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HOT, HOT PEANUTS

The Ford family brings a new level of flavor to these familiar snacks

THE FORD FAMILY of Raleigh, North Carolina, has a way with peanuts, and with names, too. In 1999, the Fords came up with the idea of marinating roasted local jumbo peanuts in the freshly pressed juice of merlot and chardonnay grapes harvested from the vineyard of their now defunct winery, J. Berry Brown. The family christened these unique peanuts Wine Nuts --which sounds better than Juice Nuts -- and they proved to be an immediate hit. The Fords subsequently introduced two other types of marinated nut, margarita and mocha coffee, and last summer, launched Jalapeno Nuts, the first of a planned line of spice-flavored foods under the evocative name Fire Dancer. The same premium local peanuts used for the other varieties are dusted with powdered garlic, onions, and jalapeno, along with paprika, sugar, and salt. As you bite into the crunchy treats, each of those flavors comes through and the heat builds gradually, without ever becoming overwhelming; the overall effect is deliciously unusual. The judges at the 2005 annual Fiery Food Challenge in Houston obviously agree: they voted the product the Best New Snack Nut in the United States.

Eight members of the family work for various food-related enterprises, including Ford’s Produce, founded in 1946, and Ford’s Gourmet Foods, which produces the specialty peanuts--which are all-natural, soy-and gluten free, and kosher--as well as various award-winning condiments. Family matriarch Sandi Ford is the imagination behind the operation, dreaming up new products and catch names. “She sits at her computer at the desk behind me,” says her son Patrick, the company’s marketing director, “and when she starts giggling, I know she’s come up with something.”

Fire Dancer Jalapeno Nuts cost $8.99 for an 11 ounce tin, plus shipping. To order, call 800/446-0947 or visit www.TheNCStore.com.

-- Sonja Toulouse

"Woman's Day" November 1, 2003
"New/Now"

"What's Hot Now "Wine flavored snacks"

Fancy Food and Culinary Products September 2003

“Holiday Mini Marketplace”

“New Wine Nuts Uniquely seasoned, gourmet peanuts”

“All natural & delicious!” “Merlot, Chardonnay, Margarita Mix”

Trade Buzz F&B ~ Singapore By Thomas Lim
"Stay sober with Wine Nuts"

Large jumbo peanuts with a rich roasted flavour, Ford's Wine Nuts come in three flavours: Margarita Mix, Merlot and Chardonnay.

All of them taste sweet and salty, and are tinged with flavour of the relevant wine or margarita lime, as the case may be. Despite their names, they actually contain no alcohol.

Sourced from North Carolina, the peanuts are cholesterol-free and go well with summer salads, sorbet and ice cream.

"Margarita Mix Wine Nuts were selling to our wholesale customers before we even had the first case in stock. The idea alone was enough to convince retailers to start buying the product for their stores," said National Sales Manager Pebbles Bailey.

Specialty Food Magazine

“Gone Nuts” By Denise Shoukas
“Ford’s Foods has taken the “peanut as bar snack” to more sophisticated levels with Margarita Mix Wine Nuts, Merlot Wine Nuts, and Chardonnay Wine Nuts, seasoned extra large jumbo peanuts from
North Carolina.”

"The New York Times" November 10, 2003

"Grant, Lee and Matzo? Exhibit Traces History of Kosher Eating in America" By Daniel J. Wakin

"The rabbi's historical account, illustrated on a series of large display panels, was briefly on display last week at Kosherfest 2003, a trade fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center with a head-spinning array of kosher products, such as Margarita Mix (Wine Nuts) flavored nuts."

The News & Observer "Fancy Foods From N.C." By Fred Thompson
"Fords Foods of Raleigh introduced an extension of its popular Bone Suckin 'Sauce line, Bone Suckin' Rib Rub. "As we speak, there are more new products in the works," said Patrick Ford, the company's international marketing director. Already on the market are Margarita Nuts, a variation on the Ford's Wine Nuts, roasted peanuts flavored with Chardonnay and Merlot. "It's a long way from the days of selling the sauce from the trunk of my car and having my apartment stacked to the ceiling," Ford said.

We love the Media!

Here is last press release. Thank you for checking.

Fire Dancer Jalapeno Nuts are Best New Snack Nut in America !

