Gourmet News

Albertsons Debuts Overjoyed, Overjoyed Boutique Lines

Published September 4, 2024

Albertsons Companies, Inc. has introduced its newest Own Brand, Overjoyed , marking the company’s first major private label debut in recent years. Designed to inspire and elevate every occasion, Overjoyed offers shoppers a curated selection of colorful and tasty products including cupcakes, candles and liners; cookies; chocolatey trail mixes; cheesecakes and sprinkles. An extension of Overjoyed, Overjoyed Boutique features decorative vases, candles and seasonal gifts to make every day sparkle.

Overjoyed and Overjoyed Boutique are available now in Albertsons Cos. stores including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, ACME and Shaw’s.

“At Albertsons Cos., we are dedicated to bringing people together around the joys of food, and our newest Own Brand, Overjoyed, underscores this commitment by helping shoppers celebrate the joys of every day and connect with loved ones,” said Brandon Brown, SVP Own brands for Albertsons Cos. “We are constantly evaluating how well we’re meeting our customers’ needs through our Own Brands portfolio, and we realized we had an opportunity to create a brand to celebrate life’s every day, special moments.

“With Overjoyed, we look forward to helping our loyal customers create an emotional connection and lasting memories from hosting a hot fudge sundae party to surprising the family with cupcakes for dessert to treating a teacher or neighbor with holiday trail mix ‘just because’.”

Overjoyed high-quality products can be found throughout the store in key categories including bakery and décor, snack mixes, candy, cookies and celebration supplies. Shoppers will be tempted by indulgent treats such as French macarons , s’mores trail mix and chocolate fudge brownie ice cream cake . For customers looking to create their own desserts, Overjoyed offers whimsical fairytale princesses or dinosaurs and sharks sprinkles , colorful cupcake liners , decadent chocolate chips and marshmallows, to name a few.

Overjoyed Boutique features giftable items for any occasion such as a scented candles, elegant flower vases and seasonal décor. Additionally, each holiday season, the line will introduce seasonal items and treats to celebrate such as vampire fang gummies and decorate-your-own graveyard cookie kits for Halloween.

Promoted via the company’s email, social and digital channels, marketing features a lively color palette, captivating details, sparkles and a consistent teal logo, bringing the brand’s optimistic, cheerful and magnetic personality to life.

This is the latest addition to the company’s Own Brands portfolio, which includes trusted household names such as Signature SELECT, O Organics, Lucerne, Open Nature, Primo Taglio, waterfront BISTRO, Soleil and Value Corner.

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Buckeye Vodka Teams With Ohio State Athletics Department

Published September 3, 2024

Buckeye Vodka, the #1 Ohio-made vodka, has secured a sponsorship with The Ohio State University Department of Athletics, beginning August 2024. For the first time, Buckeye Vodka is a Proud Sponsor of Ohio State Athletics, brokered through the departments multi-media rights partner Learfield, the media and technology company powering college athletics.

Just in time for tailgating season, Buckeye Vodka will be making a splash across local and national media outlets, celebrating, and building excitement around this relationship. The product will be available at all events throughout the year at both the Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center.

Buckeye fans can enjoy their favorite Ohio-made vodka at collegiate football and basketball games. A family-owned and operated business, making premium craft vodka that’s distilled 10 times, Buckeye Vodka is hailed by fans throughout the state as the smoothest vodka.

“The relationship with The Ohio State University Athletics just makes sense. The brands align very well. We are thrilled to bring two winning traditions together in this way and share the story of Buckeye Vodka with Buckeye Nation,” said Jim Finke, co-founder of the vodka company. “Ohio State Athletics is an incredible brand with a winning tradition. They are particular about who they take on as sponsors.

“Enjoy Buckeye Vodka at your tailgates, share it at home with your friends and ask for it by name at your favorite establishments not just on game days but any day you’re enjoying a refreshment. As always, we ask that everyone please drink responsibly.”

“We are excited to welcome Buckeye Vodka as a Proud Sponsor of Ohio State Athletics,” said Todd Knisley, vice president & general manager at Ohio State Sports Properties. “Their commitment to quality and passion for supporting local communities aligns perfectly with our mission at The Ohio State University Athletics.”

Buckeye Vodka continues to lead Ohio’s alcohol and vodka industry with a handcrafted production method that is meticulous and distinct. From its inception, it has boasted the true “Spirit of Ohio” – rock-solid determination in the face of adversity. The company tests and compares every batch against the leading national brands and will not stop until it’s the smoothest. This personal attention to detail ensures that each bottle is just as good as the last, offering top shelf vodka without the top shelf price.

The vodka is carefully handcrafted right in Ohio’s Miami Valley. For over a decade, the team has tested and compared each distillation and filtration batch against the leading national brands. Its use of distilled water has contributed to the distillery’s success in producing a clean, smooth and consistent experience every time. This personal attention to detail ensures that every bottle is just as good as the last.

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SFA, Tastemaker Conference Converge at Winter Fancy Food Show

Published September 3, 2024

The Specialty Food Association is aligning with Tastemaker Conference, which will co-locate its annual gathering of food bloggers and content creators with the 49th Winter Fancy Food Show in January 2025. The first major expo in the food industry’s cycle, the Winter Fancy Food Show will showcase thousands of specialty food and beverage products from domestic and global suppliers, with an emphasis on new-to-market and trend-centric artisanal goods.

Taking place across three days (Jan. 19-21) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Show will also feature a variety of networking events, educational sessions, and never-before-seen features.

“Influencer marketing is an efficient and effective way for established and emerging makers to drive consumer awareness of, and demand for, their products,” said Leana Salamah, SFA SVP of marketing & communications. “Our alliance and co-location with Tastemaker Conference will not only amplify social media buzz around all of the products and trends on display at the Winter Fancy Food Show, but also provide opportunities for our members to identify specific content creator partners who can work with them with on year-round promotional efforts.

“By incorporating consumer awareness and demand opportunities into the Winter Fancy Food Show, SFA is taking the traditional push marketing model of b2b trade shows and evolving it to also include opportunities for pull marketing through end-user activation. We will be announcing additional programming that brings our members together with these content creators at the Winter Fancy Food Show to discover potential partnerships extending long after the three days of the show.”

“Tastemaker Conference looks forward to our first co-location with the Winter Fancy Food Show in 2025. This alliance presents an unparalleled opportunity for creators and makers to come together, explore the latest trends and innovations in the industry, and provide education and networking to drive growth through influencer marketing,” said Abbey Rodriguez, Tastemaker Conference, CEO & founder.

“The Winter Fancy Food Show is renowned for its diverse product categories, ensuring there is something for everyone! We are hosting a panel on the show floor with a few of the food community’s leading creators. We look forward to introducing our community to the Specialty Food Association members, in order to establish a space where creativity and innovation can thrive, and where new products, experiences, and ideas will be unveiled to the world for the first time.”

Registration for the Winter Fancy Food Show will open in October, and is exclusive to qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates and media. For more information, please visit https://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-shows/winter/.

Tastemaker Conference was founded by and for food bloggers and content creators, with the goals of fostering community, providing education, and delivering unique experiences. Dedicated to legitimizing the creator economy, Tastemaker Conference offers unparalleled education focused on content creation, business development, marketing, SEO, technology, and DEI. Our events provide valuable educational and networking opportunities for both aspiring and seasoned food creators.

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