Buy Alabama's Best luncheon held

The 2014 Buy Alabama’s Best Retail Campaign Launch Awards luncheon was recently held at The Club restaurant overlooking Birmingham. The group is made up of the Alabama Grocers Association, the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, and the Alabama Food Manufacturers and Producers Association. Presentations were made by Commissioner John McMillan, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries; Mr. Lee Sentell, Director, Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel; Mrs. Ellie Taylor, President, Alabama Grocers Association; Dr. Frederick Goldman, Professor and Director, Lowder Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s of Alabama; Mr. John D. Fox, Jr., Vice President, C & M Food Distributing, current Chairman of the Alabama Grocers Association; and Mr. Larry Woodward, Account Executive, Barber’s Dairy and current President, Alabama Food Manufacturers and Producers Association. Alabama Food Manufacturers and Producers Association members as well as retailers and wholesalers throughout the state of Alabama were also in attendance. Mr. Lee Sentell, Director, Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel, presented the Year of Alabama Barbecue and how Alabama retailers and manufacturers could become more involved in the 2015 campaign. Commissioner John McMillan, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and Mrs. Ellie Taylor, Alabama Grocers Association presented Display Contest Award Certificates for 2014. These displays featured participating Alabama food products to help consumers identify which products are headquartered, produced or manufactured in the state of Alabama. Awards were given to the following retailers: Gardendale Foodland #448, Gardendale, Ala. and Walmart #2713, Trussville, Ala. During the months of March and September, a portion of the sales of participating Alabama food product companies along with retail sales of icons raised monies for the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Children’s of Alabama. A check was presented to Dr. Frederick Goldman in the amount of $60,654.00 for 2014. Since 2006, the Buy Alabama’s Best Campaign has raised $584,099, reaching the half a million dollar mark, to fight pediatric cancer. “Children’s of Alabama is working to cure every child who has cancer,” Goldman says. “This generous donation from local Alabama businesses will help us meet our mission.” Following the presentation, a buffet featuring all Alabama food products was enjoyed by those in attendance. “Being a part of the Buy Alabama’s Best Campaign gives opportunities for small businesses to give back in a big way,” says Jan Jacks Potter, Owner of Dreamcakes,  a distinctive locally owned bakery in Homewood that sells gourmet cupcakes, designer cakes, wedding cakes, homemade cookies, pound cakes, brownies and French Macaroons, is now selling Dreamcakes Buttercream Icing now in Birmingham grocery stores. “This was our company’s first year to participate in the Buy Alabama’s Best endeavor and it has been a very meaningful experience,” say Drew and Karen Clark, Owner of DAK’s spices. DAK’s Spices is made only of high quality spices and herbs adding flavor to a wide variety of foods including popcorn, poultry, pasta, meat, veggies, seafood, sandwiches, salads, eggs, potatoes, casseroles, soups, and stews.  DAK’s is all natural, salt free, MSG free, and gluten free. DAK’s contains no preservatives or additives. The purpose of the Buy Alabama’s Best Campaign is to identify and increase awareness of Alabama food products and increase sales of those products. Alabama food product sales have a $2 billion impact in Alabama’s economy, tax base and along with the food service industries, employ one out of every four Alabamians. For further information contact Ellie Taylor at [email protected] or visit www.buyalabamasbest.com.