Pasch will play a role in advancing the company’s merchandising transformation, developing strategy and driving results in a major segment of SpartanNash’s business.

“Brandon is a skilled leader in merchandising, with extensive experience across many categories within the retail and grocery industry,” said Bennett Morgan, SVP and chief merchandising officer.

“We’re thrilled to have his unique perspective and unyielding work ethic to help improve the in-store guest experience at our retail locations and for our independent wholesale customers.”

Pasch joins the team following the recent hire of Arpen Shah as VP of merchandising strategy and analytics, last month. These additions reflect the company’s commitment to its merchandising transformation, which leverages key insights to drive enhanced category planning, promotional effectiveness and customer-centric innovation.

The company recently shared it has entered the next phase of its merchandising transformation, and Pasch’s leadership will be pivotal.

Pasch most recently served as VP of merchandising, center store at Giant Eagle Inc., a supermarket chain with more than 400 retail locations. Prior to Giant Eagle, Pasch held leadership roles in merchandising, planning and buying at Meijer and Target. He also served as a financial analyst at Ford.

SpartanNash has a diverse group of national accounts, distributing grocery and household goods, including its Our Family portfolio of products, to locations in all 50 states, in addition to distributing to the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Korea and Japan.

To support its distribution business, it operates a network of distribution facilities and a nationwide transportation fleet. In addition, the company owns and operates 147 supermarkets – under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market.

For more information about the distributor, visit spartannash.com.

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Developed in six months from initial brief to the physical product with more than 200 potential sauce combinations, Heinz Remix is the latest innovation from the company’s foodservice or “Away From Home” (AFH) division, which is a key growth platform outlined in the company’s long-term strategy.

The free-standing machine is touchscreen operated, enabling consumers to first select from a range of “bases” – ketchup, ranch, 57 Sauce and barbecue sauce – then personalize further with one or more “enhancers” – jalapeño, smoky chipotle, buffalo and mango – at their preferred intensity level of low, medium and high.

“As a company, we’re transforming through innovation by making bigger, more intentional bets to fuel our growth and create new experiences for consumers,” said Alan Kleinerman, VP of disruption, Kraft Heinz.

“Heinz Remix is a great example of this consumer-first approach to innovation. We’re changing the game for foodservice operators and sauce lovers – dipping will never be the same. With Heinz Remix, it’s more than a sauce dispenser; it’s an insights engine and business model enabler that will help Kraft Heinz understand and respond to consumer trends and flavor preferences in real-time. Who knows – maybe our next new sauce combination will come from a superfan using Heinz Remix.”

Kraft Heinz will debut Heinz Remix May 20-23 at the 2023 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, with plans to pilot the innovation with restaurant operators in late 2023 to early 2024.

“The launch of Heinz Remix is a first for the sauce category and foodservice industry,” said Peter Hall, president, U.S. away-from-home, Kraft Heinz.

“It’s a great example of how we’re leveraging culinary insights and category knowledge to drive greater value for our customers and consumers. Our ambition is to be the leader for taste, flavor and experience anywhere you’re eating, and we’re delivering on that goal with category leading innovations like Heinz Remix.”

As Kraft Heinz continues on its journey to lead the future of food, the company is focused on creative disruption across the entire organization, breaking down siloes to cultivate collaboration, reimagine product development, and utilize digital capabilities to accelerate the pace of innovation.

For more information on Kraft Heinz AFH, visit kraftheinzawayfromhome.com.

Those attending the 2023 National Restaurant Association can demo Heinz Remix, among other new AFH innovations, onsite from May 20-23.

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As the No. 1 brand in Latin foods, according to Nielsen Strategic Planner, Goya Foods expands and generates sales beyond supermarket aisles of ethnic food products with its new line. As more Latin-inspired flavors and recipes gain mass appeal, Goya Foods develops quality and authentic products that enhances its current product line of more than 2,200 products, but attract consumers of all ethnicities worldwide.  

Goya’s stand up flours offer grocery, e-commerce and mass market shoppers an option that are organic, keto-friendly and are kosher. The company offers a variety of nutritious and enriched flours. The flours are packaged in stand up bags with a suggested retail priced from $2.19-4.79.

The flavors and sizes are:

• Almond Flour bags – 16-ounce.
• Coconut Flour bags – 16-ounce.
• Wheat Flour bags – 19-ounce.
• Chick Pea Flour bags – 16-ounce.
• Rice Flour bags – 26-ounce.

