DALLAS — Somma Food Group today announced the launch of Chickentopia™ Drumstix in U.S. schools. The brand made its debut yesterday in Georgia's largest school system, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), during National School Lunch Week.
GCPS's approximately 173,000 students will be offered Somma Food Group's Chickentopia™ Drumstix beginning in October. The oven-roasted drumsticks at GCPS are served with either buffalo or barbeque sauce.
"We were blown away by our students' reaction to the Chickentopia™ Drumstix – they absolutely loved them," Karen Hallford, MS, RD, LD Coordinator of Nutrition Support and Procurement for GCPS said. "We are thrilled to debut this new option during National School Lunch Week, and happy to have the ability to serve our students chicken that is absolutely free of antibiotics."
The demand for food products from animals raised without the routine use of antibiotics is growing quickly, driven by fears of fostering antibiotic resistant bacteria that could be dangerous to humans. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, antibiotics fed to animals daily in low doses kill the weak germs, leaving behind those that are stronger and harder to destroy. Over time, these drug-resistant bacteria multiply and spread. The Wall Street Journal reported that sales of antibiotic-free chicken in the U.S. rose 34 percent last year.
"We are proud to provide a delicious, healthy and safe meal option to GCPS, while expanding the school system's offerings to include chicken that is raised without any antibiotics whatsoever," Gary Hamm, Vice President of Marketing at Somma Food Group said. "We look forward to positively impacting the overall wellbeing of children as more school districts begin to adopt our products and embrace poultry products that are 100 percent free of antibiotics."
About Somma Food Group, LLC
Somma Food Group was founded by foodservice and restaurant industry veterans with a common goal: Be a leader in delivering innovative food products. The Dallas-based, diversified provider of premium-grade chicken, beef, dairy and finished food products for foodservice and retail end markets produces a portfolio of three brands: Chickentopia™, Merrywood Dairy Farms™ and Somma. Somma Food Group's dynamic brands deliver unique, leading-edge food solutions and uncompromised quality with the health and satisfaction of the end consumer in mind. To learn more about Somma Food Group, visit www.sommafoods.com.
Source: Somma Food Group, LLC