Nick Lachey, television personality, multi-platinum recording artist, loving husband and father, joined premium chocolatier, Lindt USA, to launch the fifth Lindt GOLD BUNNY Celebrity Auction and help raise awareness for autism, a cause close to his family.  Lachey, who shared his personal connection to autism, joined the exclusive line-up of nearly 100 celebrities participating in this year’s auction by donating autographs.  One hundred percent of proceeds from the celebrity-signed Lindt GOLD BUNNY figures will benefit the world’s leading autism research and advocacy organization, Autism Speaks.  This year, Lindt will make a matching donation.  Now through April 14, fans can bid on celebrity-signed porcelain Lindt GOLD BUNNY figures – from Kelly Clarkson to Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Brady and Seth Meyers – and give back this Easter. 

“It’s an honor to help launch this year’s Lindt GOLD BUNNY Celebrity Auction and support a cause very close to my family,” said Lachey. “ My younger brother, Zac, was diagnosed with autism as a child, and we’re continuously inspired by his perseverance and strength.  Autism affects so many families, and Lindt is offering simple ways to get involved this Easter and help give back.” 

Produced by the Web Marketing Association, the Internet Advertising Competition is an annual awards program that honors excellence in online advertising, recognizes the individuals and organizations responsible, and showcases the best in Internet advertising. 

“The Internet Advertising Competition awards recognize outstanding achievements in online advertising.  We are honored to be a winner of this respected awards competition,” said Bill Tuohig, Vice President and Product Leader of New Hope Natural Media. “ This award is a testament to the hard work of our team and the creative approach we are taking to developing new kinds of data and insight solutions for the natural products marketplace.” 

New Hope Natural Media’s Predictive Consumer Segmentation is also overlaid within NEXT Trend to help brands and retailers identify and target consumers who are most likely to be early adopters of natural products and the regions where those consumers are to be found, which are areas within the U.S. that offer high success potential for new products.  Five key consumer segments differentiated by early adoption, lifestyles, behaviors and beliefs toward health and wellness were created from the research, redefining traditional market segmentation.  The segmentation allows companies to effectively target interested, passionate consumers and provides them with concepts and marketing strategies to optimize product innovation. 

NEXT Trend also provides a dynamic Product Concept Lab within the Predictive Consumer Segmentation, which allows product innovators to test new product concepts early in the new product development cycle.  This early, fast product filter allows innovators to focus on high potential product concepts, which saves time and money and decreases new product development cycle times. 

Last month, NEXT Trend announced that blue chip consumer packaged goods companies – TwinLab, MetaBrand, Lundberg Family Farms, General Mills Small Planet Foods, Clorox, Kellogg’s Kashi, Quinoa Corporation, and PepsiCO – are among those using the online data and insight solution to gain a competitive edge when bringing natural products to market. 

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From the royal wedding to the London Olympics and from Harry Potter to Downton Abbey, British culture has never been more popular in the United States than it is today.  Americans seem positively poised to pounce on any book, movie, television show or event emblazoned with the Union Jack or featuring iconic Briticisms.  Once much maligned on this side of the Atlantic, British foods have not escaped the U.K. invasion, including what has perhaps become the most sought after British food staple in the United States: cheese.  Today, shoppers at any artisan cheese shop in the United States or even any grocery store specialty cheese case can choose among a wide variety of British offerings. 

When it comes to bringing British cheeses to the U.S. market, companies in the United Kingdom must navigate several particular challenges.  Perhaps the biggest technical challenge British cheese producers face in exporting their products to this country concerns the different standards for the use of antibiotics that are in place in the United States and Europe.  In Great Britain, a farmer can use antibiotics to treat a sick animal, but that animal must then be quarantined for several months before it can be allowed back into the herd.  In the United States, once treated with antibiotics, the animal must be permanently removed from the herd.  Some British cheese companies have overcome this disparity in standards by raising two separate herds, one producing milk for cheeses to be consumed domestically and one producing milk for cheeses intended for export to the United States. 