Founded in 1936, Goya Foods is an Hispanic-owned food company. It manufactures packages and distributes more than 2,500 food products from Spain the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. The company’s products have its roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world with its combination of ingredients, seasonings and preparation.

For more information on Goya Foods, visit goya.com.

To read more news from Goya presented by The Shelby Report, click here.

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Made using many of the same ingredients, each line of salsas and seasonings features three varieties, including the brand’s iconic Cholula original flavor.

“For three generations Cholula has served as the perfect staple to bring authentic, fresh Mexican flavor to any dish,” said Valda Coryat, North America VP of marketing for McCormick and Co.

“We’re excited to expand beyond the sauce category and into the mainstream Mexican aisle to deliver that delicious flavor and balanced heat to passionate Cholula fans in new and exciting ways. Flavor runs in the Cholula family and our salsas and taco seasoning mixes are no exception to the motherload of mouthwatering taste we bring to each and every recipe.”

The new salsa line features original salsa, salsa verde and smoky chipotle. The taco seasonings are available in three varieties, including original recipe mix, smoky chipotle recipe mix and chili garlic recipe mix.

This news comes on the heels of the launch of Cholula Reserva Tequila & Lime, the first widely available, 100 percent agave tequila premium hot sauce crafted with agave tequila and a blend of chile de arbol and piquín peppers.

To celebrate the launch, Cholula will also release a limited-edition streetwear collection in collaboration with UPRISERS. More details on the partnership will be announced soon.

For more details on the new products, recipe inspiration and retail availability, visit cholula.com.

The post Cholula Introduces Six Products, First Category Expansion appeared first on Shelby Report.

Following a successful pilot in Ohio and Tennessee last fall, 12-ounce bottles of four of Chick-fil-A’s salad dressings will be available at participating grocery and Walmart stores across the U.S. They will begin rolling out in stores over the next few weeks.

The retail offerings include:

• Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing – According to the company, this is its most popular salad dressing, a twist on the Garden Herb Ranch Dressing with creamy avocado, spices and lime.
• Garden Herb Ranch Dressing – The classic Garden Herb Ranch mixes buttermilk with savory garlic, onion and herb flavors, giving it a traditional, creamy taste reminiscent of delicious homemade dressing.
• Creamy Salsa Dressing – This dressing was originally developed by Chick-fil-A’s culinary team to pair with the Spicy Southwest Salad and blends flavors of cumin, hot peppers, tomatoes and garlic.  
• Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing – The lightest of the four dressings, this vinaigrette is made with apple cider vinegar, fruit juices, spices and honey.

“From Boston to Sacramento, customers who heard about our pilot let us know they are eager to buy bottles of their favorite Chick-fil-A salad dressing at their local grocery stores,” said Michael Garrison, senior director of innovation and new ventures.

“These salad dressings will join four of the brand’s most popular sauces available in participating grocery stores: bottled barbeque, polynesian, sweet and spicy sriracha and Chick-fil-A sauce.”

Our dressings bring versatile flavors to the table making them perfect for marinating chicken, drizzling on tacos or whipping up a pasta salad,” said Christy Cook, chef.

“We love seeing the culinary creations our customers already make with their favorite Chick-fil-A dressings, like Creamy Salsa Waffle Fries. Now, we can’t wait to see what they create with our bottled salad dressings in their own kitchens.”

For more information about Chick-fil-A and stories about the company’s food, people and customers across the country, visit chick-fil-a.com/stories.  

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The new pasta sauce line is made in Albuquerque, is “New Mexico True” certified and includes three marinara sauces and one alfredo sauce, including:

• Hatch Green Chile Alfredo Sauce;
• Hatch Green Chile Roasted Red Bell Pepper Marinara Sauce;
• Classic Roasted Red Bell Pepper Marinara Sauce; and
• Spicy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Marinara Sauce.

“Developing these new pasta sauces was a labor of love for our team and a natural extension of our existing products,” said Season Chavez, president of WiseChoice Foods. 

“We have a creative team at WiseChoice Foods that truly never stops brainstorming new opportunities. We’re focused on how to create production efficiencies and product cost management to ensure we can still deliver the highest-quality, authentic products at the lowest cost possible. These new pasta sauces are incredibly delicious, have a thicker consistency than the competition and are packed with flavors that will continue to reveal themselves to your taste buds as you experience them.”

