Gourmet News

Kelce Brothers Attend Cereal Training Camp, Release Kelce Mix Cereal

Published August 27, 2024

General Mills has been scouting America’s favorite football brothers, Travis and Jason Kelce, since they revealed their top cereals last year on their hit podcast, “New Heights.” Earlier this summer, the Kelces took new positions off the field as cereal co-creators of the historic new General Mills cereal: the Kelce Mix, which combines their top three favorite cereals — Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms and REESE’S PUFFS cereal — in one box.

To prepare for this dream job, the brothers attended Cereal Training Camp, which put their passion for competition and love of cereal to the test. Travis and Jason participated in epic cereal challenges to win the chance to create the first-of-its-kind Kelce Mix and be featured on limited-edition, Kelces’ Pick boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms and REESE’S PUFFS cereal.

Now in advance of their new cereal mix hitting shelves in September, fans can tune in to see the brothers’ experience at Cereal Training Camp in a series of videos that showcase how the duo achieved cereal greatness and emerged victorious by proving their athleticism, ingenuity and undeniable good taste. The content will be featured in TV and online ads, with more extensive footage and behind-the-scenes content available at www.cerealtrainingcamp.com.

“I take my cereal game seriously, and thank goodness, because Cereal Training Camp was no joke,” said Jason Kelce, Kelce Mix co-creator. “The only thing Travis and I know more about than football is cereal — so we’re honored to take home the victory and consider ourselves officially inducted into cereal culture with Kelce Mix.”

“I’ve said that I’d eat a whole box of REESE’S PUFFS cereal in one sitting, and while I stand by that, our creation might just be the new MVP of the cereal aisle,” said Travis Kelce, Kelce Mix co-creator. “We’d go through two to three boxes of our favorite cereals a week when we were growing up, so being able to team up with General Mills now is a full circle moment for us.”

In anticipation of the Kelce Mix hitting shelves this football season, fans have already created their own mashups, giving the Kelce creation rave reviews. Cereal fans and 92%ers can officially get their hands on the new limited-edition Kelce Mix cereal and enjoy limited-edition Kelces’ Pick collectible boxes as a nod to the brothers’ top faves: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, and REESE’S PUFFS cereal, which feature the brothers on packaging, giving their stamp of approval.

“There’s something extra special about working with recruits like Travis and Jason Kelce, who have loved our brands since their childhood. It’s a dream partnership for both sides. In fact, creating everything from ads to the limited-edition product was inspired by Travis and Jason’s childhood memories with General Mills cereals. The Kelce Mix hits shelves in just a few weeks and we can’t wait for families across the nation to experience this legendary combination,” said Mindy Murray, brand experience director for General Mills’ Morning Foods.

Kelce Mix cereal and Kelces’ Pick collectible boxes will be available at retailers nationwide for $5.69 beginning in mid – September and a limited-edition Walmart.com exclusive box will drop on 9/28 while supplies last.

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Ford’s Gourmet Foods Awarded NA Marketer of the Year

Published August 21, 2024

Ford’s Gourmet Foods, the master distributor for North Carolina-produced brands including Wine Nuts, Fire Dancer Jalapeno Peanuts, Earth Family Organics & Naturals, Southern Yum Pecan Brittle and acclaimed Bone Suckin’ Sauces, started on a drop-down shelf in the Ford’s Produce warehouse and has been awarded the 2024 North American Marketer of the Year Award from The North American Agricultural Marketing Officials.

“Lynn and Sandi Ford and their family have been bringing quality products to market since 1946 at the old city market of Raleigh,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Their gourmet line really took off in 1992 when the entire family got involved and they began selling Bone Suckin’ Sauce at local retailers and at the State Farmers Market.

“Ford’s Gourmet Foods was built on hard work, service to customers and quality products. They embraced international marketing and worked closely with our staff to broaden their customer base. You can now find their products in over 80 countries,” Troxler said. “International markets hold tremendous growth opportunities for food businesses and farmers and we are committed to helping them get there.”

Ford’s Gourmet Foods is a fourth-generation, Raleigh, N.C.-based family business with a focus on making and distributing only the best. “We’re very proud as a company and as a family to receive this award and recognition,” said Vaughn Ford, vice president. “North Carolina is a great state to do business in and the Department of Agriculture has given us the support we needed.”

“The harder you work, the luckier you get,” said Patrick Ford, vice president. “This isn’t a journey you can do on your own, you have to nurture your relationships both with your customers and with government agencies. You need both to make it work and be successful. We are also appreciative to our great employees.”

Learn more about Ford’s Gourmet Foods

Learn more about Bone Suckin’ Sauce

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De Novo Gets $4M in Funding for Fermented Lactoferrin

Published August 19, 2024

De Novo Foodlabs, a food technology company focused on creating rare protein-based functional ingredients, has announced fresh capital, bringing its total investment to $4 million. This investment will enable De Novo to fast-track the commercialization of its revolutionary precision fermented lactoferrin product, NanoFerrin. The raise, spearheaded by sustainable protein venture capital firm Joyful Ventures, highlights the immense potential of De Novo’s state-of-the-art, animal-free protein solutions to reshape the health and wellness landscape.

Lactoferrin, a functional protein primarily found in milk, plays a crucial role in infant development, and offers numerous health benefits for adults, such as improved immunity, brain health, iron absorption, gut health, and longevity. Lactoferrin has been shown to be effective in alleviating aging-related changes through its anti-oxidation, anti-cellular senescence, and anti-inflammation properties, among others. Traditional extraction methods from cow milk are not only prohibitively expensive but also plagued by sustainability and ethical challenges. De Novo Foodlabs was established to tackle these issues head-on by developing an alternative lactoferrin that delivers all the health benefits without the ethical and environmental drawbacks.

“The lactoferrin market has long been hindered by high prices and inconsistent supply,” said Jean Louwrens, CEO and co-founder of De Novo Foodlabs. “Our team of leading scientists and engineers has dedicated themselves to overcoming these challenges through precision fermentation technology, and we are thrilled to have achieved a breakthrough. NanoFerrin is not only more affordable and eco-friendly; importantly, it also provides a reliable supply source compared to traditional bovine lactoferrin products. We are excited to collaborate with our investors to elevate De Novo to new heights.”

“De Novo Foodlabs exemplifies the innovation and sustainability we champion at Joyful Ventures,” said Milo Runkle, general partner at Joyful Ventuers, and co-founder of the Good Food Institute. “Their advancements in precision fermentation technology and dedication to creating impactful alternatives to high-value animal-derived ingredients pave the way for scalable and profitable industry solutions.” As part of the investment, Runkle will join De Novo’s board of directors.

This latest funding round follows initial investments from Sustainable Food Ventures, Siddhi Capital, Pascual Innoventures, UM6P Ventures, Cult Food Science and Prithvi Capital, bringing De Novo’s total funding to $4 million since its inception in 2021.

The global lactoferrin market, valued at $773 million in 2023, is projected to grow annually by 15.8 percent over the next decade, presenting tremendous opportunities for innovators and investors to enhance the supply chain and satisfy consumer demand. De Novo’s NanoFerrin offers an unmatched ingredient for the food, beverage, and supplements sectors, facilitating rapid market expansion and category growth.

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