Foodie News
Introducing Sour Punch® Assorted Gummies: A Sweet and Sour Adventure!
“Experience the tantalizing sourness and new gummy texture of Sour Punch Assorted Gummies – the newest candy sensation!”
La PORTE, Ind. – Get ready for a treat that will tantalize your taste buds! American Licorice™ Company and the SOUR PUNCH® brand have officially launched their newest candy innovation: Sour Punch Assorted Gummies. With a delightful new gummy texture and irresistible sourness, these gummies are set to be a hit among candy lovers. Let’s dive into what makes this new candy venture so exciting!
A Burst of Flavor and Texture:
Sour Punch Assorted Gummies combine the beloved flavors of grape, lemon, strawberry, and blue raspberry into lightning bolt and Pun-Chi face shapes. Each bite delivers a perfect balance of sour and sweet, providing a mouthwatering experience for candy enthusiasts. The delightful gummy texture adds a new dimension to the already popular Bites and Straws from the Sour Punch lineup.
Healthy and Kosher Certified:
Not only do these Sour Punch Gummies offer an explosion of flavor, but they also cater to health-conscious consumers. They are free from fats and sodium, making it a guilt-free indulgence. In addition, Sour Punch Assorted Gummies are Kosher certified, ensuring their suitability for a wide range of dietary needs.
An Inclusive Offering:
Wendy Dattilo, American Licorice Co. Product Manager, expressed great excitement about this new addition to the Sour Punch family. She believes that the combination of delectable flavors and the introduction of the new gummy texture will captivate both existing fans and newcomers. The incorporation of the adored Sour Punch mascot, Pun-Chi, adds an extra touch of fun to the product line.
Availability:
Starting summer 2024, Sour Punch Gummies will gradually roll out in retail stores and are also available for purchase online at Shop.AmericanLicorice.com. Keep an eye out for these delectable treats and be prepared to embark on a sour-yet-sweet adventure.
A Legacy of Deliciousness:
With over a century of candy-making experience, American Licorice Company has become one of the top manufacturers in the industry. Renowned for their popular Red Vines® candy, they entered the sour candy market in 1990 with the release of Sour Punch® candy and haven’t looked back since. Their commitment to producing high-quality candies ensures a delightful experience with every bite.
Get ready to pucker up and enjoy the mouthwatering goodness of Sour Punch Assorted Gummies! With their combination of exciting flavors, gummy texture, and Sour Punch’s signature sweet-yet-sour punch, these candies are sure to become a favorite among candy enthusiasts. Check out www.AmericanLicorice.com and www.SourPunch.com for more information and to find a store near you. Treat yourself to this tantalizing new candy and step into a world of pure sour bliss!
Source: American Licorice Company
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Local Business
Southern California’s Grocery Store Secret: Some Ralph’s Will Fry Your Fish
Some Ralph’s locations in Southern California will fry fish purchased at the seafood counter. Influencers and shoppers explain how it works.
In Southern California, a surprising grocery store perk is quietly gaining attention online: select Ralph’s Supermarket locations will fry fresh fish for customers who buy it at the seafood counter. What was once a local tip has now turned into a social media talking point, with shoppers sharing firsthand experiences of walking out of Ralph’s with hot, freshly fried fish.
A Viral Discovery at the Seafood Counter
Food influencers and everyday shoppers on Instagram and TikTok have been buzzing about the discovery. In one widely shared video, an influencer visits a Southern California Ralph’s location where a sign posted at the seafood and meat department confirms the service. During that visit, the creator purchased three types of fish — tilapia, salmon, and catfish — all fried on-site after purchase.
The video sparked curiosity and excitement, with viewers surprised to learn that a traditional grocery store could double as a take-home fish fry. Many commenters noted they had lived near Ralph’s for years without realizing the service existed.
