Carbone Adds 5 Pasta Sauces to Its Line
Carbone Fine Food
Following a record-breaking 2024 with over 18 million jars sold, Carbone Fine Food has announced the addition of five pasta sauce flavors: Sweet Pepper & Onion, Mediterranean Marinara, Black Truffle Alfredo, Mac & Cheese Alfredo and Lemon Pepper Alfredo. The new releases are the latest creations by acclaimed chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi as they continue to reinterpret classic Italian-American cuisine through a contemporary culinary lens. The new flavors expand the Carbone sauce portfolio to seventeen flavors.
“Carbone is young, modern-chef driven, and in the zeitgeist,” said CEO Eric Skae. “Our new flavor creations are bold, authentic and uniquely delicious. They reinforce our position as a category innovation driver and the fastest-growing sauce in the nation.”
Crafted with the same care and premium ingredients used in their renowned restaurants, these sauces bring inventive chef-quality dishes to life at home.
- Sweet Pepper & Onion combines the caramelized flavor of roasted peppers and sauteed onions with the sweetness of 100% Italian tomatoes and rosemary.
- Mediterranean Marinara introduces flavors of Southern Italy by bringing together a savory medley of black olives and capers with 100% Italian tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs.
- Black Truffle Alfredo is a rich and creamy blend of Parmesan and Romano Cheeses with Black Truffles.
- Mac & Cheese Alfredo offers a rich blend of aged white cheddar cheese, cream, butter, and spices.
- Lemon Pepper Alfredo combines a creamy blend of Parmesan and Romano cheeses complemented with the perfect balance of cracked black pepper and fresh lemon.
“As always, we’re focused on making it easy for people to enjoy incredible meals at home,” said chef Mario Carbone. “These five new sauces make good on our promise to bring bold, exciting flavors to the table with the same quality and care that’s at the heart of everything we do.”
All five flavors are available nationwide at Whole Foods Market and will roll out at additional retailers in the coming months. Consumers can purchase all Carbone Fine Food products online nationally at both Amazon and https://carbonefinefood.com/.
For more information, visit https://carbonefinefood.com/ or follow on Instagram and TikTok at @carbonefinefood.
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Produce Industry Veteran O’Brien to Step Down at Driscoll’s
Driscoll’s announces the retirement of Tom O’Brien, senior vice president of global human resources & general counsel, who will step down from his leadership role early in the year. A pivotal figure in the produce industry with a career spanning more than 30 years, O’Brien leaves behind a remarkable legacy of innovation, advocacy and leadership.
O’Brien’s relationship with Driscoll’s began nearly 25 years ago when he represented the company as an attorney in Washington, D.C. In 2014, he became Driscoll’s first General Counsel, and his role steadily expanded over the years to include oversight of Global Human Resources and Public Affairs.
“Tom has been a friend, colleague and partner for over two decades. We have navigated many issues together, challenges and opportunities that continually arise in our fresh berry business,” said J. Miles Reiter, executive chairman of the board for Driscoll’s. “He is remarkably adept at seeing around the corner and articulating concepts in ways that drive clarity. While we are fully aligned on core values and goals, Tom is also the person with whom I most enjoy a healthy disagreement, something we both expect to continue to value highly.”
Before his tenure at Driscoll’s, O’Brien’s influence was already well-established at the intersection of law, policy, and agriculture. His policy work spanned issues as diverse as the development of the first federal organic standards, passage of food safety legislation, the unfinished work of immigration reform, and a host of plant pests and quarantines. From 1993 to 1999, he served as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He then moved from the federal to the state level, where he was a policy advisor to California Governor Gray Davis in the Governor’s Washington D.C. office.
After leaving government service until joining Driscoll’s, O’Brien was in private practice in Washington, where clients included Produce Marketing Association, California nurseries and dairies, the promotion boards for mangos and avocadoes, and Driscoll’s.
“Tom’s career has been a testament to the power of collaboration and thoughtful leadership in agriculture,” said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “He exemplifies the qualities of exceptional leadership: intelligence, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to partnership. His work has not only strengthened Driscoll’s but also elevated the entire produce industry. For the 25 years I’ve known him, I have valued his counsel and insight on complex challenges, but most of all, I have cherished his steadfast friendship.”
O’Brien will step down from the HR and legal responsibilities early in the year. During the transition, he will remain as Driscoll’s corporate secretary and counsel to the board.
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Blue Diamond’s Nutty Cruiser Hits the Road
Blue Diamond Growers, the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, today announced the creation of its latest innovation, The Nutty Cruiser set to officially launch on National Almond Day, February 16. Blue Diamond’s almond vehicle will embark on the “Bring Your Flavor” National Tour, with the goal of distributing one million almond samples to consumers. This nationwide initiative was designed to showcase Blue Diamond’s bold and craveable flavors to provide the ultimate snacking experience for flavor fanatics all over the United States.
“With the Nutty Cruiser, we set out to create a playful and interactive way for our fans to experience Blue Diamond products like never before,” said Maya Erwin, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation. “We are naturally obsessed with almonds and want to share our love of this perfect snack far and wide during the ‘Bring Your Flavor’ tour. This launch embodies our passion for flavor, fun, and community connection.”
The Nutty Cruiser™, created by Inspira, will visit major markets throughout 2025 on the “Bring Your Flavor Tour” including Sacramento, Calif., Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Bentonville, Ark., Panama City, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio, with additional locations to be announced soon.
At each stop, the event grounds will be transformed into a hub of flavor-packed activities and free snacks to delight almond lovers of all ages. Featuring an almond launcher that sends packs of almonds into the hands of hungry customers and engaging activities such as a Flavor Bar, Barrel-o-Flavor sampling stations, and interactive games including ‘Guess That Flavor’ and ‘Almond-hole’ (a unique twist on cornhole), the event offers an unforgettable health-snacking experience. Consumers can share on social media using #BringYourFlavor and interact on-site for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a year’s supply of Blue Diamond snack almonds.
This quirky almond mobile was built in Dallas, Texas and took more than 1,150 labor hours to complete. It is a larger part of Blue Diamond’s bold marketing strategy that will continue to surprise and delight consumers with unexpected flavor drops and surprise pop-ups throughout the year.
For the full tour schedule and updates, visit www.bluediamond.com/nutty-cruiser/.
To officially kick off the tour, the Nutty Cruiser™ will make its debut during the National Almond Day pop-up event, open to the public, on February 16 in Blue Diamond’s headquarters location, Sacramento, California. Located at Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse from 12pm-4pm PT, attendees will get a first look at the Nutty Cruiser™ and get the chance to sample a selection of products from Blue Diamond’s full portfolio, including new never-seen-before flavors of Snack Almonds, Almond Breeze® Almondmilk, Nut Thins®, and Almond Flour.
In honor of National Almond Day, Blue Diamond is offering a one-day only National Almond Day flash sale on Amazon. Using code BLUEDIAMOND, fans can get 30% off all Snack Almond varieties as well as select Nut Thins varieties on Sunday, February 16th, 2025. Happy snacking!
For more information on Blue Diamond Almonds, visit BlueDiamond.com
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