The economy is tight, expenses are always growing, and now, more than ever, every dollar counts. Every company has a budget – ingredients, packaging, staff, advertising, certifications – and each category is assigned a dollar amount, for many companies an amount that is hard to stick with. Make the most of your kosher certification AND your advertising budget at the same time by clearly advertising your product as kosher certified, using the word “KOSHER” and/or the OK Kosher symbol in your ads.

When a kosher consumer sees an advertisement for a product, the first thing he/she looks for is an indication that the product is kosher. Without a kosher symbol, the kosher consumer quickly moves on without stopping to learn about the product. To the kosher consumer, the kosher status comes before the ingredients, before the nutrition panel, and even before the price of the item.

In addition to the approximately 1.3 million Jewish Americans who exclusively purchase kosher products, 21% (about 12.25 million) of Americans occasionally or regularly buy kosher products specifically because they bear a kosher symbol.

You chose kosher certification because you know it is important to your target markets. Let consumers know, loud and clear, that your product meets the highest standard of kosher certification with a prominent OK symbol on your next advertisement.

Sources:

Mintel Report (March 2003, May 2005, January 2009)

LUBICOM Kosher Analysis (October 2009)

New ingredients are added to your list of approved ingredients by submitting a New Ingredient Application. There are two ways to submit the application – by faxing or emailing the application and kosher letter to the OK office, or by the preferred method of submitting digitally through DigitalKosher (ensuring better tracking and real-time updates). Once the application is submitted, along with a valid kosher certificate for the ingredient, an OK rabbi will review the application. If the application is approved, the Data Entry department will enter the ingredient in our database which adds the ingredient to your list of approved ingredients.

Yoplait Greek 100, Liberté Greek and Liberté Méditerranée are now OK Kosher Certified. Greek 100, Yoplait’s hottest product in decades, appeals to health conscious consumers and those who enjoy its thick texture.

The recently released blended Yoplait Greek 100 was conceived after Yoplait saw the Greek yogurt market was missing a “great taste experience”, said Liza Dopp, Yoplait Greek marketing manager, so Yoplait developed their new offering with great taste in mind. As soon as Yoplait conceived the new product idea, they were in touch with OK Kosher to make sure all stages of product development were in line with kosher requirements. Yoplait’s proprietary blend of slow-fermenting cultures and real fruit pieces blended in creates a product with superior taste, high protein and the delicious creaminess consumers expect from Greek yogurt.

Yoplait Greek 100 is available in plain and seven unique flavors including Blueberry, Strawberry-Raspberry, Strawberry-Banana, Tangerine, Coconut, Pineapple, and Vanilla. Each variety is made using simple ingredients – natural colors, flavors and sweeteners – and real pieces of fruit. Each 5.3 ounce serving provides 100% more protein than regular yogurt, 150 calories or less per serving, and 0% fat. Yoplait Greek 100 is also the only Greek yogurt endorsed by Weight Watchers and has a PointsPlus value of 2 per serving.

Liberté Méditerranée is a high protein yogurt made with whole milk, cream and blended fruit. It contains live active cultures and does not contain any gelatin, sugar substitutes or preservatives. Liberté Méditerranée is available in seven flavors – Blackberry, Blueberry, Coconut, French Vanilla, Lemon, Peach & Passion Fruit and Strawberry.

Liberté Greek is a high protein, fat free Greek yogurt made with real blended fruit. Liberté Greek currently has five kosher certified varieties – plain, Blueberry, Lemon, Peach & Passion Fruit and Strawberry.

Greek yogurt itself is now a booming industry, encompassing around 40% of all yogurt sales currently compared to just 2% six years ago. Yoplait and its parent company, General Mills, understand that consumers look for the kosher symbol when purchasing groceries. From those who are health conscious, to those who observe kosher dietary laws as part of their religious observance, kosher consumers are a significant market force. 12,250,000 Americans intentionally buy kosher products and the kosher market experiences an average of 15% annual growth.

For over 70 years, OK Kosher Certification has provided the highest level of kosher supervision and customer service to our clients and kosher consumers worldwide. The OK certifies over 300,000 products in 90 different countries, from Fortune 500 companies to young startups.  The OK symbol is universally accepted by all kosher certification agencies and clients who choose the OK know that the OK symbol provides significant added value to their products.

