Holiday Offerings Released By Bella's Cookies

Milton, DE - Bakers of Bella's Cookies are announcing a new line of Holiday offerings available now through December 31st at both their online store and through select natural food store retailers. Several new types of cookies, candies and desserts are making the list this year, with a special focus on varieties to suit those with certain food allergies or intolerances.

"Holidays treats, especially those baked during December, always hold a special appeal to just about everyone" says Mark Leishear (Director of Sales & Marketing for Bella's Cookies) "as Bella's has become a staple for those looking for cleaner ingredients in their baked goods, our growth has also increased by those with food intolerances or allergies." Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Vegan, and Nut-Free are some of the leading food allergies found among people of all ages and Bella's is making a large selection of this year's holiday offerings available to cater to those needs. Gluten-Free and Vegan pies such as pumpkin & sweet potato are available this year as well as a selection of cakes from their dessert collection. Candy from their Verdi Good line is naturally gluten-free, with some of the most popular selections being English Toffee (Dinosaur Crunch), Fudge (Peanut Butter, Chocolate & Coconut Crème), and Chocolate Peanut Brittle. In addition to these offerings, customers can find new sweet breads, muffins, tortes, and cookies.

Cookies are the mainstay product for Bella's and varieties include their Signature Collection (natural & organic), Vegan, Gluten-Free, Agave Sweetened (suitable for Diabetics), and a new line of Gluten-Free/Casein Free cookies. Holiday cookies return in the form of their Silver Lake shortbread (a chocolate caramel creation), Jam shortbread (made with locally produced jam), Snowballs (Russian tea cakes), and many others. "The Holiday Tin is one of our most popular items during the season" says Leishear "it's filled with an assortment of cookies, candy and other treats". Customers across the country seek out Bella's during the Holiday season specifically for this item and ship tins to places as far away as the Middle East, Europe and Canada.

Bella's has also partnered with Good News Natural Foods in Dover and Milford to make ordering and picking up these selections easier for those living north of the Delaware Beaches. "We will have order forms, from which customers can choose a variety of selections, and then have them delivered fresh to our store" said Sharon Fields (co-owner of Good News Natural Foods). Holiday offerings vary in price by the type of product ordered; most items range from $4 - $40. Bella's online store is open 24 hours a day, and the bakery 6 days a week during the month of December.

Questions about products or ordering can be answered by calling 302-684-8152 or through the website at www.bellascookies.com.

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Cookies & Fudge Celebrate National Peanut Month

Cookies and Fudge celebrate National Peanut Month

Milton, DE - March 10 2008 - In celebration of National Peanut Month (March), Bella's Cookies & Verdi Good (natural/organic cookie and candy companies) are releasing two, new peanut themed creations; "Peanut Butter Power" & "Python Peanut Butter Fudge." March is coincidentally National Nutrition month, with the peanut known for its many health benefits.

"Peanut Butter Power" is new cookie creation promoting the powerful health benefits of peanut butter, with Bella Leishear resembling Super Girl on the cookie's tag. "Creating a great peanut butter cookie recipe takes as much effort as creating a great chocolate chunk," said Mark Leishear (Director of Sales & Marketing) "there are many different types and tastes of peanut butter cookies; you have to experiment with each." Throughout last summer, test recipes of peanut butter cookies would be brought to various farmer's markets and data collected on each cookie variety. In the end, the winner was a crunchy peanut butter cookie with a sugary top, named "Peanut Butter Power" and is available in Bella's traditional double pack (2 - 3.25 oz cookies) for $3.99 and Baby Bella's (dozen .5 oz bite-size cookies) for $5.99.

Liam Leishear's candy company, Verdi Good, gives exotic animal names to each of their available products. Crocodile Chews, Great White Fudge, and Dinosaur Crunch are a current few. On the Bella's website, visitors can follow links to educational sites such as the National Geographic Society and learn in-depth facts about each of these animals. "Python Peanut Butter Fudge" is their newest named creation, and features a Burmese Python (among the largest snakes on earth, with adults capable of reaching 23 ft). Thick with organic peanut butter, this python fudge retails for $10.99 a pound.

