Pitch and Ship » Food

The Skinny on QVC’s Paula Deen Pork Wings (They’re Ham Shanks)

Walter Verfenstein — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:54:05 +0000

The New York Times ran a fascinating investigatory piece today on pork shanks, which are usually two-ounce pieces of pork cut from the fibula of a ham shank, and are sold by QVC as Paula Deen’s Smithfield 7 oz. BBQ Pork Wild Wings. Seems the fibula used to be left in hams back in the days of yore and functioned as a convenient handle for the Norman-Rockwell-like fella carving at the table. Nowadays boneless hams are all the rage, and so processors are using a special saw to cut the fibula into pieces, plump them up with a marinade of water, salt and “natural pork flavorings,” cook them for six to eight hours and then send them out to market. The process just described is the one employed at Appert’s Foodservice in St. Cloud, which handles about 40% of the processed ham shank business in the U.S., while QVC’s Paula Deen product is processed by Smithfield, but I think we can assume something similar. In any event, these tasty tid-bits can be dressed up all sorts of ways and (at sports bars and other casual dining establishments) go by names such as “squealers,” “French pork confit,” and “Eskimo Pies of pork on a stick.”

Daisy Cakes Converts “Shark Tank” Appearance into QVC Sales Slot

Walter Verfenstein — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:34:50 +0000

Kim Nelson, displaying one of her Daisy Cakes

Baking entrepreneur Kim Nelson has landed an eight-minute slot on QVC in which to sell her Daisy Cakes red velvet cake and spicy sweet carrot cake Wednesday during an “In the Kitchen with David” program, featuring host David Venable. The price of a cake: $49.86, including shipping and handling. Ms. Nelson said that her South Carolina-based business has been “…headed in a direction that I’ve only dreamed of,” according to the news item linked below. The catalyst for the sales surge isn’t hard to identify. She appeared on the ABC TV program “Shark Tank” in April, and convinced real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran to invest in her company. The Upstate Journal (SC) Nov. 27, 2011

In a First, ShopNBC to Devote 24 Hours to Food

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:20:40 +0000

ValueVision Media is lifting the lid on its first-ever 24-Hour Holiday Cooking Event, which will debut Saturday, October 15, and employ a holiday entertaining theme to sell merchandise from Sur La Table and Cuisinart. The bulk of the press release appears after the jump.

ShopNBC’s 24-hour Holiday Cooking Event will kick-off at 12am ET on Saturday with the world television shopping premiere of the CBTL® Americano Single Serve Beverage System as one of two Today’s Top Value offers. Inspired by the specialty beverages found at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® stores, customers can now enjoy the espresso, coffee and tea they love at home with this easy-to-use beverage system. Viewers can take advantage of a second ShopNBC Today’s Top Value from premium kitchenware brand Sur La Table; an 8-quart French oven which is available in ShopNBC-exclusive colors just in time for holiday cooking, entertaining and gifting.

As part of the all-day holiday cooking event, expert chefs Bob Bowersox, Tom Woodbury, Gwen Goodman, Rick Tarantino, Tom Little, Joseph Sempravivo, Jacob Maurer and Amy Shipshock will also be in the kitchen, serving up entertaining tips and holiday cheer. ShopNBC viewers will also have a chance to outfit their entire kitchen with more than 20 new items and three new brand launches, including Westinghouse small kitchen appliances, Storebound kitchen storage and Kapoosh kitchen accessories. Ideal for getting a jump on holiday gift-giving, the event will feature ShopNBC customer favorites, including specialty kitchenware from Sur La Table and fine crystal from Waterford. ShopNBC will also celebrate the 8th anniversary of the much-loved colorful Cuisinart kitchen tools.

ShopNBC Facebook fans are invited to get into the holiday spirit by entering to win a $1,000 gift card to Sur La Table or one of three CBTL Americano Single Serve Beverage Systems. The winners will be announced live on ShopNBC at 12am ET Saturday, October 15. Fans can enter at www.Facebook.com/shopnbc.

“Entertaining this holiday season has never been easier on ShopNBC,” said Annette Repasch, Chief Merchandising Officer at ShopNBC. “We are excited to offer viewers a full day of cooking must-haves and entertaining tips from expert chefs. Customers will be delighted to find everything needed to step confidently into the kitchen and entertain friends and family.”

