Savannah’s Candy Kitchen Brings QVC Foodie Fest to "The Hostess City" for First Time
Monday, August 11th, 2025
For the first time, QVC will take its popular Foodie Fest on the road, heading south to the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is led in partnership with longtime QVC partner Savannah’s Candy Kitchen.
“I’ve been inviting them down to Savannah for years, so it's exciting to have them finally come and offer their customers so many great Lowcountry treats,” said Savannah's Candy Kitchen co-owner Rhett Strickland. "QVC is bringing their Foodie Fest here in a couple of weeks. We are so grateful to represent Savannah across the country and share the sweet Southern life with everyone."
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, a fixture on QVC for almost 10 years, will be showcasing its signature Savannah pralines, both original and chocolate varieties. The company will also debut new pecan and peach pie tarts, inspired by traditional Southern baking and created especially for Foodie Fest.
The event also marks a special tribute to a Savannah legend with the launch of Tubby's, a new gourmet food brand. Named in honor of the late Stan Strickland, the beloved founder of Savannah's Candy Kitchen, Tubby's celebrates his passion for Southern seafood and his longtime nickname, "Tubby."
This new brand is a collaborative effort between Stan's family and entrepreneur Ansley Williams, his lifelong best friend who affectionately gave him the nickname years ago. The partnership brings to life a shared vision of creating authentic, high-quality Southern food products.
Tubby's will make its QVC debut with two exclusive, items:
- Handmade crab cakes: A classic Southern delicacy made with premium crab meat and a perfect blend of spices.
- Low Country Boil-in-a-Bag: A convenient and flavorful meal featuring wild-caught shrimp and classic Low Country Boil seasonings.
“Our family and our partners, the Ansley Williams family are thrilled to bring these Southern seafood delicacies directly to consumers online and on QVC," said Savannah's Candy Kitchen co-owner Tonya Strickland. "It’s a special way to honor the spirit of my husband, our company’s founder, and the love he had for good food and good company."
QVC Foodie Fest began in 2023 at the company’s Studio Park headquarters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The annual event brings together some of QVC’s most popular culinary brands for live broadcasts, product launches and customer meet-and-greets. Additional Savannah-inspired foods are planned for future QVC releases.
The brand's story is rooted in family and Southern tradition. Son, Rhett Strickland assumed leadership of Savannah's Candy Kitchen alongside his mother, Tonya, after his father, Stan, passed away in May 2022. At the time, Rhett was also preparing to become a father himself. He viewed his new responsibilities as more than business; they were part of honoring and preserving a family legacy.
Other regional brands will also be featured alongside Tubby's and Savannah's Candy Kitchen.
“Our family’s mission has always been about more than candy,” Rhett said. “It’s about offering an experience and a genuine taste of our wonderful hometown. That’s what this event is all about.”