Peanuts and peanut butter are smart options for consumers because they contribute more than 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients (like protein, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese) and have zero cholesterol and no transfats. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) an ounce of peanuts provides more than 10% of the Daily Reference Value (DV) for protein and Niacin, while peanut butter is an excellent source of Niacin, containing 20% DV. Peanuts are also included on a list of recommended nuts that are lower in saturated fat & cholesterol, which may lower your chance of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, the best way to accomplish this is to eat less saturated fat, trans fats and cholesterol, control your weight, and participate in physical activity for at least 30 minutes each day.

More information about Verdi Good or Bella's Cookies can be found by calling 302-684-8152 or visiting www.BellasCookies.com.

Bella's Cookies Expands Green Halloween - 3 Cape Elementary Schools Participating

Milton DE. - October 13, 2008 - Bella's Cookies is bringing Green Halloween back to Milton Elementary School this year, and expanding the program to HO Brittingham Elementary School in Milton and Richard A Shields Elementary School in Lewes. Monday, November 3rd, students will exchange their traditional Halloween candy for a greener and cleaner bag of treats. Bella's continues to organize this annual event in Delaware in effort to raise awareness of the health & nutritional dangers lurking in traditional treats and candy that are given to children during the Halloween celebration.

"Green Halloween" puts an eco-friendly spin on the traditional celebration of Halloween through a variety of easy to follow green practices. The celebration advocates recycling, earth friendly practices, gardening, green costume ideas, fun contests/scavenger hunts, and of course new ideas for candy & treats. "The fundamentals of the celebration encourage you to think creatively and earth-friendly, said Kelly Leishear (President of Bella's Cookies) "children get just as excited about treasures and trinkets as they do candy or treats." For those either giving or receiving Halloween treats, look for ones without toxic and/or harmful ingredients; this is a key concept of Green Halloween - to raise the awareness on the dangers lurking in mainstream, commercially made treats and candy. For years, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors/flavors, and preservatives have been given without hesitation to children dressed in costume, however with medical conditions such as juvenile diabetes and childhood obesity on the rise, and more children being diagnosed with allergic reactions to certain ingredients, alternatives to the norm are being more sought after by conscientious consumers.

Green Halloween is held the first school day after Halloween (this year Monday, November 3rd), and students will hold candy weigh-ins then exchange their conventional treats and candy for a "Green Halloween" bag. Each bag is assembled in a recyclable paper bag and filled with contributions from some businesses such as East Coast Garden Center, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, TS Smith & Son, Good 4 U Natural Market, Rita's Ice, The Dental Group, Tidewater Utilities, and Bella's Cookies. "The bags offer children something different, little things that children can use, enjoy and treats made without unhealthy ingredients," said Kelly Leishear (President of Bella's Cookies). Last year, Milton Elementary School piloted the Green Halloween program with 89 students participating and turning in 215 lbs of candy. The rules of the exchange are simple: students must turn in approximately 2 pounds of candy in order to receive a bag. A letter will go home in student's folders the week of October 13th, explaining the importance of the event and asking for their child's participation.

Bella's has also posted a special section on their website for Green Halloween. This section includes information on the dangers of ingredients such as food dyes, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup, green ideas for Halloween from GreenHalloween.org, and a listing of events that Bella's Cookies will be in attendance this October where consumers can interact and learn more about the program & how they can participate. "Expanding this program is important to us," said Kelly Leishear "a child's body undergoes rapid growth development, and what they're putting into their bodies now, is extremely important."

As the 2008 participation for businesses is passed, businesses wishing to participate or learn more about next year's Green Halloween celebration may contact Bella's Cookies at the information below.

Bella's Cookies is an organic and vegan bakery specializing in natural & organic, vegan, and gluten free cookies. More information about Bella's Cookies or Green Halloween can be found online at www.BellasCookies.com or by calling 302-684-8152.

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Verdi Good Launches From Bella's Cookies

Milton, DE - February 6, 2008 - An all-natural & organic candy company makes its debut this week. Verdi Good is the newest project from the owners of Bella's Cookies, and similar to their daughter Bella as the name and face behind their cookie company, their 4-year-old son Liam, is the face of Verdi Good.