Yoplait Greek yogurts are available nationwide and proudly bears the OK Kosher symbol on the package.

Yoplait Greek yogurts – 100% more protein and now 100% kosher.

We are pleased to announce that our new website has officially launched. We have completely redesigned our layout with simplicity, ease of use, and a strong focus on kosher information. The new website features three distinct sections, targeting the kosher consumer, the industry professional and the mashgiach with useful information and insights.

 At OK Kosher we believe that kosher advancement is never truly complete, and we will constantly undertake new and greater goals. Our new website will become the launching point for many exciting new features we will be rolling out in both the near and distant future to help you grow your OK Kosher program.

We truly hope you will enjoy exploring our new website, and please send us comments and feedback to [email protected].

The OK Kosher Team

Terressentia, maker of unique, locally produced flavored alcoholic beverages, recently entered into a kosher certification agreement with OK Kosher Certification. The newly kosher certified products, under the brand name Local Choice, include Vodka, Strawberry Kiwi Flavored Vodka, Espresso Flavored Vodka, Fiery Pepper Flavored Vodka, Tequila, Titillating Pepper Tequila, Luscious Lime Tequila, Bourbon Whiskey, Black Cherry Flavored Bourbon Whiskey, Rum, Spiced Pixie Rum, Gin, and Mango Vodka Rum Mix.

Local Choice spirits have received top industry awards, including World Spirits Competition Bronze Award, SIPS Platinum Award, Best in Class Aged Products, Best Flavored Vodka Gold Medal, and many others. In addition to high quality, locally sourced ingredients and environmentally conscious production, kosher consumers can now rely on the superior kosher supervision of OK Kosher. The OK Kosher symbol, which is universally recognized as the highest caliber of kosher supervision and certifies some of the largest companies in the world, lends yet another layer of oversight to Local Choice products. The OK currently certifies over 500,000 kosher products. 55% of consumers who buy kosher products choose kosher products because they believe kosher to be a mark of health and safety and high quality control. Consumers can be assured that Local Choice spirits will enhance their social events while adhering to the highest level of kosher supervision.

For more information, please visit http://new.localchoice.us and www.ok.org.

Recently, the OK held its annual Mashgiach Conference at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, NY. Over 150 OK personnel and mashgichim were in attendance, including many from around the world.

Highlight of the Conference

The OK honored two outstanding mashgichim – Rabbi Favish Moster and Rabbi Yehudah Pink. Both rabbis were chosen for their dedication to upholding the rigorous kosher standards set forth by the OK and the sheer volume of work they do on behalf of the OK. In addition, the OK honored two of their Rabbinic Coordinators from the Israeli office – Rabbi Shmuel Levi and Rabbi Yeshaya Prizant, as well as the liaison between OK Headquarters and OK Israel, Rabbi Moshe Fox, for their dedication and exceptional work.

The OK also honored ConAgra Foods, a company who is making strides in increasing their kosher offerings, goes out of their way to uphold the highest kosher standards, and works well with their mashgichim and rabbis. ConAgra Foods, makers of Hunt’s ketchup, Wesson oil, Pam cooking spray, and countless other kosher products was represented by longtime employees and kosher liaisons Mr. Britt Nichols and Ms. Patty Harvey who were on hand to accept the award on behalf of ConAgra Foods.

In addition, the OK celebrated our longtime relationship with Mr.Willy Geeraerts, who is soon to retire from Barry Callebaut Chocolate, the premier producer of kosher chocolate.

Rabbi Levy, Kashrus Administrator, opened the conference with words of Torah and encouragement and a fascinating explanation of kosher chocolate production which has been transcribed in this issue of Kosher Spirit. Other speakers included noted lecturer Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, Rabbi Saul Emanuel, Executive Director of Montreal Kosher, Rabbi Ahron Haskel of OK Israel, and OK Rabbinic Coordinators Rabbi Yitzchak Hanoka and Rabbi Yitzchak Gornish. Rabbi Levy was also presented with Hakaras HaTov awards from three camps whose campers benefit greatly from his generous camp scholarship program.