Beyond the technical issues facing British cheese exports, however, there are a host of other adaptations companies in the United Kingdom must make in order to effectively reach out to American consumers.  The Irish Dairy Board found this out when it first began selling its Pilgrim’s Choice line, one of the most popular cheese lines in Great Britain, in the United States. 

“A key headline for our business is that U.S. Consumers want to know where the product comes from,” said Conor O’Donovan, Category Sales Manager for U.K. Cheese at the Irish Dairy Board. “ While Pilgrim’s Choice as a brand name has strong resonance in the U.K., it was relatively meaningless in the U.S. so it was important to define the origin of the cheese and find a name that resonates for the consumer.”  By changing the name of the cheese line to Londoner and placing a Union Jack prominently on the label, the company found that it was finally able to effectively market its cheeses to U.S. consumers. 

Another part of successfully marketing British specialty foods in the United States is learning about and responding to uniquely American trends.  According to Nicola Turner Export Director for Kingdom British Organic Heritage Cheeses, perhaps the biggest American trend to which her company has been forced to adapt is the U.S. local products movement. 

“In the U.S., there is very much a drive for local and supporting local,” said Turner. “ In the U.K., this exists too but imported specialty cheeses offer something different.  It’s about discovery—allowing you to experience a new place, a new culture from your own four walls.” 

Turner also noted that cheese consumption in the United States is tied to wine consumption in a way that does not necessarily translate to the British marketplace. “ There seems to be far more focus on wine pairings in the U.S. It does happen in the U.K., but in the U.S. you guys take it to another level,” she said. “ In the U.K. … there isn’t this whole culture of matching wines.  That’s something that I’ve had to get up to speed with quickly here.” 

Still, despite a variety of cultural differences separating U.S. and U.K. consumers, British cheese companies have found that when it comes to the consumer flavor palate, there is relatively little difference between the two countries. “ What we’ve found is that flavor profiles that develop in the U.K. are a good benchmark of what’s coming to the U.S.,” said O’Donovan. “ We find that whatever flavor profile is becoming big in the U.K., generally America will follow.  That’s been our experience,” said O’Donovan. 

Richard Newton-Jones, Commercial Director for Welsh cheesemaker Snowdonia Cheese Company echoes O’Donovan’s observations, arguing that as Americans taste his company’s cheeses, the varieties and flavors that they most respond to are the same varieties and flavors that are the company’s biggest sellers in Great Britain.  Although not yet commercially available in the United States, Snowdonia is planning to introduce its cheeses to this market in the near future, and Newton-Jones says that it will make no changes to the product in order to appeal to American palates. 

When it comes to cheeses native to the British Isles, there are several products that are historically synonymous with this nation.  Stilton, for example, is a popular bleu cheese linked to the British counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.  Caerphilly is one of the most popular Welsh cheeses, a mild, crumbly cow’s milk cheese with a pleasant tang.  And Wensleydale is one of the most popular cheeses throughout Britain, often found blended with cranberries or apples. 

However, the undisputed king of British cheeses is Cheddar. “ The cheese market and the specialty cheese market is very competitive.  There are hundreds of cheeses here,” said Turner. “ Cheddar is our first offering, because everyone likes a good cheddar.” 

Cheddar cheese represents British culinary heritage perhaps more than any other food.  The cheese was originally made in and is named for the village of Cheddar in the southwestern corner of the country.  Historically, the cheese was aged in the area’s many caves.  Cheddar cheese benefited from the region’s unique climate, and the abundant grassy landscape that provides almost all of the diet for the area’s cows. 

There are a number of things that make authentic British cheddars a much sought after cheese treat throughout the world. “ British cheddar offers a discovery of an area that is very much well known for the taste of its cheese.  You’ll have a different Cheddar experience,” said Turner. 

“It is a different flavor profile, and the whole make process is different,” said Newton-Jones. “ Basically the starter cultures which are used in these products are different from American cheddars.  Also it’s different because the climate is different.  For Snowdonia, we have a very high rainfall.  The dairy herds in North Wales are grassfed herds.  So we don’t have very high yielding herds … The result of that is that you get a higher level of butterfat and protein in the milk.  So that allows us to produce a very high quality cheese as well.” 

