On June 24, Indulge in National Pralines Day with a Sweet Treat Benefiting Feeding America and “Golden Ticket Sweetstakes”
World Famous Pralines candy company offers a prize trip to Savannah, Ga. as their 50th-anniversary celebration continues.
(SAVANNAH, Ga.) The owners of River Street Sweets, celebrating their 50th-anniversary this year, want to sweeten the deal on National Pralines Day, June 24, with a donation to Feeding America‘s Kids Cafe, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States, and a “Golden Ticket Sweetstakes.”
When we Americans utter the word “praline,” we tend to daydream about the pecan-packed treats from the American South, but for all our worldly travelers out there, there are three distinct and delectable versions of pralines: American, Belgian, and French.
American pralines’ origin story is shrouded in mystery but legend has it that it was named after a fancy French diplomat, César, duc de Choiseul, comte du Plessis-Praslin. The credit for creating the tempting treat goes to his personal chef, Clement Lassagne, who whipped up a mouthwatering combo of almonds and caramelized sugar. The recipe evolved over time, with pecans replacing the almonds and a little brown sugar added for good measure. Suddenly, the pralines we crave today were born. Legend has it that the Ursuline nuns brought this delectable treat over from France to New Orleans, La., in 1727.
There’s still some debate as to whether you pronounce the name as “prah-lean” or “pray-lean,” but one thing is for sure the candy is world-famous thanks to the family recipe of River Street Sweets’ owners and siblings, Tim and Jennifer Strickland.
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jennifer and her family had the pleasure of relishing in southern favorites, pralines, during their numerous trips to New Orleans. Her father, well-known candy master Stan Strickland, recognized the demand for this sweet treat and tinkered with Praline recipes at home with Pam, her mother, while Jennifer and Tim were official taste testers. The family developed the “World Famous” recipe still used today by River Street Sweets.
River Street Sweets is celebrating its 50th-anniversary in 2023 with a series of events, from the grand opening of its third Savannah location on Broughton Street downtown to a salute to National Pecan Day, and the celebration now continues with National Pralines Day.
River Street Sweet’s world famous praline’s being poured onto a marble slab.
“We didn’t think one day was enough, so we’re celebrating an entire month at our locations across the country,” said Jennifer Strickland, co-owner. “We’re really excited about the ‘Golden Ticket Sweetstakes,’ which was, of course, inspired by the greatest candy icon of all time, Willy Wonka. This is our gift to our guests—and an invitation to unleash your imagination and sense of adventure.”
The prize includes a three (3) day/two (2) night trip for the winner and one (1) guest to Savannah, Ga.
- Roundtrip airfare for 2 to Savannah from a major airport near winner’s residence (value up to $1000);
- Two (2) nights standard hotel accommodations (single room/double occupancy, value up to $750);
- Dinner for 2 in Savannah (excludes alcohol) (value up to $150);
- Tour of Savannah for 2 (value up to $100);
- Tour of the original flagship River Street Sweets store with the owners (value – Priceless).
The Sweepstakes is open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are over 21 years of age, except for employees of RSS and RSCK LLC (“Sponsor”) or its franchisees. No purchase is necessary to participate. All guests in stores who scan the QR code at the praline day donation jar can fill out an entry form (one entry per Guest); all online orders on riverstreetsweets.com and ilovepralines.com are automatically entered to win; and all who go to the website link printed on store receipts at participating locations can fill out an entry form (one entry per guest). For more information on the “Golden Ticket Sweetstakes,” visit https://www.riverstreetsweets.com/pages/golden-ticket-sweetstakes.
This 50th-anniversary celebration continues to highlight the Strickland Family’s unwavering commitment to philanthropy. On Saturday, June 24, 10% of all praline purchases made in 14 stores across the United States will be donated to Feeding America. And for those who prefer to shop online, 10% of praline orders placed on the website will also contribute to the cause, extending beyond one day and lasting an entire month (June 24 to July 24).
So go ahead and indulge in some guilt-free sweets for a good cause!
Last year, River Street Sweets, River Street Sweets•Savannah’s Candy Kitchen and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen collectively celebrated National Pralines Day with a one day in-store and one weekend online promotion, providing 52,590 meals to at-risk children through the Kids Cafe, a Feeding America program that originated in Savannah in 1989. The after-school programs give free meals to children after school, on weekends, and during the summer. Kids Cafes also offer fun activities and tutoring and are hosted at community organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs, churches, libraries and schools. This is the sixth year of support for Feeding America during National Pralines Day.
“Our River Street Sweets family and our franchise brand proudly join Feeding America on their mission to help children in need with the Kids Cafe program. After 50 years of sweet success, we are honored to pay it forward by supporting an organization that brings hope and nourishment to hungry kids across America,” said Tim Strickland, co-owner.
Tim joined the candy industry in 1973 when he was 11 years old and is actually credited with getting his parents, Stan and Pam Strickland, into the candy business in the first place. It all started when young Tim tasted a delectable treat at the Atlanta Gift Market show and subsequently convinced his father to purchase a very large copper kettle pot. This led to countless taste-testing experiments in the Strickland family kitchen until they created a unique and exceptional praline recipe. This recipe was the beginning of River Street Sweets, Savannah’s oldest and most distinguished candy store. Now, five decades later, this shop has inspired the franchise expansion program at River Street Sweets•Savannah’s Candy Kitchen.
“Together, we will make this ‘sweetstakes’ one to remember—not just for the thrill of a golden victory, but for the knowledge that we are coming together to lift up those less fortunate in our communities across the country. Our shared values of hard work, passion, and service are sweeter than any candy, and we look forward to this opportunity to make a difference,” continued Tim Strickland.
For more information on National Pralines Day and the “Golden Ticket Sweetstakes,” visit www.riverstreetsweets.com.
About River Street Sweets
River Street Sweets has been making memories and delighting candy lovers since 1973, when it first opened its flagship location on historic River Street. Nearly a half-century later, River Street Sweets locations can be found in Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC, Sarasota, FL and additional locations in Savannah, on Habersham and Broughton Street. In 2014, the beloved candy company began to franchise under the merged name River Street Sweets•Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, and the first franchise location opened in Pooler in 2015, followed by locations in Key West, Fla. and Lancaster, Pa. A location in Greenville, S.C. opened in 2019, and in 2020, locations were added at The Battery in Atlanta, Ga. and Asbury Park, N.J. In 2021, a location was opened in Sunset Walk in Orlando, Fla., with additional franchise locations on the horizon across the Southeast. Named the “Second Best Candy Franchise in the Country” by Entrepreneur.com, River Street Sweets • Savannah’s Candy Kitchen has grown exponentially with stores in Pooler, GA, Key West, FL, Greenville, SC, Lancaster, PA, Atlanta, GA, Asbury Park, NJ and Orlando, FL and most recently to Sarasota, FL. For more information, visit riverstreetsweets.com and www.RiverStreetCandyFranchise.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Cynthia Cradduck
cynthia@crussomarketing.com
912-856-9075
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