Top Holiday Cooking Must-Haves:

Cuisinart 10-Piece French Cookware Set — Beautifully designed stainless steel triple-ply constructed pans with elegant handles reflect the quality of the world’s best kitchens. Cuisinart’s heat surround technology allows heat to be distributed evenly along the bottom and side walls of the cookware.
Sur La Table Set of Two Skillets — Available in three new colors, this set features two of Sur La Table’s best nonstick skillets in versatile sizes perfect for any kitchen. The hard-anodization process makes the aluminum twice as hard as stainless steel for maximum strength and durability.
Cuisinart Immersion Blender — This handheld blender features a powerful 200-watt motor to blend and chop in bowls, pots, pitchers and more. The ergonomically designed grip offers comfortable hold and more control while blending.
Trinity Pressure Cooker — This low pressure cooker has a handle on top to help remove the lid from the pot and place it upright on a counter. Its non-stick interior helps to eliminate mess and the lid can be opened anytime during the cooking process to keep an eye on things.

QVC to Begin Selling Harry & David Gourmet Foods this Saturday, July 24th

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:40:01 +0000

Gourmet foods purveyor Harry & David today announced that it will begin selling a selection of its products — suitable for self consumption, entertaining and gifting — on QVC, beginning this Saturday, during a ”Christmas in July” show scheduled for 3:00pm ET. In the future, Harry & David products will be sold during Harry Harry & David-branded shows, as well as during QVC’s regular, food-themed programming. Harry & David Press Release Jul. 23, 2010

Martha Stewart to Pitch Provo Craft Cake Decorating Machine During HSN Debut, July 19th

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:57:32 +0000

Joining Stewart during her appearances will be Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s crafting expert Alex Perruzzi. Together, they will demonstrate Provo Craft’s Cricut cake decorating and cutting machine, along with key items from the Martha Stewart Crafts line. These will include the Martha Stewart Crafts Punch and Stamp Kit, Large Circle Cutter, a 24-pk Iridescent Glitter Kit, the Scoreboard Kit, Essential Tool Kit, Essential Glitter Kit, and the Essential Punch Kit. HSN Press Release Jul. 14, 2010

Indiana “Hog-burgers” Return to QVC for Memorial Day

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:57:47 +0000

The “Shoup Sisters” — that’s Cindy Shoup Cacy and Amy Shoup Mennen — will pitch their noted hog-burgers alongside host David Venable this Memorial Day on QVC. This will be the fourth time the sisters have been called up from the farm, by which we mean their day jobs at Shoup’s Country Foods in Frankfurth, Indiana, and made it to “The Show” on QVC. The retailer has reportedly ordered up 42,000 hog-burgers, which will be sold in 24-pork-patty packs for approximately $38 (or $1.58 per burger). The sisters will appear around midday during QVC’s “Summer Entertaining Made Easy” segment. Journal & Courier (Indiana) May 29, 2010 WLFI TV 18 (West Lafayette, IN) May 28, 2010

QVC to Broadcast from The Aspen Food & Wine Classic

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:15:17 +0000

QVC will feature three hours of live programming from the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo., on Sunday, June 21st, beginning at 11 a.m. (ET). KitchenAid will be one of the featured product lines. QVC will also break from its traditional retailing format — at least on the web — to deliver the sights and sounds of this annual gathering. Cooking demonstrationss and celebrity chef interviews will be available by live Webcast on QVC.com, at 2 p.m. (ET). The Gourmet Retailer June 11, 2009

Annie B’s Cakes Sold on QVC Recalled in Salmonella Scare

admin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:52:19 +0000

Annie B’s Confections is recalling select dessert products sold on QVC‘s TV network and website in the second half of last year because they could be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported.The recall includes the following products:

Annie B’s chocolate peanut butter cake; purchased after Aug. 11, 2008; QVC product number M106327; Annie B’s product number C02008

Annie B’s classic miniature collection; purchased after Aug. 11, 2008; QVC product number M106333; Annie B’s product number M00236

Source link lists some two dozen, additional peanut-related product recall notices. Associated Press Feb. 4, 2009

QVC Sales Help St. Clair Foods Weather Tough Economy

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:17:55 +0000

This Memphis-based, family-run business (the ceo’s daughter, Lauren Edmonds, pitches on QVC) has experienced double-digit sales growth in each of the past ten years, and is now expanding its food processing, receiving and warehouse spaces by 33,000 square feet. Back-hauling supplies by running their own trucks helps St. Clair control costs to a degree, but CEO Oscar Edmonds acknowledges that the company is not immune to the general economic slowdown. Memphis Daily News Sept. 11, 2008