In explaining what makes British Cheddar so special, O’Donovan offered a British saying, popular among the country’s cheesemakers: “You have the grass in the cow’s tail,” he said. “ What it means is that literally the cow’s tail is in the grass.  Therefore you have the real grassy flavor.” 

For Turner, bringing her company’s cheese to American consumers is about giving them an opportunity to figuratively travel to a new place.  Regardless of the popularity of local foods in this country, when it comes to cheese, she believes there will always be a place in the U.S. consumer landscape for imported products that offer a taste of a particular place in the world. 

“It’s unique, and it’s a discovery, and I think that’s what consumers are saying,” said Turner. “ When it comes to specialty cheese, it gives them a way of discovering new things.  You can support local, but it adds a little more spice by trying different things.  It’s a bit like traveling the world without going anywhere.” 

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Emmi Roth USA will be a national partner and the official specialty cheese sponsor at four of Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® events, including the upcoming Taste of the Nation Houston event on April 6. 

At Taste of the Nation events, guests will have the opportunity to sample a range of imported cheeses from Switzerland, such as Kaltbach Cave-aged Le Gruyère AOP, Kaltbach Cave-aged Emmentaler AOC, SwissArt and Appenzeller, along with award-winning selections from Wisconsin, including Grand Cru® Reserve, Buttermilk Blue®, GranQueso®, Horseradish Havarti, and the recently introduced 3 Chile Pepper Gouda. 

Every year, Taste of the Nation events bring together the country’s best chefs, sommeliers and mixologists to raise money for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign, which is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting kids in need to the healthy food they need, every day.  Held in more than 30 cities across the nation, guests of Taste of the Nation can sip and sample gourmet creations from each city’s premier culinary talent and participate in unique culinary, travel and lifestyle auctions – all while raising funds to make No Kid Hungry a reality.  Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $85 million. 

“We are proud to sponsor Taste of the Nation events and continue to serve as proud partners of the No Kid Hungry campaign this year,” said Linda Duwve, Vice President of Sales at Emmi Roth USA. “ We look forward to sharing our domestic and international award-winning cheeses with food lovers across the country for a great cause.” 

Taste of the Nation Houston will be held April 6, 2014 at the Houstonian Hotel Club & Spa.  Emmi Roth will also sponsor Taste of the Nation events in New York City on April 28, Minneapolis on June 23 and Chicago on August 13. 

In addition to sponsoring the events, Emmi Roth USA will donate $1 to the No Kid Hungry campaign for each Roth Signature Cheese Board Kit sold in 2014.  For more information on the Cheese Board Kit, visit www.emmirothfoodservice.com. 

Superfood+ Seeds and Nuts mixes build off the success of the award-winning line of Navitas Power Snacks that was introduced in 2011. “ Our new snacks make it easy for people to integrate organic superfoods into their diet,” says CEO and Founder Zach Adelman. “ We aim to provide people with nutrition convenience in the form of tasty superfood snacks that help active people ensure they’re getting optimal nutrition.” 

Each of the four Superfood+ Seeds and Nuts mixes is offered in a 4-ounce resealable pouch.  The organic snacks provide a balanced supply of antioxidants, fiber, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.  Navitas Naturals makes Food For the Modern Life™, and the company’s products are widely available at thousands of stores throughout North America and online. 

These sweet maple superfood cashews are a delicious blend of raw cashews, the butterscotch-like flavor of maca and sweet maple syrup.  Maca is a root from the Andes Mountains of Peru that is a complex, nutrient-dense whole food source of vitamins, amino acids, plant sterols, essential minerals and essential fatty acids.  Maca has been traditionally used as a stress-fighting adaptogen and to increase stamina, boost libido and combat fatigue.  Raw cashews contain many beneficial fats, and they’re also a good source of plant-based protein (5 grams per ounce) and minerals including iron, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, copper and manganese.  Maple syrup is a delicious natural sweetener that provides trace minerals and vitamins.  The suggested retail price is $6.99. 

