Who's News in Catering for May 21, 2022

Products on the Market

Tractor Beverage Company, exclusive creator of the world's first and only Certified Organic, Non-GMO total beverage solution for foodservice, is set to make an all-natural splash at this weekend's National Restaurant Association show with the mouthwatering debut of six fantastic new flavors for a thirsty nation that wants its drinks to get real. Joining the company's deliciously original Agua Fresca line of lightly sweetened, all-natural, non-GMO, Certified Organic non-carbonated drinks are a virtual orchard of new nature-blessed flavors: Peach, Mango, Strawberry Dragonfruit, Farmers Punch, Clementine, and the popular Lemonade, now with pulp. 

World Centric, a compostable tableware company today announced it has expanded its NoTree collection of 100% compostable packaging with the new NoTree Tall and Rectangular Takeout Containers.  The new addition provides more sustainable alternatives to traditional disposable foodservice ware for operators all while benefiting people and our planet.   

Hot Off the Presses

Hosting an event can oftentimes be stressful and with much to-do, food, decor and details can fall by the wayside. That’s where excellent catering matters; these hard working individuals are the backbone to creating a moment you’ll look back on forever. May 24th is National Caterers Appreciation Day and the perfect day to acknowledge these workers that work tirelessly behind the scenes to facilitate the perfect day for you and your guests.  Leading food distribution company, Food Service Direct has partnered with National Today to appreciate these wonderful individuals. From weddings, to birthdays to 50th anniversaries, to family reunions , and everything in between, these workers deserve to be appreciated. 

Today, Ghost Financial announced the first of many partnerships since emerging into the fast-growing ghost kitchen industry last month. The comprehensive financing and business services platform has partnered with Maker Kitchens to be the preferred insurance, business card, & loan partner for Maker Kitchen's 300+ tenants. Using a proprietary AI algorithm, Ghost Financial is able to make quick and accurate financial decisions to provide revenue-generating incentives for ghost kitchen operators like cashback credit cards, as well as provide data-informed expansion loan decisions. The platform enables a low-risk way for emerging restaurant brands to enter their first market and effectively expand into others. Ghost Financial is changing the way operators like Maker Kitchens can provide an end-to-end service to its customers with benefits they will not have anywhere else. The partnership is projected to increase Maker Kitchens tenant retention and success along with cross-promotion that will drive customer acquisition for both parties. This will result in an estimated 10% increase in tenant profit margins from implementing Ghost Financial’s cashback card, along with protecting Maker Kitchens tenants with industry-leading ghost kitchen optimized insurance.  

Idahoan Foods joined the Consumer Brands Association’s (CBA) Ukraine relief efforts by donating 322,560 pouches of its ready-to-eat Honest Earth® brand Mashed Sweet Potatoes to CBA partner World Central Kitchen (WCK). WCK is providing emergency food relief, serving millions of meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as those remaining in the country. This donation, with an estimated retail value of more than one million dollars, will provide over 645,000 servings of much-needed food assistance. The brand’s Honest Earth Mashed Sweet Potatoes are shelf-stable and come ready-to-eat, avoiding the need for appliances. They’re also a good source of vitamin A and rich in fiber, antioxidants and minerals, including potassium and iron.