By Zanub Saeed
Celebrity chef Paula Deen announced that she will be expanding her empire by creating her new line of Paula Deen Foods, available in convenient stores starting sometime in late 2012.
Deen will be bringing some of her more famous and butter-laden foods to supermarkets and retailers like Target, Walmart, and Kroger thanks to a partnership she joined with Nanco Group, owned by the Nanula family, said a press release issued by Paula Deen Enterprises on Wednesday.
"We are honored to take the Nanco generations of experience and bring our favorite recipes from our family to your own," Paula Deen, Founder of Paula Deen Enterprises, stated for the press release. "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."
Nanula are best known for their retail market of Tops Friendly Markets and Wilson Farms Stores, said the press release issued. The products in her line will feature some of her traditional recipes, as well as lighter versions.
"We are joining forces with Paula Deen, one of the industry's most successful brands, to raise things to new levels," Nanco Group Principal Steven Nanula, was quoted as stating for the press release. "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."
Deen, who has sold eight million copies of the 14 cookbooks she has released to date, recently received an Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her hosting duties on her Food Network program, "Paula's Best Dishes," noted the press release.
This is not Deen's first enterprise, as she already has an expanding restaurant empire in her hometown of Savannah, Ga., called "Paula Deen's Kitchen," in collaboration with Ceasars Entertainment, stated the press release. The fourth restaurant branch opened recently at Harrah's Joliet property. Deen also has a cookware product line out, called "Paula Deen Cookware," and furniture line "Paula Deen Home," all of which can be purchased at major retail stores across the United States.
