org/competition-winners.
For more about the American Cheese Society’s annual convention, get Gourmet News’ Fall Cheese Guide. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!
Ferraro Foods Acquires GDS Foods Inc.
Ferraro Foods, one of the country’s largest specialty distributors of food and foodservice supplies to pizzerias and Italian restaurants, has acquired New Jersey-based GDS Foods Inc., an importer and distributor of Italian food products to pizzerias throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Ferraro’s partnership with the Sussex, N.J., based business, with nearly $50 million in annual sales revenue, expands Ferraro’s growing network of distribution hubs in a crucial market for pizzerias, adds hundreds of customers to its roster and helps broaden Ferraro’s industry leading offering of specialty imported Italian food products.
“We are excited to partner with GDS, a terrific family-run business with strong roots in the area going back 35 years. We love the business, we love the people, and they have a loyal customer base that aligns perfectly with Ferraro’s. Just as important, GDS is pizza to the core, so they are a perfect fit for the Ferraro culture,” said Dan Hill, CEO, Ferraro Foods.
The GDS partnership is the latest in a robust acquisition pipeline under development by Ferraro, aimed at increasing its market share in critical Northeast pizza markets – home of the country’s largest concentration of independent pizzerias. The news comes on the heels of Ferraro’s announcement of its addition of a 230,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Long Island.
“Ferraro Foods is pizza,” Hill added. “That message is reverberating throughout the industry as we continue to increase our customer base as the premier provider in the specialty Italian foods space.”
Headquartered in New Jersey since its founding as a family business nearly 50 years ago, Ferraro Foods is America’s leading distributor of specialty Italian foods and foodservice supplies to pizzerias and Italian restaurants. With a concentration in the critical pizza markets of the Northeast and customers spanning 26 states serviced by distribution divisions in Upstate New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana, Ferraro Foods boasts annual sales revenue of nearly $1.3 billion. Working every day to earn and build trusted relationships by delivering an unrivaled menu of authentic, top-quality offerings, unmatched specialized category expertise and consistently exceptional value and service, Ferraro Foods is pizza.
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Goodbye, Wienermobile; Hello, Frankmobile
Oscar Mayer has ushered in a new era for its beloved Wienermobile, changing the vehicle’s name for the first time since it first hit the road in 1936. The newly coined “Frankmobile” pays homage to the brand’s 100% Beef Franks as it debuts a tasty new recipe with a more balanced flavor profile and iconic beefy taste that is more flavorful than ever – all while sparking miles of smiles and uniting fans around a love of meat.
The fleet of six vehicles feature bun-derful new elements, including saucy exterior decals, Frank Whistles (formerly Wiener Whistles) and a newly renamed class of Hotdoggers behind the wheel – now known as Frankfurters. What’s more, the Frankmobile is offering “Franks for Franks,” so anyone named an iteration of “Frank” can stop by in real life to get their hands on a coupon for a free pack of delicious Oscar Mayer 100% Beef Franks.
“The Wienermobile is a beloved American icon that has been sparking smiles and driving craveability for our iconic delicious wieners for nearly 100 years,” said Stephanie Vance, associate brand manager, Oscar Mayer. “This summer, it’s time to highlight another fan-favorite: our delicious 100% Beef Franks. When Oscar Mayer makes anything, we prioritize taste over everything, so no matter what kind of hot dog you enjoy this summer, if it’s Oscar Mayer, you know it will be 100 percent tasty, and 100 percent make you smile.”
The debut of the new Frankmobile comes as Oscar Mayer continues to bring its signature brand platform, “Keep It Oscar,” to delicious new heights. From Frank-themed whistles to comical “please do not lick” decals, Oscar Mayer designed every detail of the Frankmobile to encourage people from takings things too seriously, freeing people up to enjoy themselves with seriously delicious meats, like Oscar Mayer’s 100% Beef Franks.
To learn more about the Frankmobile and track its upcoming stops, visit OscarMayer.com/Frankmobile or follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
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