Today, America’s favorite chef, author and restaurateur Paula Deen is launching a new partnership with Buffalo, New York-based Nanco Group, creating Paula Deen Foods.  Paula Deen Foods is being formed to guarantee the highest level of quality in its products, expanding on a number of Deen’s products that are sold today in some of America’s leading retailers ranging from Kroger to Target to Wal-Mart; these products will cover Deen’s traditional recipes as well as lighter versions.  The Company will be headquartered in Savannah.

Deen will develop these new products with Nanco Group, owned by the highly respected Nanula family, well known for their successes in the retail marketplace with Tops Friendly Markets and more recently Wilson Farms Stores that were sold last year. The Nanco team has deep experience with private label brands – having developed similar products for their own stores.  Prior to leading Paula Deen Foods, Nanco Group Principal Steven Nanula, previously led innovation and concept development at Tops and built and managed one of the country’s top five in-store marketing and promotional companies.  Working closely with Nanula is long-time Nanco Group executive Nick Gallegos, who spent over two decades with Safeway retail chain and was a general partner and VP, Sales & Marketing at Wilson Farms.

“We are honored to take the Nanco generations of experience and bring our favorite recipes from our family to your own,” comments Paula Deen, Founder of Paula Deen Enterprises.  “Working with Nanco, we have generations of experience and knowledge from our most important partners – the grocery retailers that will enable us to bring the best value possible to those who love our recipes.”

“We are joining forces with Paula Deen, one of the industry’s most successful brands, to raise things to new levels,” says Nanco Group Principal Steven Nanula.  “The passion to bring her joy of cooking to those around the world is magical and we look forward to sharing the love that is Paula Deen.”

Most recently, Paula Deen received an Emmy Award Nomination for her work as host of “Paula’s Best Dishes.”  She is well known for her Southern Cooking passion, having sold more than 8,000,000 of her 14 cookbooks.  Deen’s landmark restaurant The Lady & Sons, based in Savannah, Georgia, has been the launch pad for an expanding restaurant empire in partnership with Caesars Entertainment; having recently launched her fourth restaurant “Paula Deen’s Kitchen” at Harrah’s Joliet property.  In addition to her food products, Paula Deen has a highly successful line of Paula Deen Cookware found at leading retailers, as well as Paula Deen Home which features furniture and other products.

Deen’s family continues to be connected to her work; her son Bobby’s show “Not My Mama’s Meals” is a hit on Cooking Channel and this month her son Jamie will launch his new show “Home for Dinner with Jamie Deen” on Food Network.

Paula Deen Foods is targeting a launch of its initial products in late third quarter 2012. For more information and how to contact, visit: inquiry@pauladeenfood.com or call 1 (800) 535-0913.