NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Global public relations leader Porter Novelli today announced the launch of Orange Palate, a new specialty unit dedicated to brand building on behalf of culinary talent and food entrepreneurs.

Orange Palate provides strategic communications to industry-recognized and award-winning chefs, and supports entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and building new food or beverage specialty items.

"Porter Novelli has a long and award-winning history in building a variety of food and restaurant brands - expertise which can greatly benefit individual culinary professionals," said Karen van Bergen, CEO, Porter Novelli. "With interest in food and cooking at an all-time high, there is tremendous opportunity to advance the careers of chefs who have been recognized within the food industry, as well as entrepreneurs with great ideas," van Bergen added.

Porter Novelli has signed two chefs to the Orange Palate client roster. They are Chef Eli Kirshtein, "Top Chef" alum and executive chef/partner at Atlanta's The Luminary (opening 2014); and 2009 Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef Kelly English, chef/owner of Restaurant Iris and The Second Line in Memphis, Tenn.

"With a 40-year heritage in serving food clients, Porter Novelli has deep connections with key media and an expansive understanding of the category, spanning agriculture and farming, policy and nutrition, and of course, the culinary arts," added Darlan Monterisi, executive vice president, managing director, Porter Novelli New York, where Orange Palate is based. "That extensive knowledge base will help us build our clients into major national players."

About Porter Novelli
Porter Novelli is one of the world's leading public relations agencies. With 90 offices in nearly 60 countries, Porter Novelli delivers best-in-class service to clients around the globe. As the agency that pioneered social marketing, Porter Novelli's heritage is grounded in influence - motivating people to change deeply ingrained behaviors that are rooted in cultural and social norms. This is achieved by identifying and activating against key insights that drive transformational change - going beyond just "solving a problem". The result is greater than just influencing people - Porter Novelli makes them believe.

For additional information, please visit www.porternovelli.com. Porter Novelli is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency Services
Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

Contact:
Catherine Sullivan
Catherine.Sullivan@porternovelli.com
212-601-8315

SOURCE Porter Novelli