News & Articles
Aunt Sally's Praline Shops, Inc., with its long history in New Orleans, is one of these local fixtures that all tourists want to experience and locals want to share. What draws people to us is our exciting store filled with New Orleans' goodies, but even more so, our most famous delicacy of all...Aunt Sally's delicious, mouth-watering pralines. Throughout the years there have been many who have recognized Aunt Sally's for being the most favored of all. Here, we are proud to share some of these thoughts with you.
Aunt Sally's® Pralines Receives National Award
Aunt Sally's ® line of pralines has been chosen as one of the most influential new products of 2008/2009 by the National Confectionery Sales Association. (NCSA)Aunt Sally's® is among the top three award recipients in the non-chocolate category. A panel of industry leaders reviewed the top-rated products and chose winners that reflect the traditions, new developments, and "enduring triumphs" of the confectionery industry, according to the NCSA.
The honor was presented October 17th at the NCSA Candy Hall of Fame Awards banquet in Tampa, FL.
Frank Simoncioni, CEO of Aunt Sally's® Praline Shops, Inc, said he is "deeply touched and humbled" by the award, especially considering the other national entries.
Aunt Sally's® was the first business in the historic French Market to reopen after Hurricane Katrina. Cooking with propane gas, and using water from Simoncioni's home water well, Simoncioni and a few other employees began making pralines for emergency responders. Since Café du Monde did not open for another month Aunt Sally's provided fresh coffee for emergency responders and local residents who had weathered the storm in their French Quarter homes.
"We opened early to send a message to the world that the people of New Orleans are a strong group and that the City of New Orleans would come back better than ever," Simoncioni said.
The new Aunt Sally's® Collection was honored by the NCSA.
Industry leaders praised Aunt Sally's® for developing new product lines as its home town, New Orleans, recovers from Hurricane Katrina. Comments submitted by judges lauded Aunt Sally's® for showing leadership by developing innovative, trend-setting products in the face of adversity.Noting the growing rate of diabetes in the United States, industry experts singled out Aunt Sally's® for developing a candy that can be enjoyed by those who must limit their sugar consumption!
Aunt Sally's® "Lite", the world's first commercially-available low sugar, low calorie praline has 85% less sugar and 40% fewer calories than other Aunt Sally's® Pralines. Aunt Sally's® "Lite" uses the new zero-calorie sweetener, Swerve®. Two additional Aunt Sally's® products included in the honor were Aunt Sally's® new "Caramel Pecan Chewy" Praline," and the "Sugar and Spice" praline spiced with Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce.
"One of the most interesting trends in the candy industry is to fuse chocolate candy with peppers. I thought that although our pralines are not a chocolate candy, the marriage between a high quality Louisiana product like Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce and Aunt Sally's® Creamy praline would make an exciting, and entertaining combination," Simoncioni said. Aunt Sally's® Sugar & Spice Praline spiced with Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce is the result of cooperation between Aunt Sally's® Praline Shops, Inc. and McIlhenny Company of Avery Island, LA, makers of Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce. Aunt Sally's® has been producing specialty candies in the historic New Orleans French Market for more than 75 years.
The third candy to receive this honor is Aunt Sally's® "Pecan Caramel Chewy". This candy is loaded with pecan halves and cooked into a caramel like sauce. When eaten you taste the rich caramel which is fused with the popular Aunt Sally's® signature praline taste. It is a delicious candy to enjoy!
Aunt Sally's® pralines are available at select Dillard's Department Stores, Macy's, CVS Pharmacies, and other gourmet and quality food locations nationwide. They are also available for purchase at our retail store located at 810 Decatur Street in the French Quarter and online at www.auntsallys.com or phone 1 (800) 642-7257.
The TABASCO® marks, bottle and label designs are registered trademarks and service marks exclusively of and licensed by McIlhenny Company, Avery Island, LA 70513 www.TABASCO.com
Aunt Sally's® marks, packaging, and label designs are registered trademarks and service marks of Aunt Sally's Praline Shops, Inc., New Orleans, La 70117 www.auntsallys.com
Contact:
Frank Simoncioni, CEO
(504) 944-6090
Marsanne Golsby
(225) 343-4879
Southern Living calls Aunt Sallys Pralines the Best Pralines in New Orleans
The Great Praline Search: After sampling some of the most famous pralines in New Orleans, Southern Living reporter Wanda McKinney recently took it upon herself (with the help of her family) to have her own little unscientific taste test to find out which candymaker's product would claim the title of confection perfection. "The winner? Aunt Sally's, pans down. The consistency, creaminess, and cane-sugar goodness make her pralines the perfect confection."- Southern Living, October 2004 Aunt Sally's is not to be missed! "Visitors to this city who are yearning for traditional fare won't be disappointed...to eliminate them would be unthinkable."
- The Columbus Dispatch, July 7, 1999
The praline: a disk of pure joy. "They sell all kinds of them here, but the best is probably from Aunt Sally's Praline Shop...You nibble them, tiny piece by tiny piece, so they're not gone too fast."
- New York Times, August 30, 1998
Aunt Sally's is New Orleans! "Go into the gift shop at Aunt Sally's...where the legendary pralines can be found."
- Chicago Sun-Times, June 11, 1997
Pralines are a must have for visitors! "No one goes home without a dozen pralines from Aunt Sally's!"
- New York Times, June 8, 1997 The inside scoop on pralines! "Local tipsters will tell you to shop for pralines only at Aunt Sally's.
- The Times Newspapers Limited, April 17, 1993
Where should you shop for pralines? "Buy 'em where you see 'em being made, at Aunt Sally's in the French Market!"
- The Times Newspapers Limited, February 10, 1991
Freshness is the hallmark at Aunt Sally's Original Creole Pralines. "Aunt Sally's Pralines are Superior!"
- Travel & Leisure, August 1990