Gourmet News

KENT Corporation Acquires Frosty Boy Global Desserts

Published December 21, 2023

KENT® Acquires Frosty Boy Global, Expands Worldwide.

KENT Corporation, a family-owned, award-winning manufacturer and worldwide marketer of food, beverage and agriculture products based in Muscatine, Iowa, announced, by way of its subsidiary KENT Precision Foods Group, the acquisition of Frosty Boy Global. Frosty Boy makes desserts, beverages and savory ingredients; as well as powder-based wellness products. Frosty Boy is based in Yatala, Gold Coast, Australia.

KENT Precision Foods Group is a dry and liquid-blending packaging food company specializing in rigid and flexible packaging while providing high-quality branded and custom products for customers in the food service (domestic and international) industrial and consumer products businesses. Consumer brands include Foothill Farms, Frostline, Mrs. Wages, Orrington Farms, Southern Gourmet, Thick- It, Sqwincher, PKLfreeze, Milaniand other licensed products.

“We are excited for KENT Precision Foods Group and Frosty Boy to join forces and expand what we each do best while leveraging our synergies,” said Mike Eversmeyer, president of KENT Precision Foods Group. “Together, our brands and products help people create meaningful experiences and long- lasting memories.”

Frosty Boy vastly expands the global footprint of KENT, allowing the family business to better serve its customers, worldwide. Frosty Boy manufactures product in India and Australia; and has sales offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Philippines, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, Dubai and Thailand.

With origins in the livestock feed business, today KENT Corporation is a diversified, family-owned company headquartered in Muscatine with operating subsidiaries involved in corn wet milling, the production of animal feeds and the manufacture of food, beverage and pet products. KENT is led by third generation family member, Gage A. Kent. KENT serves customers across the world and employs approximately 2,000 people in 40 locations across 20 states and seven countries.

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Performance Food Group Promotes McPherson, C-Suite Execs

Published December 21, 2023

Performance Food Group Company‘s board of directors has approved the promotion of Scott McPherson to executive vice president & chief field operations officer, effective Jan. 1.

McPherson will add the responsibility of leading PFG’s Foodservice business segment, in addition to his current responsibilities overseeing PFG’s Vistar and Convenience businesses. He will also provide strategic oversight to line operations across PFG’s distribution businesses. McPherson will continue to report to Craig Hoskins, PFG’s president & COO.

During his 30-year career, McPherson has held numerous leadership positions with Core-Mark including senior vice president roles for the company’s U.S. Division, Corporate Development, COO, and president and chief executive officer. Most recently, he was promoted to PFG executive vice president and President & CEO of PFG’s Convenience business providing leadership and direction to both Core-Mark and Vistar.

“We are pleased to have such strong leadership across PFG’s family of companies to support our continued growth and provide outstanding products and services to our customers every day,” said George Holm, chairman & CEO. “We will continue to develop ways to grow our company by leveraging the collective strengths of our Foodservice, Convenience and Vistar businesses with a growth-oriented and customer-focused culture.”

With McPherson’s change, Chris Hobson will be promoted to president & CEO, Convenience. Hobson began his career at Core-Mark as a General Sales Manager and held other positions during his more than 20-year tenure including division president, vice president, marketing, senior vice president, and most recently as president & COO. In his expanded role, he will continue to oversee performance, enterprise growth and Marketing/Purchasing/Merchandising, while adding the responsibilities of Finance, Human Resources and IT. Hobson will continue to report to McPherson.

Additionally, Sean Mahoney will be promoted to president & CEO, Vistar, where he will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the business segment. He joined Vistar in 2014 as channel vice president and has progressed through several leadership roles including Multichannel vice president and senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. Mahoney most recently served as president & COO of Vistar. Mahoney will also continue to report to McPherson.

“These changes support both the continued development for these remarkable leaders today, and into the future,” said Hoskins. “We’ve added so much talent to our organization over the last few years through strategic acquisitions, and we are also fortunate to have so many outstanding associates in our legacy businesses to help lead our company.”

Performance Food Group is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations in North America. Founded and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, PFG, and our family of companies, market and deliver quality food and related products to 300,000+ locations including independent and chain restaurants; businesses, schools and healthcare facilities; vending and office coffee service distributors; and big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores.

PFG’s success as a Fortune 100 company is achieved through our more than 35,000 dedicated associates committed to building strong relationships with the valued customers, suppliers and communities we serve. To learn more about PFG, visit pfgc.com.

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Reservations Open for Brasserie B by Bobby Flay in Las Vegas

Published December 21, 2023

Award-winning chef Bobby Flay is bringing French-inspired favorites to his new restaurant inside Caesars Palace. Brasserie B by Bobby Flay is accepting reservations beginning January for brunch, lunch and dinner through OpenTable.

Brasserie B follows the tremendous success of Amalfi by Bobby Flay and offers an intersection of French cuisine and Flay’s creative touches. Visitors can expect the unexpected, as Flay puts his signature twists on traditional frites, unique raw bar selections, a variety of starters and entrees and desserts. Guests can also enjoy a beverage program featuring classic brasserie cocktails and martinis, France-focused wines by the glass, as well as draft beer, bottled beer and cider.

“I’m thrilled to unleash my new restaurant, Brasserie B, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas,” Flay said. “Designed with Parisian brasseries in mind, the cuisine will appear to hit many French classics with tons of the impactful, bold flavors I’ve become known for. Get ready for the hustle, the bustle and the high-powered cooking of Brasserie B.”

Signature menu items include a variety of grilled proteins served with house-made French fries. The Lobster avec Frites features lobster with roasted garlic and lemon butter, and the Ribeye Piquant avec Fritesincludes steak with spicy and sweet glaze and chile butter. The lunch and brunch menu at Brasserie B showcases Flay’s take on popular dishes such as Eggs Royale, a variation of eggs benedict with smoked salmon and lemon chive hollandaise.

Designed by Olivia Jane Design, the restaurant transports guests from the heart of the Las Vegas Strip to a timeless brasserie in Paris. From the casino floor, guests are drawn to Brasserie B’s entrance by a neon sign curved along an exaggerated cornice and the warm interior lighting. The façade is reminiscent of a Parisian storefront with a rich, burgundy plaster.

“During our nearly 20-year partnership with Bobby Flay, he has taken our guests around the world through his restaurants – from the American Southwest to the Mediterranean,” said Terrence O’Donnell, SVP and general manager of Caesars Palace. “Now, with Brasserie B, he introduces guests to a different cuisine inspired by his travels in France. We are excited to offer another incredible dining destination at our resort, especially for brunch and lunch.”

Brasserie B features an L-shaped, 20-seat bar with weathered marble, fluted wood and zinc accents. The lounge flows into the main dining space, which includes a showstopping raw bar with a lit canopy that spills over the tables below. The intimate, 175-seat dining room features blown glass chandeliers, cane-backed cafe chairs and handmade subway tile. Burgundy banquettes line each of the spaces, and oversized mirrors clad the walls, amplifying the bustling energy that fills the room. A set of folding bistro-style doors bisect the space to create a private dining room with an abstract mural ceiling and illuminated wine displays.

Brasserie B by Bobby Flay is adjacent to Amalfi by Bobby Flay and Montecristo Cigar Bar inside Caesars Palace. The restaurant’s daily operation hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for brunch and 4:30 to 10 p.m. for dinner. For more information or to make a reservation, guests can visit caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/brasserie-b.

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