Industry News for October 19, 2024

Hot Off the Presses

Occasions Caterers, a leading name in the culinary industry, is proud to announce that it has been honored as North America’s Best Catering Company 2024 at the prestigious World Culinary Awards™. This accolade celebrates the company’s continued commitment to culinary excellence, creativity, and unparalleled service. The World Culinary Awards, a sister event to the renowned World Travel Awards™, was established to recognize and reward the top performers in the global culinary scene. The recognition of Occasions Caterers solidifies its position as a culinary leader, not only in Washington, D.C., but across North America. 

Sheraton Buganvilias Resort Puerto Vallarta is thrilled to announce that its renowned Gaviotas Restaurant has been awarded the prestigious title of Latin America’s Best Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant 2024 at the World Culinary Awards. This accolade highlights the exceptional culinary experience crafted by Chef Johannan, who continues to elevate the dining standards at the resort.  

Tastebuds Custom Catering has announced that it is now Grace & Olive Craft Culinary. Why the change? As the company continue to grow and evolve, their new name better reflects their dedication to crafting memorable, intimate gatherings with a personal touch. They’re still the same team you know and trust, committed to creating exceptional experiences that bring people together. This transition represents their vision for the future, with an expanded range of services including bespoke catering and specialty packaged goods (coming soon). Along with the new name, they’re also launching a brand-new website: www.graceandolivecc.com, it will be a place to explore their refreshed look, new offerings, and the same passion for quality and flavor. 

Upcoming Events

Revelry Agency, founders of FoodOvation Exchange, the premier event series driving foodservice menu innovation, and CORE Foodservice, the leading foodservice agency in North America, have entered an exclusive agreement for FoodOvation Exchange #44. FoodOvation Exchange is recognized for its unique approach to bringing together top supplier partners and foodservice operators, fostering collaboration in an immersive environment focused on menu development and innovation. The event, scheduled for Oct. 26-29, 2025, will be held at the renowned Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach, Calif. For FoodOvation #44, CORE Foodservice will partner with Revelry Agency and leverage CORE’s deep sales and culinary resources, including the expert capabilities of recently acquired food and beverage innovation consultancy, The Culinary Edge. Revelry Agency will seamlessly integrate CORE Foodservice partners into the winning FoodOvation Exchange format, enabling and accelerating innovation that will drive supplier and operator growth. FoodOvation Exchange is designed to transcend the traditional trade show experience, connecting suppliers with the leading operators across the Technomic Top Chain Restaurant 1500. Suppliers and operators work together in one-on-one meetings and kitchens to develop new menu items that align with current trends and address specific operational needs. This approach allows suppliers to leverage their resources, insights, and brands to directly impact chain menu development.  

People on the Move

Winnow, the market-leader in AI-powered food waste management, announces today an exclusive partnership with zero-waste chef and pioneer Vojtech Végh. As Winnow’s new Zero Waste Culinary Advisor, Vojtech brings his expertise in helping chefs to reimagine food waste. The focus of the partnership will be on reducing trimmings waste—an often-overlooked opportunity in commercial kitchens. Vojtech’s background, which spans over a decade in top kitchens around the world—from Michelin-starred restaurants to founding the first zero-waste, plant-based restaurant, Surplus, in Cambodia—adds a powerful new layer to Winnow’s expertise. The chef currently provides food waste prevention workshops and masterclasses to kitchens around the world, working chef-to-chef to apply data led strategies to reduce waste and cost. His experience brings Winnow’s clients direct access to the knowledge of a professional chef who fully understands the intricacies of low-waste cooking and using data to drive results. 

Products on the Market

The Oregon Fruit Company today announced shelf stable Pourable Fruit, a new line of premium fruit purees designed to bring real fruit and real convenience to trend-forward drink menus for quick-service restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. Shelf stable Pourable Fruit is a premium and versatile shortcut for operators to infuse real fruit that can be seen, tasted and experienced in lemonades, iced teas, agua frescas, cocktails, mocktails, and other beverages. Unlike other fruit-based purees and syrups, Pourable Fruit boasts real fruit as the first and primary ingredient, lightly sweetened with vegan sugar. It contains no artificial flavors or colors, and no high fructose corn syrup. Competitively priced, operators using shelf stable Pourable Fruit can reap more profit with every drink without compromising on quality of ingredients. Certified Kosher, gluten-free, and non-GMO, shelf stable Pourable Fruit maintains freshness for up to six months in ambient temperature and up to one month under refrigeration upon opening. The line of purees will be offered in three different expressions and a multitude of flavors: smooth (pureed consistency ideal for crafted beverages and bubblers or frozen beverage equipment. Available in marion blackberry, raspberry, mango, strawberry, and passion fruit in 32 fl. oz. bottles);  diced (real pieces of fruit in an easy-to-pour container for an ideal beverage topper or mix-in. Available in peach, mango, and blueberry in 35 fl. oz. bottles); and unsweetened (for more precise recipes that require a smooth puree and varying amounts of sweetness. Available in marion blackberry and passion fruit in 32 fl. oz. bottles). Also available is Oregon Fruit’s shelf stable Lemonade, a balanced sweet-tart concentrate, ready to use as a 4+1 base. Available in 32 fl. oz. bottles. Further expediting the path to beverage creation, The Oregon Fruit Co. now offers placement options for foodservice equipment that complements Pourable Fruit, including bubblers and condiment chillers. Shelf stable Pourable Fruit in Smooth, Diced, and Unsweetened is now available in seven flavors and 10 SKUs, with additional flavors launching in 2025. Shelf stable Lemonade is now available. All products are available nationally through Dot Foods and many independent and broadline distributors.