Gourmet News

Olive Oil Industry Leaders Ask FDA for U.S. Standards

Published July 6, 2022

Courtesy California Olive Ranch

The American Olive Oil Producers Association, North American Olive Oil Association and Deoleo, the world’s largest olive oil producer, submitted a joint citizen petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to adopt enforceable, science-based olive oil standards.

The petition puts forward clear definitions for olive oil grades – extra virgin, virgin, and olive oil – that will help American consumers better understand and have confidence in the quality and authenticity of the olive oil they buy. This clarity will also lead to a better grasp of nutrition benefits at different price points.

For two years, AOOPA, Deoleo and NAOOA have collaborated on determining more stringent olive oil grading and labeling standards that will benefit everyone. The new standards, which the FDA would be empowered to enforce following a final ruling and public comment period, would mark the first time the federal government has adopted mandatory regulations for olive oil, and it’s a key step toward ensuring a more honest, fair, and competitive industry.

“For the first time, top-selling brands such as California Olive Ranch, Pompeian, Bertolli, Filippo Berio, Colavita, Star, Cobram Estate and other major producers have joined forces to drive standards that will help eliminate consumer confusion around one of the healthiest and most delicious foods they can eat. Stricter labeling practices will allow consumers to feel confident that the olive oil they buy will deliver the quality, value, and health benefits they expect,” said NAOOA Chairman Marco de Ceglie.

If approved by the FDA, the standards would give growers, producers and bottlers an edge in a highly competitive market, and it will instate practices that drive a more trustworthy industry, according to the groups. The current joint petition responds to FDA’s request for a robust and unified effort from the industry, and it addresses all relevant points of reference.

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SpartanNash Military Fundraiser Under Way

Published July 6, 2022

Food solutions company SpartanNash is holding its annual companywide fundraising campaign to support military servicemembers, veterans and their families. The SpartanNash Foundation military fundraiser will run from through July 10.

All money raised in the military fundraiser will be divided evenly between three nonprofit organizations – Team Red, White & Blue, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember – providing critical funding.

“Our partner organizations go above and beyond every day to serve our troops, veterans and their families who have given so much, many who have been seriously injured or have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer David Sisk, who oversees SpartanNash Military, a division of the company and a leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries and exchanges worldwide.

“We see firsthand the sacrifices our servicemen and women – and their families – make to protect our freedoms every day, and this is an impactful and meaningful way we can continue to support our American heroes regardless of where they live or the care they need within the community.”

The three organizations support the military community in a variety of ways, including physical and social activity, providing critical financial assistance and family services and honoring those who lost their lives defending American freedoms.

“We are able to deliver upon our mission to build strong, stable and secure military families because of the steadfast commitment of supporters like SpartanNash,” said Operation Homefront Chief Revenue Officer Margi Kirst. “SpartanNash allows us to be there for our fellow Americans in their time of need after all they have done for us in our nation’s time of need.”

“SpartanNash has consistently been on the patriotic forefront of recognizing and identifying the needs of the military community,” said George Lutz, founder and executive director at Honor and Remember. “Through our partnership, we can broaden the message to thousands more who may or may not understand that freedom comes at a very high price.”

Store guests who visit any participating SpartanNash-owned retail store or fuel center during the fundraising period will have the opportunity to donate $1, $5 or $10 at any checkout lane, or round their total up to the nearest dollar to support the three patriotic partners. Customers, and others interested in participating in this fundraising campaign, can also donate online through Fast Lane.

Since 2015, the SpartanNash community has provided $1.75 million in donations to patriotic partners through the SpartanNash Foundation, benefiting veterans service organizations such as Give an Hour, Fisher House Foundation, Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. and Disabled Veterans National Foundation, in addition to its trio of patriotic partners for 2022.

SpartanNash also proudly hires veterans and military-connected Associates as a military-friendly and veteran-friendly employer.

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US Foods Expands Chef’Store Warehouse Grocery

Published July 6, 2022

US Foods Holding Corp. will open US Foods Chef’Store warehouse grocery locations in Merced and Santa Cruz, Calif., Helena, Mont., and Winston-Salem, N.C. The additional stores expand the reach of the Chef’Store offering, providing restaurant operators, food industry professionals, community groups and at-home chefs a warehouse-style retail solution to quickly stock up or replenish ingredients by the case and in individual quantities.

The Merced and Santa Cruz stores will join 15 existing Chef’Store warehouse grocery locations across California. The Merced store will be will offer its customers nearly 19,000-square-feet of shopping space. Both Santa Cruz and Merced stores are scheduled to open in fall 2022. The Santa Cruz store will offer more than 23,000-square-feet for its customers.

The Helena store will bring its third Chef’Store location to the state of Montana, joining existing locations in Kalispell and Missoula. Opening in early 2023, the new Helena Chef’Store will offer 20,000 square feet of shopping space.

The Winston-Salem store will be the second Chef’Store location in North Carolina. Set to open in December 2022, the new Winston-Salem location will boast 23,500 square feet of shopping space.

“The new Chef’Store will offer foodservice operators across Northern California, Montana and North Carolina a new and convenient retail location for purchasing their much-needed food and supplies,” said John Mathews, vice president of sales and marketing for Chef’Store . “Merced, Santa Cruz, Helena, and Winston-Salem have a growing community of restaurant owners and culinary professionals. Chef’Store is excited to help serve their needs with thousands of restaurant-quality products at competitive prices.”

This year, Chef’Store announced the opening of three stores in Visalia, Calif., Lynchburg, Va., and Spartanburg, S.C. With more than 80 locations across 13 states, Chef’Store offers thousands of restaurant-quality products at competitive prices, including fresh meat, produce, dairy, deli items and frozen seafood to industry professionals and home chefs alike. Customers can also shop for a wide range of cookware, beverages, catering essentials, janitorial supplies and other restaurant essentials.

Chef’Store is open to the public seven days a week and no membership is required.

US Foods acquired Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores in April 2020 to accelerate growth and its footprint in the cash and carry market to provide an omni-channel experience to more customers. The company rebranded all Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores to US Foods Chef’Store in February 2021. With the addition of the four new locations, US Foods will have 87 Chef’Store locations across the continental United States.

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