Bissingers Claims National Award For Americas Top Confection

Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas named Outstanding Confection at New York Fancy Food Show

Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas named Outstanding Confection at New York Fancy Food Show ST. LOUIS (July 2008) – Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier is always on the cutting edge of the best in confections. Last week, a national panel of specialty food experts agreed, naming the company’s Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas “Outstanding Confection” at the 54th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. The annual Sofi Award for outstanding confection was presented to Bissinger’s President Ken Kellerhals by noted chef and author Jacques Pepin. “It’s an honor to be recognized as an innovator in great-tasting, good for you products,” explained Kellerhals. “We set out several years ago to create a line of all-natural products that would taste great and live up to the 350-year heritage of the Bissinger’s brand. For a chocolatier to be recognized with a Sofi Award for a non-chocolate product is even more of a testament to the skill and creativity of our food scientists and candy makers.” The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) Sofi Awards (an acronym for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation) were awarded in 32 categories after a review of more than 2,200 entries. Bissinger’s award-winning gummy pandas blend blueberries and acai (a Central and South American berry) – two fruits among those with the highest measured ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) values. An ORAC number is an assessment of the antioxidant activity for any given food – the higher a food’s ORAC value, the stronger its antioxidant power. Bissinger’s Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas are the newest in a line that also includes Green Tea Spiced Peach and Pomegranate White Tea Gummy Pandas. All three varieties are sold in 4 oz bags that retail for $3.99 and 1 lb bags that retail for $13.50. ABOUT BISSINGER’S Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier has been handcrafting fine confections for more than 350 years. The Bissinger Family began creating their fine delicacies in 17th –century Paris, and at that time European nobility, heads of state including Ludwig of Bavaria and the Rothschilds were all loyal Bissinger’s enthusiasts. Bissinger’s confections were once enjoyed by King Louis XIV and were served as a gift by Napoleon Bonaparte to his beloved Josephine upon his return from battle. In fact, Karl Frederic Bissinger, the company’s namesake, was named the Confiseur Imperial, or “Candy Maker of the Empire,” for excellence in the confectionery arts by Emperor Louis Napoleon. Karl Bissinger left France in 1845, bringing his loyal master candy maker and all of the Bissinger family candy making secrets to the United States near Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1927, his son, also named Karl, opened the Bissinger’s candy making kitchens and first Bissinger’s shop in Saint Louis on McPherson Avenue. A replica of that historic store has been re-built in the popular City Museum, for chocolate lovers of all ages to enjoy for years to come. Bissinger’s handcrafted confections can be purchased at our four retail locations (three in St. Louis, MO and one in Edina, MN), through national catalogs, by calling 800.325.8881, or visiting us online at www.bissingers.com. A handful of Bissinger’s products can be found locally at Straub’s Fine Grocers, across the country at select Whole Food Markets as well as upscale spas and resorts. Bissinger’s headquarters is located at 3983 Gratiot Street in St. Louis, Missouri. Discover Bissingers at http://www.bissingers.com

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Bissinger's offers the world's finest handmade, gourmet chocolate, which includes boxed chocolates, sugar free chocolate and classic gourmet candies. We also offer a selection of holiday chocolates, chocolate truffles, chocolate covered fruits and more.