RALEIGH, N.C., July 29 -- The Fiery Food Challenge, held each year by Chile Pepper Magazine, pronounced Fire Dancer Jalapeno Nuts the winner of its "Best New Snack Nut" category for 2005. The North Carolina extra large peanuts have an all-natural jalapeno flavoring that seems to dance across the tongue and leave everyone wanting more. The unique taste has gained media attention from the likes of Saveur magazine, Good Morning America and The Food Network.

"This is the first product in our new Fire Dancer line, and we've been blown away by the response," says Patrick Ford, Vice president of Ford's Gourmet Foods, a fourth generation business based in Raleigh, NC. "The repeat sales have been incredible, and our neighbors all say they keep them hidden from each other and locked in their offices. It's fun to see people this excited and to know they can feel good about eating an all-natural product with no trans-fats."

Although Fire Dancer is a new line, the Ford's are no strangers to peanuts. Their line of Wine Nuts has been selling across the US and Europe since 1998. The gourmet peanuts include a Chardonnay, Merlot, Margarita, Choco-Late and a new Lemoncella flavor. "My mom [Sandi Ford, president of Ford's Gourmet Foods] discovered lemoncello liquor while in Italy for a wedding," says Ford, "and wanted to bring the flavor back for our customers." They created an all-natural, sodium-free lemoncello flavoring and now the taste so popular in Italy for centuries can be found wherever specialty nuts are sold. To find out more about Fire Dancer or any of the Wine Nuts, go to http://www.WineNuts.com, email PatFord@WineNuts.com or call 919-833-7647.

Ford’s Gourmet Foods Takes UK by Storm

Just as Ford’s Gourmet Foods of Raleigh, NC in the US announces its new partnership with Bespoke Foods Ltd., a top distributor of gourmet foods in the UK., two of their products are already receiving silver medals from the UK ’s prestigious Great Taste Awards.

The pairing with Bespoke was brought about when Ford’s director of international marketing, Patrick Ford, responded to the need for a more widespread distribution of some of their products, most notably Bone Suckin’ Sauce, a year-round marinade and barbecue sauce. Also included in the Ford’s line are Fire Dancer Jalapeno Nuts, and Wine Nuts, a line of jumbo peanuts with such flavorings as Chardonnay, Merlot, Margarita, Mocha Coffee and Lemoncello. Ford’s products have previously garnered such awards as Best Barbecue Sauce in the US , Best New Snack Nut in the US , Best Snack Food in the US , Best Hot Sauce, and many others.

“Our focus on meeting the needs of our customers abroad has really paid off this year, and we’ve been courted by some of the biggest and best food distributors in Europe ,” says Ford. “We decided to go with Bespoke based on their reputation with buyers and makers of products we admire, and on our instincts about the integrity their representation. I’m thrilled to say our instincts served us well, and our European exposure has blossomed with this relationship.”

The Bone Suckin’ Sauce product line, including Bone Suckin’ Sauce Regular, Thicker Style, Hot, Hiccupin’ Hot and Mustard, along with the Wine Nuts and Fire Dancer can be found in Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, Lakeland Limited, Lidgate’s Butchers, and specialty garden shops.

The Great Taste Awards is the world’s most prestigious and authoritative food competition - without doubt, the ‘Oscars’ of the world of fine food and drink. Organized by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, the Awards have carved a reputation over the last decade as the acknowledged accreditation of quality for all specialty food and drink.

The judging criteria are without equal: 178 different classes ensure foods are judged like with like. Regional judging events at the Specialty & Fine Food Fairs in Edinburgh in May and Harrogate in June are followed by eight days of judging in London during July.

Every food is decanted and blind tasted by over 150 judges working in teams and all entries judged to have reached the Awards’ exacting standards are awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze. The granting of these Awards provides producers with the highest recognition of their craft and dedication to the making of superb food and drink. Bone Suckin’ Sauce and the Fire Dancer Jalapeno Nuts were both awarded silver medals in their categories.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to have such superb products to sell here in the UK . The reaction of our customers has been fantastic with many repeat orders, more and more customers are hearing about the range. We are confident that the brand will go from strength to strength,” says Piers Adamson, Managing Director of Bespoke Foods Ltd.

Fire Dancer Jalapeño Nuts Wins Silver Medal Winner For Cocktail Nut Competition for United Kingdom ! Check out the website for the awards below!

http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/html/greattaste.htm

http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/html/tastewinners2005.htm