Gourmet News

Lindt & Sprüngli Hosts U.S. Debut of Lindt Dubai Chocolate

Published December 9, 2024

To make the holiday season even brighter, Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) is holding the U.S. debut of Lindt Dubai Chocolate, which will be available for New York City locals and visitors to taste and purchase during an in-store celebration on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Available in a limited quantity, the handmade Lindt Dubai Chocolate will debut in the Lindt New York Empire State Shop in Manhattan at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 until they sell out. The bars – delivered in high-quality, luxurious packaging – will retail for $14.99 each. Additionally, each guest who purchases a bar will receive a hand-numbered certificate and complimentary Lindt goodies to enjoy. More bars will later be rolled out across the USA in various other Lindt Retail Stores in limited quantities.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Lindt Dubai Chocolate Bar to the U.S. for the first time this holiday season, and there’s no better place to launch it than New York City,” said Ann Czaja, Lindt master chocolatier. “Our Master Chocolatiers have skillfully crafted the ingredients by hand, allowing chocolate lovers to taste the global flavor sensation that’s taken the world by storm in an unforgettable, luxurious experience.”

The first recipe for Dubai chocolate was created in 2021 by Sarah Hamouda of FIX Dessert Chocolatier and gained viral notoriety on TikTok by various creators. Now, the Lindt master chocolatiers are picking up on this global trend and are proudly presenting their own recipe. Lindt Dubai Chocolate invites fans across the globe on a journey into the luxurious world of Dubai-inspired flavors and textures.

Packed with exquisite ingredients that are skillfully combined by hand, these Lindt Dubai Chocolate bars make every bite a unique taste experience. With the chocolate’s texture being of the utmost importance, the melt-in-the-mouth Lindt milk chocolate is generously filled with the finest pistachio butter, crispy kadayif (crunchy pastry shreds) and velvety tahini. The combination of the luxurious Lindt milk chocolate and crispy, creamy filling makes Lindt Dubai Chocolate an unforgettable, indulgent experience that can’t be missed.

The kick-off celebration event at the Lindt New York Empire State Shop on Dec. 12 will include chocolate-filled experiences throughout the day. Guests can enjoy free chocolate samples, take-home coupons, and enter for a chance to win a year’s supply of Lindt Chocolate (details to follow). Though the Lindt Dubai Chocolate bars are a limited quantity, every guest who visits is sure to be delighted by the delicious fun that awaits them at the celebration event!

Store Location and Hours:

7 W. 34th St. New York, NY 10001
9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Can’t make it to the New York City Lindt Dubai Chocolate event? Don’t worry, a limited number of bars are coming soon to other Lindt Chocolate shops. Follow @Lindt_USA Instagram and TikTok to keep up with all Lindt USA news. To be the first to learn about upcoming promotions, flash sales, and store events, join Lindt’s email list on lindtusa.com.

Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 175 years. The long-established Swiss company with its roots in Zurich is a global leader in the premium chocolate product sector. Lindt & Sprüngli produces quality chocolates today at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA. Its products are sold by 36 subsidiaries and branch offices in around 530 of its own stores as well as via a network of more than 100 independent distributors around the globe. With more than 14,500 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales of CHF 5.2 billion in 2023.

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Food Lion President Meg Ham to Retire in May

Published December 5, 2024

Meg Ham will retire as Food Lion president.

Ahold Delhaize USA has announced that Meg Ham, president of Food Lion, plans to retire on May 2, after more than 35 years with the organization. She has been at the helm of Food Lion for more than a decade and has been part of the brand’s unprecedented growth, grounded in Food Lion’s heritage of customer service and convenient locations. A successor for Ham will be announced before year-end.

“Meg has been an outstanding leader at Ahold Delhaize USA and has led Food Lion during one of the brand’s most exciting times as it repositioned itself to better serve customers, while staying true to its core attributes of low prices and convenient locations,” said JJ Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA. “Under Meg’s leadership, the brand has experienced tremendous growth, all while remaining true to its purpose of nourishing the towns and cities Food Lion serves. Not only did the Food Lion business thrive, but under Meg’s leadership the brand is on track to deliver 1.5 billion meals by 2025 through its Food Lion Feeds hunger-relief platform. She has been a strong leader for the brand, with a remarkable passion for building strong customer and associate experiences, and we wish her all the best as she transitions to retirement.”

Ham added, “While I am looking forward to retirement, Food Lion and Hannaford have been places that I have called home for more than 35 years. I am incredibly grateful to the associates who I have had the opportunity to work alongside every day, to our customers who put their trust in us to nourish their families and to our community partners who work tirelessly every day to feed those who are hungry in our local communities. Throughout my career, I have strived to operate as a humble teacher and a proud learner, and I have cherished the opportunity to learn from the great people I have worked with, and learned from, over the years.”

Food Lion is an omnichannel grocery retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors. More than 82,000 associates across more than 1,100 stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. With a focus on hunger relief, the grocer is a pioneer in food rescue. In 2014, Food Lion Feeds was created and has since donated more than 1.2 billion meals to those who are food insecure. The retailer has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com.

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands that also includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. When considered together, the companies of Ahold Delhaize USA comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest grocery retail group in the nation, serving millions of omnichannel customers each week. For more information, visit www.adusa.com.

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California Grape Commission Mourns Karen Hearn

Published December 3, 2024

Source: LinkedIn

The California Table Grape Commission is deeply saddened to share that Karen Hearn, vice president of marketing, passed away on Nov. 24 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Hearn dedicated nearly 26 years of service to the California table grape industry, playing a pivotal role in the growth of innovative retail programs in the U.S. and Canada, helping to move California grape volume season after season. Her steadfast dedication to the industry stemmed from a lifelong desire to help farmers succeed.

“Karen was a special person,” said Kathleen Nave, commission president. “She loved her work; loved representing growers and knowing that actions she took helped move the crop; loved partnering with retailers to figure out new ways to motivate more sales; loved working as part of a team and helping lead that team. Her work ethic, which even illness could not conquer, was based on her unwavering belief in the value of the work and was matched only by her exceptional grace and kindness.”

Raised on a family farm in South Texas, Hearn developed a deep appreciation for agriculture from an early age. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Journalism from Texas A&M University, she devoted her career to supporting farmers and promoting agricultural products. Before joining the California Table Grape Commission, Hearn served as marketing director for TexaSweet Citrus Advertising, implementing retail programs across the U.S. and Canada.

Hearn’s table grape legacy lives on through her daughter Kathryn Hearn who joined the commission as a marketing manager earlier this year. “It’s a testament to Karen’s passion for this industry and the work she did that her daughter followed in her footsteps,” Nave said. “We all learned so much from Karen. Her grace, determination, generosity, and warmth made a lasting impact on those whose lives she touched.”

Heartfelt condolences to Karen’s husband Michael, stepson Sam, Kathryn, and her extended family.