SFA members Cibo Vita, Ma Ka Khanna, Ubah Hot, Mixoloshe, Truff, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Bella Cucina, Savor Sauce N Spice LLC, and Stone Hollow Farmstead were recently highlighted in various media outlets for the impact they are making in the industry.
Oprah Daily spotlit Ubah Hot, a line of family-recipe hot sauces from model Ubah Hassan. In 2021 Hassan’s brand was selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, and the news source caught up with her as part of a follow up article.
“Words can’t capture the immense impact of being one of Oprah’s Favorite Things for our company. We sold out—twice! It’s opened so many incredible doors for us, and being a part of the Amazon Black Business Accelerator has been everything to me,” said Hassan, who is a cast member of the Real Housewives of New York City.
This year's list of Oprah's Favorite Things 2023, published Wednesday, featured a new round of unique offerings from SFA member companies, including Truff's White Truffle Gift Set, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.'s Celebration Collection, Bella Cucina's Pizza Party Kit, Sauce N Spice LLC's Hot N Saucy Holiday Hot Box, and Stone Hollow Farmstead's Blissful Breakfast Gift Box.
Oprah Winfrey said the following about Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.'s Cheese Celebration Collection: “It’s true that you could bring all the handcrafted, award-winning cheeses from this women-owned family farm to a holiday event. But trust me when I say you might want to save the TomaTruffle for a grilled cheese.”
Included in the Collection are also specialty products from SFA members Janet's Finest and Effie's.
Citation Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in founder and family-led businesses, shared that it will acquire Cibo Vita, making it the first outside shareholder to come into the company, according to Nosh.
“Our vision in founding Cibo Vita was to bring healthier snacking options to all families, inspired by our Mediterranean roots,” said Cibo Vita founder Emre Imamoglu. “Throughout our history, we have experienced phenomenal growth, attributed to our innovation capabilities, commitment to quality, and a drive to meet the needs of consumers increasingly seeking healthier functional snacking. We sought out a strategic partner that could help ensure that we stay on the forefront of innovation and who is aligned with our personal core values.”
Target launched its fifth annual Target Forward Founders accelerator program, an immersive 10-week program providing education, tools, and connections for early-stage entrepreneurs, reported Food Business News. Twelve brands are a part of the program, including SFA member company, Ma Ka Khanna LLC. Operating under the Bebe’s All Natural brand.
Food Business News also reported that Zayn Malik, English singer-songwriter, has joined Mixoloshe, a non-alcoholic beverage brand, as a co-owner and chief creative officer.
“The non-alcoholic beverage market is ready for disruption,” Malik said. “We see consumers already shifting preferences toward healthier and alcohol-free alternatives, which provides an opportunity for a brand like Mixoloshe to redefine this industry. I could not be more excited about the chance to make some noise in the category of non-alcoholic beverages and build one of the most talked about drinks in the world.”
Coinciding with the partnership, the brand also announced that it has launched in 500 Walmart stores.
Related: SFA Members in the News: Supernatural, Amasar, Mixoloshe, Ritual; Cheese Focus: Lesser Known French Varieties
Image: Ubah Hot