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José Dovis, pictured right with Pamela Barefoot, designed the stoneware and the original Blue Crab Bay logo.

Blue Crab Bay Expands into Stoneware
Blue Crab Bay Co./Bay Beyond Inc. has entered into a licensing agreement with nationally known folk artist José Dovis to be his exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Dovis Designs' Blue Crab Stoneware.

The decorative stoneware, which features blue crabs and grapevine patterns, has been produced and hand-painted in Thailand since 1993. Earlier this year, Foreign Advisory, an accessories importer, offered Blue Crab Bay Co., based in Melfa, Va., the opportunity to continue production of the line. Retailers can now combine orders for Blue Crab Bay Co. specialty foods and the Blue Crab Stoneware.

Chef's Warehouse Buys Provvista
The Chefs' Warehouse Inc., a distributor of specialty food products, has acquired Provvista Specialty Foods Inc., a specialty foods importer and wholesale distributor located in Portland, Ore.

Back in 1993, Joe Guth founded Provvista and under his leadership, the distributor has expanded to service more than 500 locations. In 2010, Provvista had annual revenue of approximately $17 million.

The Chefs' Warehouse, based in Ridgefield, Conn., distributes more than 11,500 products to more than 7,500 customer locations throughout the United States.

Hampton Farms Buys Tanner Nut Co.
Hampton Farms, Severn, N.C., acquired Tanner Nut Co. Tanner Nut Co. services the gourmet/specialty market with traditional and creatively flavored nuts, including almonds, cashews, peanuts, pecans and walnuts.

Together, Hampton Farms and Tanner Nut Co. continue to produce the same great products offered by each respective company and will also work closely to develop new unique-flavored nut products. Operations continue in the Tanner Nut Co., Tarboro, N.C. facility, and the entire Tanner Nut team remains in place.

Q Squared Partners with Jolin on Flatware
Tableware company Q Squared has formed a partnership with Jolin, a flatware designer and manufacturer. At the New York Tabletop Show at Forty One Madison, Q Squared unveiled the new flatware sets in various colors, patterns and configurations. Styles include half tang Sand full tang sets.

Funky Chunky Expands Manufacturing By 40%
Citing increased demand for its chocolate-covered snacks, FunkyChunky Inc., Edina, Minn., expanded its current warehouse space to 17,000 square feet from 12,000 square feet. The space was needed for its inventory and for production, which was operating seven days a week at the onset of the fourth quarter. Founder Ronni Feuer says, "This is our biggest production year ever."

PanCali's Panama Red Hot Sauce Takes Top Scovie Honor
The Scovie Awards judging panel of culinary experts have awarded the overall grand prize for 2012 to PanCali Foods of Walnut Creek, Calif., for its all-natural Panama Red Hot Sauce.

PanCali Foods was founded by cousins Mike Bross and Eddie O'Keeffe, who turned their love for all things spicy into a hot sauce. Panama Red, made in Panama with Habanero and Scotch Bonnet Peppers, has a fiery but flavorful finish.

The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, a family-owned restaurant with locations in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, took home the grand prize award in advertising and marketing for their innovative product packaging. Their Barbecue Sauce comes packaged in a branded paint can with brush.

Competition was particularly fierce for the 2012 awards, with product entries up 177 over 2011. In all, 161 companies entered 792 products for a chance at Scovie glory. Dave DeWitt, founder of the Scovie Awards and National Fiery Foods and Barbecue Show says entries came from 38 states and four countries including Australia, Sweden, Canada and the United States.

Other first-place winners include:

The Spice Lab, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won two first-place Scovies for Viking Smoked Oak Sea Salt in the Condiments – Not Hot and Spicy category, and

the BBQ Smoked Sea Salt Collection was recognized in the Full Product Submissions – Gift Basket/Box category.

Robert Rothschild Farm, Urbana, Ohio, took home three first-place finishes: in the Condiments-Not Hot and Spicy - Meat Sauce category for its Pineapple Coconut Mango Tequila Sauce; Condiments-Not Hot and Spicy - Prepared Dip category for its Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip; and Condiments-Not Hot and Spicy – Relish category for its Roasted Red Pepper & Onion Dip.

Knife Sharpening Company Celebrates 125 Years
Smith's, Hot Springs, Ark.-based manufacturers of sharpening products, celebrates its 125th year of business this year.

Conde Nast, HSN Team Up on Bon Appetit Line
Media giant Conde Nast and home shopping channel HSN are collaborating on a line Bon Appetit-branded culinary products that will be available exclusively via HSN's sales platforms beginning Jan. 31.

The collection will include stainless steel cookware; small appliances including pressure cookers and immersion blenders; as well as cutlery and prep tools. New additions to the collection will be added every other month.

Importer Dies in Car Crash
Taylor Griffin, the president of The Rogers Collection, died in a car crash in California on Oct. 16. He was 40. Griffin was the nephew of Dick Rogers, who started the specialty food import company. According to the company's website, Griffin worked alongside his uncle for years before he and his business partner Ken Crerar took over ownership and operations in May 2003. The Rogers Collection, based in Portland, Maine, specializes in importing traditional, artisan foods including Les Moulins Mahjoub line of Tunisian specialty foods, Fermin's Serrano ham, plus cheeses, olive oils, jams, vinegars and vegetables.

Lifetime Brands Buys Creative Tops
Lifetime Brands Inc., a provider of kitchenware, tabletop, home décor and lifestyle products, announced it has acquired British tabletop brand Creative Tops Ltd. and its Hong Kong-based sourcing division on Nov. 6 .

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but for its fiscal year ended March 31, Creative Tops had net revenues of $42.3 million. Creative Tops products are available in the United Kingdom, the United States and 13 other countries.