Influencers and Shoppers Are Spreading the Word
Social media creators have played a major role in bringing attention to the trend. Multiple Instagram Reels and TikTok videos show shoppers ordering fried catfish or tilapia directly from the seafood counter, often tagging Ralph’s or encouraging followers to “try this at your local store.”
One creator publicly thanked another influencer for “putting everyone on” to the Ralph’s fish fry option, while others documented taste tests, calling the fish crispy, well-seasoned, and an easy dinner solution without the mess of frying at home.
Not Just Social Media — Locals Confirm It’s Real
Community discussions back up the influencer claims. Southern California shoppers on neighborhood forums and Reddit threads report that certain Ralph’s locations in areas like Burbank, Torrance, and Orange County have been offering this service for years.
Some locations reportedly display signs at the seafood counter letting customers know they’ll fry fish purchased in-store. Others rely on word-of-mouth, with longtime employees known for frying custom catfish or other selections when staffing and equipment allow.
Why This Isn’t at Every Ralph’s
It’s important to note that this is not an official, chain-wide Ralph’s or Kroger policy. The service appears to be location-specific, depending on factors like available fryers, staffing, and store management decisions. That’s why some shoppers swear by it, while others have never seen it offered at their local store.
Employees and customers alike recommend calling the seafood department ahead of time to ask if fish frying is currently available. Fryers may not be running all day, and availability can vary by shift.
A Budget-Friendly Dinner Hack
For many shoppers, the appeal is obvious. Buying fresh fish at grocery store prices and having it cooked on-site offers a convenient alternative to takeout. It’s especially popular for catfish, tilapia, and salmon — all commonly mentioned in influencer videos and customer stories.
As grocery prices and restaurant costs continue to rise, this unofficial Ralph’s perk has become a clever food hack for Southern California residents looking for quality, convenience, and value.
The Bottom Line
Yes — some Ralph’s locations in Southern California really will fry your fish. While it’s not advertised company-wide, social media influencers, longtime shoppers, and local communities all point to the same conclusion: if your store has the setup and the staff, you might just walk out with freshly fried seafood.
The key is simple: ask at the seafood counter or call ahead. You might discover your neighborhood Ralph’s has been hiding a fish fry in plain sight.
Editor’s Note: This service is not officially advertised by Ralph’s or its parent company Kroger. Availability varies by location and may depend on staffing, equipment, and time of day. Customers are encouraged to contact their local Ralph’s seafood department directly to confirm whether fish frying is currently offered.
Related Articles & Community Posts
Here are some links where people discuss specific Ralph’s locations frying fish at the seafood counter — great for context and reader exploration:
- Is there a Ralph’s in Burbank that fries fish? (Reddit discussion) — Shoppers point out that the Ralph’s on San Fernando Blvd and the one near Victory & Buena Vista have been mentioned as offering fish frying. [oai_citation:0‡Reddit](https://www.reddit.com//r/burbank/comments/1qdqq93/is_there_a_ralphs_in_burbank_that_fries_fish/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- Ralph’s fresh fried fish? (Reddit Orange County thread) — A commenter notes that a longtime employee in Cypress (near Ball and Bloomfield) has been making custom catfish nuggets for customers. [oai_citation:1‡Reddit](https://www.reddit.com//r/orangecounty/comments/1qeir06/ralphs_fresh_fried_fish/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- Blog post: Ralphs fry fish at the seafood department? — A recent blog recounts discovering this option and encourages calling around to find which locations offer it. [oai_citation:2‡The Accidental Saver in San Diego](https://theaccidentalsaverinsandiego.blogspot.com/2026/01/ralphs-fry-fish-at-seafood-dept-on.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- Ralphs: Fish fried for FREE (The Penny Wise Mom) — A classic consumer blog recounting a family’s experience having fish fried while they shopped. [oai_citation:3‡ThePennyWiseMom](https://thepennywisemom.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/ralphs-fish-fried-for-free/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
These links offer both community chatter and firsthand stories that provide deeper context on how this “unofficial” service has been discussed online.
