Posted on 25th Jun 2009 @ 7:34 AM

Ford’s Gourmet Foods is proud to be back in New York and to once again be a part of the NASFT’s Summer Fancy Food Show.

For many years we have come to this show with new lines and new flavors of some proven favorites, evidence of our continued commitment to product development. And we are happy to continue that tradition this year with the addition of our Bone Suckin’ HOT Seasoning & Rub and our Sweet Bone Suckin’ Mustard. The new Seasoning & Rub brings a cayenne kick to the sweet and salty flavor of our original, while the Sweet Bone Suckin’ Mustard loses the jalapeno, but keeps the great flavor we know our customers love.

And we have plenty of other good news to share as well.

Our Bone Suckin’ Sauces remain the only barbecue sauces rated #1 by Newsweek, Food & Wine, House and Garden, Restaurant UK and A+ Health Magazine. We were recognized for our efforts to provide Gluten Free products by Columbia University’s Celiac Disease Center, one of the leading research centers in the field. In addition, we were also honored with the first ever North Carolina Exporter of the Year award and named one of the Top 20 Small and Mid-sized Market Players by the Consumer Products Guide.

We are grateful for the success and accolades that our products have received. But we also realize we have a responsibility to give back to the trade that has given us so much. That includes becoming advocates for businesses like ours, working to protect the ability of those like us to continue to be successful in the United States and abroad.

Earlier this year, we participated in a panel as part of North Carolina’s first Global Trading Summit, discussing how the state can better support North Carolina-based businesses abroad while still creating jobs at home. In addition, we were selected by the United States Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program to host a group of women business leaders from Afghanistan to help them understand opportunities that exist for them in the food business in their country.

In 2008, we became charter members of an export advisory council for a division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. In addition, we testified in front of the United States Congress on behalf the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program, programs designed to assist U.S. producers, exporters, and trade organizations in developing, maintaining, and expanding export activities in global markets.

The most important thing we wanted to share with you, our customers, is that behind all of this news and all of this growth, you will still find a fourth generation, Raleigh, North Carolina-based family business and an outstanding team dedicated to creating some of the world’s greatest tasting, all natural foods. From the internationally acclaimed line of Bone Suckin’ Sauces, Wine Nuts and Fire Dancer Jalapeno Peanuts, to the new Earth Family Organics and Naturals and now, A’Lese Tois chocolates, Ford’s is known to make only the best.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to spending time with you at this year’s show.

Sincerely,

Patrick Ford
Vice President, Ford’s Gourmet Foods