These savory Italian superfood pepitas feature a combination of nutritious chia seeds and crunchy pepitas (the culinary term for pumpkin seeds) with classic Italian seasonings: garlic and rosemary.  Chia seeds are a plentiful source of omega fatty acids and protein and they also contain a good supply of antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.  Pepitas provide an abundance of amino acids, unsaturated fats including omega-3, and minerals such as calcium, potassium, zinc and phosphorous.  They’re also a good source of beta-carotene, and vitamins B, C, D, E and K. Garlic contains healthy compounds such as sulfur-containing allicin, oligosaccharides, arginine-rich proteins, selenium and flavonoids.  Rosemary is a powerful herb known to be a rich source of antioxidants.  The suggested retail price is $5.99. 

These zesty roma superfood cashews combine the superfood nutrition benefits of goji berries and raw cashews with delicious spices reminiscent of classic Italian tomato basil.  Goji berries are one of the most abundant sources of antioxidants, and they’re also a good source of protein, vitamin A and vitamin C. Gojis provide diverse nutrition – with 20 vitamins and minerals including zinc, iron, phosphorus and riboflavin (B2) and beta-carotene.  Raw cashews contain many beneficial fats, and they’re also a good source of plant-based protein (5 grams per ounce) and minerals including iron, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, copper and manganese.  The mix is lightly sweetened with coconut palm sugar – a low glycemic sweetener that contains minerals.  The suggested retail price is $6.99. 

These sweet and tangy almonds are a delicious snack that pairs raw organic almonds with nutrient-dense goldenberries to create a handful of goodness that will keep you craving more.  The tangy goldenberries are blended with invigorating ginger and a touch of maple syrup to add a tart and sweet flavor to the mix.  Goldenberries contain carotene and bioflavonoids (vitamin P), and they’re an excellent source of vitamin A. For a fruit, they possess a high content of protein, and they are also a good source of dietary fiber.  Raw almonds are rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and potassium.  The nuts are naturally low in sugar, and are also a good source of protein and fiber.  This mix also gets a boost from chia seeds, which provide healthy fats, protein, minerals and antioxidants.  The suggested retail price is $7.99. 

Combine 2 ounces Jerk Smokey BBQ Sauce, beef, salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil.  Mix gently with a fork. 
Shape the meat into 12 patties and place into your freezer while preheating the barbecue grill to med/high heat. 
Oil the grill just before putting the patties to cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, depending on your preference for medium to well done.  Check your patties’ temperature with a thermometer before removing them from the grill.  The USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees for ground beef. 
Combine mayonnaise and remaining Jerk Smokey BBQ Sauce and dress top and bottom of slider rolls. 
Dress sliders with lettuce, tomato and purple onions. 

Makes 12. 

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Tate & Lyle Fair Trade-certified Organic Pure Cane Sugar, Organic Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar and Natural Pure Cane Sugar are being introduced to U.S. consumers by Domino Foods.  Tate & Lyle Sugars has grown to become one of Britain’s leading cane sugar brands and will be available to Americans nationwide. 

“Domino Foods is proud to leverage an esteemed global asset from the U.K. and bring excitement to the U.S. sweetener category,” said Brian O’Malley, President and CEO of Domino Foods, Inc. “Tate & Lyle Sugars, an established leader in fair trade and a source of high-quality sweetening since 1878, has an iconic brand heritage that we are confident will also delight U.S. consumers.” 

All three varieties of the Tate & Lyle sugars are Fair Trade-certified and verified non-GMO.  Tate & Lyle Sugars is one of the largest single payers of Fair Trade premium to Fair Trade-certified farmers in the world.  Tate & Lyle Organic Pure Cane Sugar and Organic Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar are also certified organic by the international organic certification services of Quality Assurance International. 

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Date Lady™ is introducing an organic, non GMO, kosher and nut-free chocolate spread with minimal ingredients whose velvety sweetness comes naturally from date syrup, an ancient sweetener.  The new spread is being launched for the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show, and samples will be available in Booth 4073. 

