Gourmet News

National Beverage Corp. Pleads for St. Jude Donations

Published December 19, 2022

Commemorating its 29th year as a continuing partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Beverage Corp. asks all to help St. Jude in its lifesaving mission: Finding Cures. Saving Children.

“St. Jude’s dedication to research and patient care has saved countless lives and deserves our unconditional support,” stated Nick A. Caporella, chairman and chief executive officer. “It is an honor and a blessing to advocate for the incredible work of St. Jude as they work tirelessly to end childhood disease.”

Founder and entertainer Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude in 1962 with the dream that no child should die in the dawn of life. St. Jude affirms it is a ‘place of discovery, innovation and healing.’ Regardless of the duration or the cost of care, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.

“Together . . . we can make a significant impact on the success of St. Jude’s mission. We ask all this holiday season to join us in doing everything we can to support St. Jude. What greater joy is there . . . than inspiring dreams of a disease-free future for deserving children!” Caporella said.

Donations may be made online at www.stnicks4stjude.com or by calling 1-800-4STJUDE.

National Beverage has been honored by several charitable organizations, including: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The City of Hope, Cleveland Clinic and MD Anderson, in recognition of our commitment to research that has revolutionized the treatment of cancer and other catastrophic diseases. In addition the company supports organizations that provide assistance to active U.S. military along with veterans and their families.

St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Regardless of the duration or the cost of care, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate in the United States from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since 1962.

For news of interest to the food and beverage industry, Subscribe to Gourmet News.

John B. Sanfilippo & Son Acquires Just the Cheese Snacking Brand

Published December 19, 2022

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. has purchased substantially all of the assets of the Just the Cheese snacking brand business from Specialty Cheese Company, Inc. The acquisition was funded through the company’s existing bank credit facility.

Just the Cheese is one of the nation’s leading baked cheese snacking brands and offers 100 percent real cheese snack bars and cheese crisps. It primarily competes in the baked cheese snack category, which is currently estimated to be a $100 million category. Products can be found online and in a variety of retail outlets in flavors including Aged Cheddar and Grilled Cheese.

“The acquisition of Just the Cheese, which currently will not have a significant impact on our financial results, will provide us a product that expands our portfolio into new snacking categories. Additionally, the assets and capabilities acquired will be complimentary to our existing product portfolio and are expected to lead to exciting innovation opportunities” said Jeffery T. Sanfilippo, chief executive officer.

Based in Elgin, Ill, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. is a processor, packager, marketer and distributor of nut and dried fruit-based products that are sold under the company’s Fisher , Orchard Valley Harvest, Squirrel Brand and Southern Style Nuts brand names and under a variety of private brands.

For news of interest to the specialty food and snack industries subscribe to Gourmet News.

Helbiz, Kitchen United Expand Ghost Kitchen Offerings to LA

Published December 19, 2022

Helbiz Kitchen, a part of Helbiz, is bringing its ghost kitchen offerings to Los Angeles, expanding on the partnership with Kitchen United, a leading ghost kitchen network in the United States. The partnership began with the announcement that Helbiz Kitchen will come to NYC and Austin.

Starting in January, users in the Westwood and Santa Monica areas of Los Angeles will be able to order their favorite food items from either the Helbiz Kitchen app or Kitchen United MIX app onsite kiosk, or website – kitchenunited.com. Both locations also offer seating for guests who want to sit down and enjoy their meal onsite. Helbiz will bring their diverse set of menus created in Milan — Burger & Sons, Pokaii, Pomodòro, Wabisabi, What the Farm, and La Bottega del Gelato — allowing anyone to satiate their food cravings.

“Los Angeles is a city that respects their food and especially appreciates the ability to dine from a diversity of cuisines,” said Salvatore Palella, CEO of Helbiz. “By bringing our six different restaurant offerings and the ability to select from each in the same order, every household will be able to find exactly the food that they are craving. Los Angeles, like NYC and Austin, will be a city in which Helbiz offers both its micro-mobility and food-delivery related services.”

When available, users can download the Helbiz app on the Apple Store or Google Play. When it becomes available in cities that Helbiz has micro-mobility offerings, users will be able to use the same app to solve their daily transportation and food needs.

Helbiz is a global leader in micro-mobility services. Launched in 2015 and headquartered in New York City, the company offers a diverse fleet of vehicles including e-scooters, e-bicycles, e-mopeds all on one convenient, user-friendly platform with over 65 licenses in cities around the world. The merger with Wheels, leading player in California, adds an unique sit-down scooter along with long term rental subscriptions for individuals, businesses and universities. Helbiz uses a customized, proprietary fleet management technology, artificial intelligence and environmental mapping to optimize operations and business sustainability. Helbiz is expanding its urban lifestyle products and services to include live streaming services, food delivery and more, all accessible within its mobile app.

Founded in 2017, Kitchen United is a leading provider of restaurant hub technology, streamlined logistics and turn-key commercial kitchen space that empowers foodservice operators to tap into the growing off-premise business opportunity and offers consumers a first-of-its-kind multi-restaurant to-go experience. The company offers a value-driven, low-risk way for emerging and established restaurant brands to enter into new markets, grow revenue through off-premise dining and expand delivery areas. Kitchen United currently operates to-go food halls in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Jose, and Santa Monica, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Dallas, Frisco and Houston, Texas; Scottsdale, Ariz.; New York and Chicago, with more locations opening across the nation. It’s the nation’s first “multi-restaurant ordering” to-go experience that allows foodie fans who love variety to order meals from multiple restaurants, all on the same bill.

For news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.