Gourmet News

Swamp Dragon Hot Sauce Reluctantly Suspends Operations

Published April 15, 2024

Matt Beeson created Swamp Dragon hot sauce for those who love hot sauce but don’t like the vinegary taste. Beeson created the world’s first hot sauce made with liquor as a preservative, not vinegar. He put a lovable dragon cartoon on the label, so families would know it’s still kid-friendly.

Making Swamp Dragon and growing the brand was a passion for Beeson. He’s been networking to find the resources to keep Swamp Dragon going, but has been unable to. (Read more in the April/May issue of Gourmet News.) Now, Beeson has made the heartbreaking decision to suspend operations.

“Swamp Dragon is officially suspending operations,” Beeson wrote on his LinkedIn page, the company website and other social media, this time featuring a sad dragon. “We will continue filling web orders until inventory depletes (very soon, so go now if you care to), and then the company will remain idle until I fix things.

“I am sorry that most or none of you have had, and may never have, Chocolate Bourbon Hot Sauce or Piña Colada Hot Sauces. The flavors I am able to achieve without vinegar are unlike anything before, and cannot be had by any other than my patented method.

“This company and invention is a source of deep pride for me. Suspending the operation does not change that. With the help of supporters, family, volunteers and more, Swamp Dragon made a very real splash. Alas, with insufficient funding, the runway WILL expire. It did.

“As I suspend things, I walk away from massive sales and business opportunity that was always and still is there. The product is delicious, incomparable, and very easy to sell. It’s a f$%King shame of the highest order.

“Hopefully soon, I will have the necessary resources to relaunch properly. Thank you all so very much for your support, advice, patronage, and love.

“I cannot say with any certainty that I will relaunch. But it is the plan. Don’t give up on me.

:Now that’s out, so maybe I can get a little more vocal about finding my next job. Hire me!”

Once again, Gourmet News will feature more on Beeson’s quest to save Swamp Dragon in the April/May issue. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!

Maison Solutions Acquires Arizona-Based Asian Grocer Lee Lee Supermarkets

Published April 10, 2024

Maison Solutions Inc. a U.S.-based specialty grocery retailer offering traditional Asian and international food and merchandise, has acquired Lee Lee Oriental Supermart, Inc., a three-store supermarket chain operating under the name, Lee Lee International Supermarkets, in the greater Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

The company acquired the supermarkets through AZLL, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company and the company’s wholly owned subsidiary. The purchase price of $22.2 million will be paid over a 10-month period and includes $7 million in cash paid immediately at closing on April 8, with the rest paid through a secured note agreement.

“This transaction demonstrates our strategy of expanding by acquisition in geographic locations with large and growing Asian and ethnic populations,” said John Xu, president and chief executive officer of Maison Solutions. “Lee Lee International Supermarkets has an established brand presence in Arizona and is a perfect fit for Maison, giving us a base for further growth in the region.

“The strategic acquisition is expected to add approximately $70 million in annual revenue for us, effectively doubling our current size. We remain committed to future growth through new store openings and acquisitions,” Xu added.

Stores Highlights:

The Chandler (Phoenix metro area) store comprises more than 52,000 square feet. This market includes a Vietnamese restaurant, a bakery, and a jewelry store.
The Peoria (Phoenix metro area) store comprises more than 60,000 square feet. This market includes a Vietnamese restaurant, a boba tea store, a jewelry store and a clothing store.
The Tucson store comprises more than 51,000 square feet. This market includes a Vietnamese restaurant and a BBQ restaurant.

Lee Lee International Supermarkets is the largest international market in Arizona. Its three locations offer products from more than 30 countries and regions, and provide the highest quality product selection available. Founded over 30 years ago, Lee Lee International Supermarkets has won multiple awards for best international supermarket, Asian market and specialty foods.

Maison Solutions Inc. is a U.S.-based specialty grocery retailer offering traditional Asian food and merchandise, particularly to members of Asian-American communities. The Company is committed to providing Asian fresh produce, meat, seafood, and other daily necessities in a manner that caters to traditional Asian-American family values and cultural norms, while also accounting for the new and faster-paced lifestyle of younger generations and the diverse makeup of the communities in which the company operates. Since its formation in 2019, the company has acquired equity interests in four traditional Asian supermarkets in the Los Angeles area, and has been operating them under the brand name HK Good Fortune.

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IFT, PepsiCo Partner on Scholarship for IFT FIRST Attendance

Published April 10, 2024

IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund has partnered with PepsiCo to support the next generation of the science of food community through a joint Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship. This unique hybrid study-and-travel scholarship offers a $5,000 academic scholarship in addition to a $1,000 travel stipend to IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, where the recipient will join the global science of food community to experience innovative products and solutions, cutting-edge scientific sessions and exclusive networking opportunities.

To be eligible for the Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the science of food, meet a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and plan to enroll full- or part-time as a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in a food science program. The scholarship is open to candidates anywhere in the world.

“The Feeding Tomorrow Fund is excited to partner with a leading company like PepsiCo to support a future leader of tomorrow. The PepsiCo and IFT Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship is an exciting opportunity for a passionate student to not only support their education, but to attend the science of food event that has helped transform the global food system for many years,” added Steve Hartley, Director of Fund Development at IFT.

The recipient will also have the opportunity to attend the PepsiCo Meet & Greets at the IFTSA Student Lounge during IFT FIRST. Through its sponsorship of the IFTSA Student Lounge, PepsiCo is connecting its research and development professionals with the attending IFTSA (Institute of Food Technologists Student Association) community interested in pursuing R&D as a career path. Attendees can network with PepsiCo employees; ask questions about the company’s products, culture, and career opportunities; and gain insights into the latest trends and developments in the food and beverage industry.

“PepsiCo is a proud to encourage and enable students to grow their skills and passion in the science of food,” said Mary Carunchia, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist at PepsiCo.

Since 1985, the Institute of Food Technologists through the Feeding Tomorrow Fund has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships totaling over $3 million. In addition to graduate and undergraduate scholarships, IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund also offers scholarship awards for students with specific criteria such as greatest financial need, those transferring from a community college, and first-generational college enrollment.

The application deadline for the PepsiCo and IFT Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship is March 29.

To learn more, please visit IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Scholarships page. Interested students may also email International Scholarship and Tuition Services at ContactUs@applyists.com or IFT at feedingtomorrow@ift.org to learn more about the application process.

Early bird registration is currently open for IFT FIRST, being held July 14-17 at McCormick Place in Chicago. To experience the largest global food science and innovation expo or to learn more, go to www.iftevent.org.

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