More Food & Drink Coverage from STM Daily News
Looking for more food news, grocery trends, and dining discoveries? Visit the Food & Drink section of STM Daily News for the latest stories on restaurants, food culture, consumer trends, and what people are really eating across Southern California and beyond.
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Recipe of the Week
Simple, Satisfying Meals for the New Year
Meals for the New Year: While you’re easing your family back into routines in the new year, simple, wholesome meals can help you stretch your grocery dollars further and find your rhythm in the kitchen again. This Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl satisfies both eyes and stomachs through a combination of black beans, eggs and sauteed vegetables.
Simple, Satisfying Meals for the New Year
(Family Features) While you’re easing your family back into routines in the new year, simple, wholesome meals can help you stretch your grocery dollars further and find your rhythm in the kitchen again. Satisfying and approachable recipes that come together quickly using a dependable base ingredient like beans are resonating with home cooks, helping take the pressure out of cooking. Grown, cooked and canned in America, Bush’s Recipe Beans add plant-based protein and fiber to any dish, making it easy to achieve new year’s goals while bringing flavorful meals with high-quality ingredients to the table. For a warm, colorful way to start your morning without spending extra time in the kitchen, consider this Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl, which satisfies both eyes and stomachs through a combination of black beans, eggs and sauteed vegetables. Or put a Mediterranean twist on lunch and dinner with this Greek Dense Bean Salad, a bright, fresh dish that includes chick peas and cannellini beans. Visit bushbeans.com for more meal ideas that help you cook more, spend less and gather with loved ones.
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 2- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 cups cooked sweet potatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) Bush’s Black Beans, drained
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 fried eggs
- 1 avocado, sliced
- cotija cheese, crumbled
- lime wedges, for serving
- In large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onions and bell pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are softened, 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add sweet potatoes, black beans and chili powder; stir to combine. Cook until potatoes and beans are warmed through, 4-5 minutes.
- Divide bean mixture between two bowls. Top each bowl with fried egg, avocado slices and crumbled cotija cheese. Serve with lime wedges.
Greek Dense Bean Salad
Prep time: 15 minutes Servings: 6-8 Dressing:- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 cucumber, grated, excess water drained
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 can (16 ounces) Bush’s Chick Peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) Bush’s Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1 cucumber, seeded and diced
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Greek dressing (directions below)
- 1 cup tzatziki sauce (directions below)
- chicken skewers (optional), for serving
- To make dressing: In food processor or blender, blend olive oil; red wine vinegar; lemon juice; Dijon mustard; garlic; oregano; and salt and pepper, to taste, until well combined. Set aside.
- To make tzatziki sauce: In bowl, stir yogurt; cucumber; lemon juice; olive oil; garlic; dill; and salt and pepper, to taste, until well combined. Set aside.
- To make salad: In large bowl, combine chick peas, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, feta cheese and parsley; toss with dressing.
- Top with tzatziki sauce and serve with chicken skewers, if desired.
- Chef’s tip: Store leftover tzatziki sauce separate from salad.
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Food and Beverage
Papa Johns and Google Cloud Reimagine the Future of Food Ordering to Better Serve Customers
Papa Johns is partnering with Google Cloud to roll out an AI-powered omnichannel ordering system using Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, bringing voice and text ordering to apps, web, phone, kiosks and in-car systems.
american pepperoni pizza with chilli pepper and parmesan cheese
Papa Johns and Google Cloud Reimagine the Future of Food Ordering to Better Serve Customers
Papa Johns is betting big on AI-powered convenience.