To create the new marinara pasta sauces, the company started with the original roasted red bell pepper pizza sauce recipe, focusing on using natural ingredients like certified Hatch green chile, fresh onions and garlic and a 14 herb and seasoning blend combined with 100 percent olive oil.

Each sauce also features a label that has an engaging speech bubble that adds personality to the different flavors, a chile heat indicator and cooking instructions that will make you laugh a little. The new sauces will be available for purchase online beginning June 1 and at grocery stores across the country.

To order direct home delivery or to find a retailer near you, visit wisepiespizza.com.

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Cherkesyan worked for Jon’s Markets for 16 years before starting at Super King. He said he had decided it was time to see what else was out there.

While he had experience in grocery, he said his hobby is liquor. “So that’s how I became a grocery buyer, liquor buyer, mixed nut buyer, bakery buyer. I did everything, and then I started training other people so I could move up and manage.” He now has six buyers on his team.

While all of the departments are important to him, the liquor department at Super King is a bit unique. “We do find items that are very limited in the industry, and not many people could put their hands on them.” This includes several international selections, such as Japanese whiskies and Armenian brandies.

The large and varied selection is a draw itself, but the department sees even more traffic when Super King has a sale on liquor. “When it’s a sale, it’s really a sale…we want to make sure you know it’s on sale. And everybody in the industry is going to know that we’re running the lowest price.”

The company also has an alcohol e-commerce division, shopsk.com, where it offers same day local delivery, ground shipping and pickup. The liquor department is a store within the store, making it seamless for customers and giving them a five-star experience outside of the grocery store.

Cherkesyan said his buying team does a great job across all departments. “We trained them, we picked them. A lot of them got promoted from in store. They move up; the [Fermanian] family cares for their employees.”

According to Cherkesyan, that is one reason he joined the company. From his first day, the family has treated him like family. “I feel like I’m a family member. I’m not related to them, but I feel like they’re family to me.”

Cherkesyan and the Fermanian family share an Armenian heritage. He was born in Armenia while they came from Lebanon. Cherkesyan is married with two daughters, neither of whom is following in his career footsteps. “The grocery business is a very good business, but it’s not for everybody. You need to like the business to get into this.”

For more information, visit superkingmarkets.com/pages/departments-sk.

To view the full anniversary section on Super King Markets presented by The Shelby Report, click here.

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Joining the McCormick Sunshine Seasoning by Tabitha Brown, these products will consist of two seasoning blends coming to shelves and Amazon this spring and three recipe mixes rolling out later this summer.

“I brought a little bit of sunshine to food lovers with McCormick and Sunshine Seasoning, and it’s definitely time we teamed back up to bring more joy and love to your kitchen to inspire healthy cooking every day of the week,” Brown said.

“I can’t wait to see how everyone decides to spice up their meals with my new salt free seasoning blends and recipe mixes, whether you’re a vegan or non-vegan, because that’s your business.”

The launch marks the first time in history that McCormick is releasing salt free recipe mixes. The new products include:

• “Like Sweet Like Smoky” all purpose seasoning;
• “Very Good Garlic” all purpose seasoning;
• Taco business seasoning mix – made with spices like paprika, cumin and chili peppers;
• Burger business seasoning mix – a blend made with herbs, spices, veggies and natural hickory smoke flavor; and
• Sauté business seasoning mix – a blend of spices like garlic, ginger and cinnamon, along with sesame oil.

“Expanding our partnership with Tabitha was an easy decision for us,” said Giovanna DiLegge, VP of marketing, NA consumer at McCormick.

“We continue to be blown away by Tabitha’s loyal community and are thrilled to be bringing these five new products to consumers nationwide. With these additions to the collection, consumers will be able to make a variety of easy and healthy meals. We hope these products inspire clean, healthy and, most importantly, delicious eating that can be sustained for all.”

Tabitha recently announced the news of the launch in a video posted on Instagram. In addition to this launch, Tabitha has co-developed new recipes with the brand featuring the new products and will be showcasing these on her always-popular social media recipe tutorials and McCormick’s landing page.

To celebrate the new products, Tabitha and McCormick will host a special farmer’s market pop-up in New York City in June to give consumers a taste of the new products.

For more information on the new products and retail availability, visit McCormick.com/Tabitha-Brown.