"It's the question we answer most," said Kelly Leishear (President of Verdi Good). She's referring to the question as to what company would be formed & launched for Liam (Kelly & Mark Leishear's 4 year old son). This week, the Leishear's announce that company, is Verdi Good. "Liam's only requirement was the company involve dinosaurs, sharks, crocodiles & snakes." Verdi Good, comes from a variety of concepts -- from it's translation of green and a reference to the practices in their bakery, to a similarity in a children's book by author Janell Cannon; Verdi is a green tree python and also the "V" in the company's logo.

Like it's sister company's policy in baked creations, Verdi separates itself from other candy & confection manufacturers though their strict use of natural & organic ingredients (specifically organic evaporated cane juice & organic brown rice syrup.) "We're making natural & organic alternatives to commercial candy and confections." These cookie and now candy-makers, are creating sweet-treats made without any genetically modified organisms (GMO's), trans fats, artificial colors or flavors, refined sugar or corn syrup. Crafting gourmet chocolates is a focus of the company, with both a traditional and an upcoming line of exotic truffles. Verdi will change product offerings during the various seasons, with chocolates offered more in the fall & winter and a different line of products in the spring & summer.

Currently, products are offered exclusively online through the Bella's Cookies website & include dark chocolate rum truffles made with Dogfish Head brown honey rum, homemade caramels, 3 varieties of fudge (chocolate, peanut butter, & coconut crème), organic chocolate peanut brittle & old fashioned English toffee. Items are sold individually and priced by the pound, ranging from $3.75 to $16.

More information about Verdi Good or Bella's Cookies can be found by visiting www.BellasCookies.com.

Bella's Cookies & Verdi Good Holiday Lineup

Milton, DE - September 14, 2008 - Bella's Cookies and confectionary company Verdi Good have released their selections for this year's annual holiday cookie and candy lineup. Confectionary aficionados mark their calendars each year beginning November 1st - December 31st, as specialty holiday creations fill the pages of their website. Made each year since the organic & vegan bakery's first year in business, their popularity has been steadily increasing, and not just locally.

Over the past several years, online shopping has increased dramatically; convenience and web site security have made online ordering extremely easy and e-commerce is now a focal business for many companies who merchandise their products online. Gift baskets and cookie lovers cross country keep BellasCookies.com steady with online orders throughout the year, however during the months of November and December those orders increase significantly each year. Their special holiday selections are attributed to this spike. "We make old homemade favorites during the holidays and we make them only once each year," said Leishear "people reminisce about childhood, parties, old housewarming gifts, cold nights, lights and delicious desserts during these times of year."

Typing "organic cookies or organic holiday cookies" into any Internet search engine quickly brings shoppers from across the country to Bella's website, where bakery rules are stringent, but simple: no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, no refined sugars, no high fructose or any corn syrup, no artificial colors or flavors, and lastly no preservatives. "As people are watching more of what's in what they eat, they want to find indulgences of the same quality; the internet allows them to find exactly what they're looking for, buy and send it to whomever they want, all without leaving the comfort of wherever they are... it's a shopping nirvana." While most of the holiday selections on their website can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States, certain items remain for local delivery only. Cinnamon Buns (varieties include different flavors from cherry cinnamon buns to sweet potato), organic pies, cheesecakes, and traditional cakes are among those items. "We decided to make these specialty items available this year as they're now made with regularity." People suffering from certain food allergies often contact Bella's directly to create items for themselves and special occasions.

A more complete listing of their holiday lineup can be viewed at their website, and includes: snowballs (Russian tea cakes), caramel shortbread, organic jam shortbread, homemade fudges, caramels, English toffee, and Delaware Rum cakes (made with locally distilled Dogfish Head Brown Honey Rum).

"As more people are looking to eliminate the costs associated with unnecessary travel, I expect 2008 will be a record year for online holiday shopping."

More information about Bella's Cookies & Verdi Good, including ordering and a current list of retailers can be found by visiting www.BellasCookies.com or calling 302-684-8152.