Hickory Farms Offers New Artisanal Gifts for 2013 Holiday Season

TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hickory Farms, the specialty food and holiday gift retailer today announced the official grand opening of more than 700 Holiday Market storefronts and kiosks for the 2013 holiday season.

This year is especially exciting as the company introduces Hickory Farms Reserve, a new collection that will delight even the most discerning foodies. These new gifts, available at hickoryfarms.com and select stores, feature artisanal Dry Salami and eight all-natural cheeses handcrafted in Wisconsin by an award-winning master cheese maker: 

• Apple Smoked Cheddar with Paprika
• Smoked Garlic Cheddar
• Smoked Pepper Jack
• Smoked Blue Cheese
• Triple Creme Cheese
• Classic Cheddar
• 1 Year Aged Cheddar
• 3 Year Aged Cheddar

In addition, Hickory Farms has expanded its offering of wine gift baskets at hickoryfarms.com through a new partnership with Wine.com.  One of these new gifts, Winter Wonderland Basket, features the perfect balance of classic, savory favorites like Hickory Farms' gold medal-winning Signature Summer Sausage and Smoked Gouda, complemented by some of their irresistible sweets, all paired perfectly with the lively character of Parducci Small Lot Chardonnay and the full, rich flavor of Parducci Small Lot Pinot Noir. 

Shoppers at Hickory Farms' Holiday Markets will be hard-pressed to resist new dessert and snack offerings that are sure to make the season even sweeter.  Selections include mouthwatering Peanut Brittle Popcorn with Chocolaty Drizzle, Lemon Shortbread cookies, and Snowflake Pretzels.

"Hickory Farms has been a family favorite for over 60 years, and we're excited to bring an even broader array of delicious options to market this year," said Mark S. Rodriguez, CEO.

Since 2008, Hickory Farms has been a proud sponsor of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign and this year the company will cross the $3,000,000 mark for donations. For every Party Planner gift box sold, Hickory Farms will make a five-dollar donation through December 31, 2013 up to $500,000. Customers have the opportunity to include a donation of their own with their purchase at a Hickory Farms store or online. The No Kid Hungry campaign is working to end childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day.

"Each year Hickory Farms and its customers help connect kids in need with up to seven million meals*," said Billy Shore, Founder and CEO, Share Our Strength. "Partnerships like this are invaluable and help touch so many lives; it's been an honor for us to partner with Hickory Farms."

Customers can find Hickory Farms' award-winning sausage, cheese and other specialty items at their holiday stores in the U.S. and Canada, online at hickoryfarms.com, in catalogs, and at leading retailers throughout the season.

About Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms is a leading provider of specialty foods and holiday food gifts. A focus on personalized service has kept Hickory Farms products popular on gift lists since 1951. For the holiday season, approximately 6,000 associates are supporting Hickory Farms' retail and online operations. Millions of North American customers choose Hickory Farms' savory sausages, favorite cheeses and other gourmet goods for their loved ones each holiday season. The company's signature products and eco-friendly gift boxes can be found online, in catalogs, in leading supermarkets and in retail shopping centers throughout the holiday season. For more information, please visit http://www.hickoryfarms.com/.

About Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign
No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals through Cooking Matters.  This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

*This amount was determined on the basis that $1 can help connect a child with up to 10 nutritious meals, which is, in turn, based on the individual experiences of Share Our Strength's grant recipients. It is provided to illustrate how community investments can be used to help end childhood hunger. Each contribution made to Share Our Strength represents a contribution to its original mission. Donations will be used to reach the highest number of children facing hunger in America. Share Our Strength is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

SOURCE Hickory Farms