At NRF 2026 in New York, the pizza chain announced a major transformation of its digital ordering experience—aimed at delivering faster ordering, improved accuracy, and real-time personalization for its 150 million-plus customers worldwide. The update is powered by Google Cloud’s newly expanded AI solution, the Food Ordering agent, part of Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience. The key takeaway: Papa Johns is the first restaurant brand to bring these new omnichannel ordering capabilities to market—moving beyond basic chatbots and into what Google Cloud calls the era of agentic commerce, where AI doesn’t just answer questions, it actively completes tasks and improves outcomes.From chatbot to “agentic” ordering
Food Ordering agent is designed to unify voice and text ordering across the places customers already interact with the brand—without forcing them to repeat themselves or start over when they switch channels. Instead of treating app ordering, phone ordering, kiosks, and in-car systems as separate experiences, the platform supports high-quality voice AI agents across:- Mobile apps
- Websites
- Telephones
- Kiosks
- In-car systems
What Papa Johns is building with Google Cloud
Papa Johns says the new system is designed to make ordering “faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever before.” The company’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Kevin Vasconi, framed it as more than a product refresh.“Papa Johns is a digitally-driven business and, as such, one of our strategic priorities is investing in our technology to deliver a more seamless experience across our assets and owned channels, better connect with our customers, and support greater efficiency across our operations by leveraging data and AI,” Vasconi said. “We’re using Google Cloud’s Food Ordering agent to reimagine what’s possible for our customers. This isn’t just an app update; it’s a fundamental shift in how our customers interact with our brand digitally, making it faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever before.”The new capabilities focus on three areas that tend to create the most friction in food ordering: deals, complex orders, and repeat purchases.
Intelligent Deal Wizard: fewer abandoned carts, more confidence
One of the most common reasons customers abandon carts is uncertainty—Did I pick the best deal? Is there a better promo code? Papa Johns’ Intelligent Deal Wizard is positioned as a personal concierge that automatically applies the best value combinations. The benefit is twofold:- Customers spend less time hunting for discounts
- Papa Johns reduces cart abandonment and builds loyalty through instant value
Advanced Voice & Group Ordering: making complex orders easier
Group orders are where ordering systems often break down: multiple people, multiple changes, special instructions, and constant edits. Papa Johns’ Advanced Voice & Group Ordering is built to capture that revenue without requiring human intervention. By handling natural language nuances and real-time modifications, the system aims to improve order accuracy even when the request is complicated—exactly the kind of scenario where mistakes can lead to refunds, remakes, and lost customers.No-tap reordering for Papa Rewards customers
Pizza ordering is often habitual. Many customers reorder the same items, especially loyal customers. With the new experience, the agent can identify returning Papa Rewards members and proactively ask if they want to reorder their most recent purchase. That no-tap flow matters because it shortens the distance between intent and checkout—turning a routine craving into a completed order in seconds.Why it matters: omnichannel is now the expectation
Google Cloud’s Carrie Tharp, vice president of global solutions and industries, described the shift as a move beyond the chatbot era.“The retail industry is entering the era of agentic commerce, where AI is an engine for business value,” Tharp said. “By being the first to deploy our omnichannel Food Ordering agent, Papa Johns is moving beyond the chatbot era to create a fluid, intelligent experience that meets hungry customers wherever they are, whether they are in their car, on an app, or at a kiosk.”That’s the core point: customers don’t think in channels. They think in outcomes.
- Ordering hands-free while driving
- Reordering in one step from the couch
- Using a kiosk quickly while picking up
What’s next
Papa Johns will showcase the technology at the Google Cloud booth 5507 at NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in NYC, offering live demos to attendees. The company expects to roll out these capabilities to customers nationwide by the end of 2026.About Papa Johns
Papa John’s International, Inc. (Nasdaq: PZZA) opened in 1984 with one goal: BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA. Papa Johns says it uses high-quality ingredients, including fresh, never frozen original dough made with six ingredients, real mozzarella cheese, and vine-ripened tomato sauce. The company operates more than 6,000 restaurants across approximately 50 countries and territories.About Google Cloud
Google Cloud provides AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools, offering an integrated AI stack built on planet-scale infrastructure and custom-built chips. Organizations in more than 200 countries and territories use Google Cloud as a technology partner.Resources
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
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