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Just Spices is expected to be a critical growth driver for Kraft Heinz’s taste elevation business, which is focused on flavor enhancement, and is one of the company’s platforms for continued growth outlined in its long-term strategy.

“Just Spices will elevate the overall cooking experience for American families, just as it has done in Europe for nearly a decade,” said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, EVP and president, North America, Kraft Heinz.

“Bringing together Just Spices’ high-quality product, data and direct-to-consumer capabilities with Kraft Heinz’s scale and brand loyalty creates the perfect storm to disrupt the U.S. spice category as we know it.”

Launched in 2014, Just Spices has a 170-plus product portfolio that includes offerings for meal occasions and a range of flavors. Just Spices’ growing business sells about 70 percent of its ready-made and one-step spice blends to consumers, with its remaining sales through major grocery retailers in-store and online in Germany, Spain, Austria, U.K. and Switzerland.

“Just Spices blends have become household staples in many countries throughout Europe, and we’re thrilled to bring Americans the opportunity to cook with more creativity and flavor,” said Nadja Francis, U.S. general manager at Just Spices.

“Making a delicious homemade dish shouldn’t be complicated. We take the guesswork out of cooking and meal-prepping any dish – whether it’s with our toppings, our blends or our allrounders. We’re not selling ingredients; we’re selling meal solutions. From the colorful labels to the versatile flavors and unique applications, consumers will never be bored in the kitchen again.”

Unlike many spice brands, Just Spices focuses on blends, creating three different categories to match specific usage occasions without the need to invest in a pantry full of spice jars: Allrounders, Seasonings and Toppings.

The initial launch of Just Spices in the U.S. will include 10 of its products: Chicken Allrounder, Vegetable Allrounder, Pasta Allrounder, BBQ Allrounder, Salmon Allrounder, Caprese Allrounder, Egg Topping, Avocado Topping, Fajita Seasoning and Enchilada Seasoning, available online with a suggested retail price of $6.99.

For more information on Just Spices, visit justspices.com.

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According to Mintel’s “2022 Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Protein” report, maple, brown sugar and sweet appeared among the fastest-growing flavors used in meat product launches. Increasing prices are also causing consumers to re-evaluate protein purchases and requiring brands to demonstrate value by offering new eating experiences.

“Maple syrup extends far beyond the breakfast table and can help enhance the flavor complexity and quality of a range of meat, poultry and seafood products,” said Arnold Coombs, executive director of sales and marketing.

“Our maple products allow formulators to traverse the spectrum from sweet to savory, delivering a unique and robust flavor profile for many applications. When used in a sauce, marinade or glaze, maple delivers a rich flavor and subtle touch of sweetness that is ideal for meaty dishes. Not only does maple syrup provide a consistent flavor, it is also an ideal sweetening alternative on your label as it is recognizable, clean and sustainable.”

According to the company, Bascom Maple Farms’ natural and organic maple syrup helps manufacturers deliver “moist and delicious meat, poultry and seafood products” with formulation benefits including flavor, texture and visual appeal enhancement and moisture control.

Consumer demand for organic and natural products is expected to propel the market growth for maple syrup, as reported by Mintel. Additionally, protein using the “all-natural product” claim scored 5.5 percent higher for the attribute “tasty” than products without the claim.

“When food manufacturers incorporate maple syrup into a formulation, it delivers an added layer of flavor complexity and can be used to boost browning for even better taste and visual appeal to consumers,” Coombs said.

“Additionally, maple syrup can improve the moisture of meat and reduce other liquids that may be added for moisture retention or as a binder. Maple syrup can act as a tenderizer to soften cheaper cuts of meat and make them easier to cook as well.”

The syrup is available in all grades with each offering a specific flavor and color profile in a variety of forms, sizes and packaging from glass bottles to drums and totes. The formulation experts at Bascom can shorten learning curves and help get new products out of research and development and onto retailers’ shelves faster.

“We will happily work with brands to help select the right grade of maple syrup or maple sugar to meet taste and flavor goals,” Coombs said.

“For darker meat, darker and more strongly flavored maple grades are typically recommended. Lighter-grade maple syrup pairs well with fish, while red meat is complemented with darker grades. Our experts will help guide which grade best fits your formulation to ensure your next meat, poultry or seafood product is a hit with consumers.”

To learn more about Bascom’s portfolio of natural and organic maple solutions, visit maplesource.com.

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