The conference ended with a lavish buffet lunch allowing the rabbis to interact with each other and OK personnel.

A (kosher) formula is the recipe for a specific product certified by the OK. Each ingredient is listed, along with its kosher certificate, and the method of production is noted. We do not require the amounts of each ingredient used and the information is kept strictly confidential. When a product formula changes, it is crucial to submit the new formula so that it can be entered into the OK kosher management system.

Formulas can now be submitted through our paperless program and are subsequently evaluated by the Formula Department and supervising rabbi.

On November 27, Rabbi Chaim Fogelman and Rabbi Yankel Wilschanski represented OK Kosher Certification at Kellogg Company’s headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan for an innovative kosher education seminar. Kellogg is always looking for ways to improve its kosher program and provide educational opportunities to its employees. Thanks to the superb organization of Ms. Michele Miller and Ms. Tanisha Sutton of Kellogg Company, over 60 personnel participated in the seminar. Rabbis Fogelman and Wilschanski met with key contacts Ms. Miller and Ms. Sutton following the presentation to company personnel about the basics of kosher observance and kosher certification.

The presentation, given by Rabbi Fogelman, OK’s Director of PR, Marketing & Education, was custom tailored to the unique audience at Kellogg Company and highlighted the Biblical instructions for kosher observance, relevant terminology and the different categories of kosher. Rabbi Fogelman also highlighted the steps necessary for kosher certification and the requirements for kosher production equipment. Finally, Rabbi Fogelman shared interesting data about kosher consumers in the United States and the rest of the world. Kellogg personnel participated in a lively question and answer session following the presentation.

The OK currently certifies hundreds of products from more than a dozen brands owned by Kellogg Company, including: Cheez-It, Grahams Crackers, Sandies, Zesta, Vienna Fingers, Gardenburger, Chips Deluxe Cookies, MorningStar Farms, Toasteds, E.L. Fudge, Club, 100 Calorie Right Bites, FudgeShoppe, Gripz, Town House, Lorna Linda and Wheatables.

Windham, NH (PRWEB)

HomeFree, LLC recently announced that HomeFree cookies have been selected as the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Award winner for best allergy friendly sweets. Now in its fifth year, the About.com Readers’ Choice Awards honor the best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more, as selected by its readers.

“This year’s Readers’ Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across dozens of categories and featured hundreds of finalists,” said Margot Weiss, managing editor, About.com. “We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate HomeFree on their success.”

HomeFree was started by Jill Robbins, a clinical psychologist and mom to a child with food allergies. Jill wanted to make it easier for people with special dietary needs to be included in social events that involve food. Jill is delighted to receive this award, saying “I am thankful to About.com for its ongoing focus on food allergies, and of course am very pleased with the growing excitement about our products and company as reflected by the outpouring of votes we received. We have heard from people that they voted for HomeFree cookies for many different reasons. Of course the biggest was the care we use for allergy safety, but the buzz was also about how delicious and healthy the cookies are not just for those with allergies but for everyone. People especially expressed appreciation that HomeFree cookies are natural or organic, non-GMO, and whole grain, and that most are now certified gluten free as well. Some people also told us that they love not only the cookies, but also supporting a small woman owned business and a B Corporation (bcorporation.net/homefree). We are grateful to HomeFree’s many fans for voting and for helping to spread the word.”

HomeFree cookies are available in retail stores nationally in 5 ounce and 6 ounce boxes. They also are available single serve for retail and for food service in a 10-pack point of sale box and a 100-pack bulk box, and bulk wrapped for food service in a 3 pound and a 10 pound box. All HomeFree products are certified kosher pareve by OK Kosher Certification.

HomeFree Gluten Free Vanilla Mini Cookies won a Best Snack Award 2011 from Shape Magazine, were a finalist for Best New Food at Natural Products Expo East 2011, and are being awarded on May 5th a Food & Beverage Product Innovations 2012 Award presented by the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show.

Jill Robbins can be contacted at http://www.homefreetreats.com, [email protected], http://www.facebook.com/homefreetreats, http://www.twitter.com/homefreetreats, or telephone 800-552-7172 for more information.