Date Lady Chocolate Spread gets its rich chocolate flavor from organic cocoa, and its luxurious texture and satiny spreadability from date syrup, coconut oil and cocoa butter, said Colleen Sundlie, company Founder. “ Our spread is vegan with all clean ingredients.  It contains no nuts or dairy products, and no processed oils or processed sugar,” Sundlie said. “ The texture is smoother than chocolate nut spreads.” 

Date Lady Chocolate Spread is available in 10.2-ounce jars with a suggested retail price of $9.99 to $10.99.  The chocolate spread is versatile, and serving suggestions include spreading it on a baguette with sliced pears, on toast with peanut butter, warmed slightly and poured over ice cream, and just dipping a pretzel right in the jar, Sundlie said. 

Other products include non-GMO organic Date Syrup and Caramel Sauce in 12-ounce jars with suggested retail prices of $7.99 and $8.99 respectively.  Whole organic dates in resealable 8-ounce pouches have a suggested retail price of $6.99.  More information is available online at www.ILoveDateLady.com and https://www.facebook.com/datesyruprocks or by calling (417) 414-2282. 

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Brooklyn based Spelt Right Foods, with roots in the State of Maine, has been crowned the Grand Prize winner in FreshDirect’s Next Big Food Thing contest, a crowd funding contest launched by FreshDirect in collaboration with RocketHub to “find the next food idea, product or innovation that could change the food world.” 

As the Next Big Food Thing Grand Prize winner, Spelt Right will receive $10,000 and the chance to partner with FreshDirect. 

Submitted by Beth George of New York, NY, founder of Spelt Right Foods, the project is focused on raising funds for continued studies on the growth of spelt, a highly nutritious ancient grain not commonly cultivated due to its tough hull.  Through funds raised on the RocketHub crowd funding platform, Spelt Right plans to continue its collaboration with the University of Maine extension program for additional studies on the cultivation of spelt, particularly in regard to underutilized farmland in the northeast.  These studies would be available to farms seeking a working knowledge of growing this alternative and viable crop.  Spelt Right produces bagels, breads, pizza dough and snacks with spelt flour. 

Beginning in October 2013, the “Next Big Food Thing” challenged entrepreneurs to submit innovative food-related ideas— from food products to kitchen gadgets, to farming advancements to food businesses— to be crowdfunded via Rockethub.com.  In November, 15 finalists were announced and proceeded to the crowdfunding period of the contest where they raised money for their projects.  The projects raised a collective $70,000+ from supporters.  At the end of the crowdfunding period, all finalists’ entries were reexamined by a panel of judges based on the money raised through funding, funder engagement and the overall quality of their idea. 

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Kontos Foods, Inc. will be exhibiting its Flatbread and Fillo pastry products at the SIAL Canada International Food & Beverage Tradeshow at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal from April 2 through April 4.  Kontos will be located at Booth #801 in the USA Pavilion. 

Kontos Foods, which offers over 50 varieties of flatbreads, will be showcasing several products, including its Pocket-Less Pita®, the traditional pita of the Eastern Mediterranean, and NEW Greek Lifestyle Flatbread, which has twice the protein, half the carbohydrates and less calories and sugar than other flatbreads.  Show visitors will also be able to check out Kontos’ Asian Nans, Pan Plano – infused with the spicy flavors of Mexico – Panini breads and cocktail flatbreads, as well as a variety of fillo products. 

“SIAL Canada is the perfect showcase to demonstrate the depth and breadth of Kontos’ products,” said Steve Kontos, Vice President of Kontos Foods. “ Many of the flatbreads we’ll be bringing to the show have French-language packaging specifically designed for the Quebec market.” 

SIAL Canada is co-located with SET Canada, the National Food Equipment and Technology Tradeshow.  The shows, which cater to North American food-industry professionals, host 14,000 professional visitors from 61 countries and 750 exhibitors from 45 countries.  SIAL Canada runs Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Friday, April 4 from 10 am to 4 pm.  For more information about SIAL Canada, visit www.congresmtl.com

Kontos sells its products to retailers and foodservice establishments across North America and several other countries.  Find Kontos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Kontosfoods and follow the company on Twitter @KontosFoods.