Archive for January, 2009
New Year’s Resolutions
Last year, Crain's Chicago Business interviewed me for an article on 2008 business forecasts and what I hoped to accomplish last year. Last week, they interviewed me once again with a follow-up. I'm pleased to report that 2008 was a great year! You can read the article here.
Apple’s Bakery Mention in the Chicago Journal
Chicago gossip columnist Ann Gerber, of the weekly neighborhood newspaper the Chicago Journal, mentioned Apple’s Bakery in her column last month:
“LIFE IS WHAT YOU BAKE IT …
Mix the right ingredients, purpose, passion and persistence. Watch your spirits rise. Find the frosting. Life is short; lick the spoon. That’s the wise recipe from Apple’s Bakery, which offers gluten-free goodies. Founder and veteran baker Mary Ardapple and epicurean baker Estelle Chandler offer delicious wares (we tasted and raved) for those with food intolerances. Gluten-free baked goods are in demand, and their chocolate chip no-nut, white chocolate cranberry, lemon drop (dairy-and gluten-free) sweets are at seven of their Chicago area locations. Call 3l2-654-9323.”
Note: The seven Chicago area locations refer to our retail partner, Treasure Island Foods. You can reach Treasure Island at (773) 327-4265 or Apple’s Bakery at (309) 693-3522.
One of the Year’s 2009 Enterprising Women
I was recently named one of the 2009 Enterprising Women of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine. What a great honor!
Nominations for the award poured in throughout October and November and the magazine's editorial team narrowed the field to a group of semi-finalists. A committee made up of members of the magazine's prestigious National Advisory Board conducted telephone interviews with candidates in order to finalize the selection of winners and finalists. I was one of five winners in the category of “Up to $1 Million in Annual Revenues.”
"The caliber of honorees for the Enterprising Women of the Year Award is amazing. These women are all leading fast-growth businesses, while assuming leadership roles in their communities, and mentoring other women in business. We are so proud of each and every one of them," Monica Smiley, Publisher/CEO of Enterprising Women, said.
I'll be recognized, along with the other winners and finalists, at a gala dinner during the 7th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration, March 11-13, 2009 at Disney's Yacht Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Apples Bakery Celebrates National Pie Day
National Pie Day is officially January 23, 2009, but Apple’s Bakery will be celebrating in a special way all week from January 18 until January 24, 2009. For the second year, Apple’s will donate $3.00 from every nine-inch pie sold to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
This promotion is meant to honor my mother, Alberta. She was a fantastic pie maker and is a person living with MS. At 83 years old, she is a shining example of how to lead a full life with this challenge and continues to maintain a positive attitude.
In 2008, we donated almost $1,000 was donated to the National MS Society. This year, Apple’s has a goal of selling 1,000 pies throughout the week. Pies can be purchased in-store, online, or by calling 309-693-3522. Advanced orders will be accepted in-store and by telephone. 2009 National Pie Day commemorative T-shirts will also be available at the bakery!
Whole Foods’ Reaction to Tribune Story
In a recent post, I mentioned a Chicago Tribune article that focused on food products mislabeled as gluten-free. The article honed in on the brand Wellshire Farms and its supposedly gluten-free Wellshire Kids products, sold only at Whole Foods Market stores.
Wellshire Kids’ line of chicken bites and corn dogs are marketed as being gluten-free but, when tested, were found to have between 116 and 2,200 parts per million of gluten. This amount of gluten is unacceptable in a product labeled “gluten-free,” and even the smallest amount of gluten is enough to cause great harm to the celiac.
I was pleased to read the Tribune’s follow-up to the story last week. After the article was published, Whole Foods made no attempt to remove the tainted products from their shelves, “saying it was the supplier’s responsibility to ensure the items were safe and legal.” Yet, after numerous customer complaints, Whole Foods pulled the products in question from the shelves.
While some customers thought Whole Foods should have removed the products sooner, I’m glad they did in the end. It shows that gluten-free labeling is, indeed, a hot topic and one gaining the attention it needs. That’s good news for those with intolerances and for those of us sympathetic to the issue.
Click here for the whole story.