Pete & Gerry’s Humanely Raised Eggs Expands Into Publix Stores
Pete & Gerry’s, LLC, a pioneer in humane egg farming, announced that Pete & Gerry’s Pasture-Raised Eggs will now be available in all 1,400+ Publix Super Markets throughout the Southeast. Joining Pete & Gerry’s Organic and Nellie’s Free Range eggs in the egg aisle, the Pete & Gerry’s Pasture-Raised is now on shelves in all Publix stores throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Introduced last year, Pete & Gerry’s Pasture-Raised Eggs are laid by hens raised to Certified Humane Pasture-Raised welfare standards, which provides at least 108 square feet per hen of expansive green pastures, where they can forage, explore, and socialize to their hearts’ delight. These flocks enjoy delicious, diet-enriching snacks like worms and greens while soaking up the sunshine, resulting in golden yolks, a rich, creamy flavor, and strong, sturdy eggshells.
Pasture-Raised Eggs come from hens responsibly raised on family farms, resulting in one of the healthiest, most sustainable and affordable sources of protein. Pete & Gerry’s expanded product line stems from increasing consumer demand for its existing offerings at Publix, the success of Pasture-Raised Eggs in other markets since its launch last year, and the brand’s commitment to improving access nationwide to egg products that raise industry standards.
“Our Southeast egg-lovers have embraced other Pete & Gerry’s offerings, so we’re excited consumers can now easily access the highest-quality and most delicious eggs at their nearest Publix location,” says Tom Flocco, CEO. “With an abundant selection of egg types on shelves today, it’s easy to sleepwalk through the egg aisle. The model of egg production our company pioneered almost 30 years ago, however, is not just better for the hens, but also better for the farmers and our planet.
“Our continued commitment to raising the standard of excellence for animal welfare and environmental stewardship resonates with consumers and our retail partners as we expand our footprint, empowering them to make better choices.”
Pete & Gerry’s partners with over 200 family farms spread across 14 states (from Maine to Oklahoma), providing American farmers the support to run their farms sustainably while maintaining the care and natural lifestyle hens deserve. In addition to supporting family farms throughout the country, the company is also supporting family fun this year by partnering with the Minor League Baseball for the 2024 regular season.
For more information, please visit peteandgerrys.com or the brand’s Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook pages.
For more news of interest to the dairy industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
Utz Unveils Salty Snack Foods at Sweets & Snacks Expo
Utz Brands, Inc., a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snack foods for more than 100 years, will showcase new and best-selling products from multiple brands as a returning exhibitor at the National Confectioners Association Sweets & Snacks Expo, held May 14-16 in Indianapolis.
Since Utz Brands last exhibited at the Expo in 2019, it has experienced significant growth, adding multiple brands to its portfolio, including On The Border, which will be sampling at the expo alongside Utz, Zapp’s and Boulder Canyon.
“We are excited about sharing our incredible lineup of potato and tortilla chips, pretzels and other crunchy, flavorful snacks with this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo attendees,” said Utz Brands, Inc. Senior Vice President of Marketing Stacey Schultz. “As an over-100-year-old company, we pride ourselves on offering snack fanatics new, on-trend flavors and takes on classic favorites while maintaining the crunch and quality our consumers love.”
Attendees can get a first look at new products and sample best-selling items from each brand in Hall D, Booth 12108.
As consumers continue to reach for spicier snacks, Utz Brands is bringing the spice to products across its portfolio. On display at the Expo will be Utz’s Mike’s Hot Honey EXTRA HOT potato chips, the newest limited-time collab between Utz and America’s No. 1 brand of hot honey, and Zapp’s Sinfully Seasoned Pretzel Stix: New Spicy Cajun flavor, delicious twisted pretzels dusted with Zapp’s signature Cajun seasoning.
Bringing even more flavor-forward products to the pretzel category, Utz will also be sampling the new Garlic Butter Mixed Minis. This fun take on classic Utz pretzels offers three garlicky, buttery, bite-sized shapes: twists, rings and waffles. Mixed Minis are also available in two additional flavors: Mike’s Hot Honey and Sea Salt.
The Boulder Canyon line of better-for-you snacks will sample its newest product innovation on shelves now, Aged White Cheddar Canyon Poppers, which offer a Non-GMO Project-Verified cheesy cheddar taste made with avocado oil for a poppable crunch. Boulder Canyon will also give visitors an early look at an upcoming limited-time offering.
On The Border, the nation’s No. 2 unflavored tortilla chip brand, will sample its top-selling chip, Cafe Style Tortilla Chips. Made with a blend of yellow and white corn flour, the chips offer a unique flavor and crispy, bubbly texture ready for dipping.
All Utz Brands products are available for purchase online at www.utzsnacks.com or in leading retailers nationwide. For more information, follow Utz on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, Zapp’s on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, Boulder Canyon on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and On The Border on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
For more news of interest to the snacks industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
Bitzel’s Chocolate Names Foley Executive Chef & Chocolatier
Bitzel’s Chocolate, the 7,000-square-foot chocolate factory and attraction in Suwanee, Ga., has added George Foley to its team as executive chef and chocolatier. Foley, who most recently was a Viennoiserie baker at Bacchanalia and Star Provisions, will focus on menu development, culinary training and building relationships with local farmers and national companies.“I’m thrilled to be a part of such an amazing concept and to get to work with a chocolatier like Ray Bitzel,” Foley says.
Bitzel’s Chocolate, the brainchild of chocolatier and entrepreneur Ray Bitzel and his business partner and co-founder Dave Rose, creates affordable, chef-crafted chocolate confections and offers visitors an unforgettable, Willy Wonka-style experience as they watch as various treats move through the production process.
“Of course, the chocolate is the star of the show, but what I love is that we’re giving visitors an entire experience here,” Foley says. “We’re taking them on a journey from learning how chocolate is made to seeing the machines and the production process to tasting the different types of chocolate that they may have never experienced before, such as gold chocolate and ruby chocolate.”
Foley comes to Bitzel’s from Bacchanalia, where he concentrated on croissants and pastries. He also has worked as a corporate chocolatier at Bodega Chocolates in Fountain Valley, Calif., as executive pastry chef for the Dolce Group in Los Angeles, as pastry chef at Salty’s on Alki Beach in Seattle and as the overnight baker viennoisarie at 3 Michelin Star The Inn at Little Washington.
Foley, who’s enjoyed a long career in the hospitality industry, says that continuing to focus on hospitality is what helps keep things fresh and exciting for him.
“Hospitality is the gift of making everyone feel welcomed, accepted and comfortable in your presence,” he says. “It’s a privilege to be a part of that. And that’s especially true when you’re working with chocolate, which everybody loves, in an environment like Bitzel’s that’s just full of wonder and excitement. I’m looking forward to seeing the smiles on our guests’ faces on an everyday basis.”
Bitzel’s Chocolate is a 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, located in Suwanee, Ga. Bitzel’s Chocolate features a line of affordable, chef-crafted delicacies prepared while guests move through the production process in a true Willy Wonka-style experience.
For more news of interest to the confections industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
