New York, N.Y. – The Specialty Food Association is pleased to announce the winners of its second annual Leadership Awards honoring influential and innovative entrepreneurs who are transforming the way the $86 billion specialty food industry does business.
The winners are:
- Citizenship: Tyler Gage, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Runa Tea, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Business Leadership: Ron Rubin, Minister of Tea and CEO, The Republic of Tea, Novato, Calif.
- Vision: Caryl Levine, Co-Founder, Co-Owner, Lotus Foods, Richmond, Calif.
The efforts of these leaders span the globe, from supporting indigenous tribes in Ecuador, to establishing a progressive work environment in Northern California, to initiating sustainable farming practices in Southeast Asia. “These leaders are taking their passion for food far beyond the production of great products to improve communities, develop innovative practices and pioneer new food business models,” says Ann Daw, president of the Specialty Food Association.
Honorable mentions went to leaders of three specialty food companies:
- Citizenship: Sam Mogannam, Owner, Bi-Rite Market, San Francisco
- Business Leadership: Greg Steltenpohl, CEO, Califia Farms, Bakersfield, Calif.
- Vision: Justin Gold, CEO/Founder, Justin’s, Boulder, Colo.
The awards will be presented at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco on Jan. 19, 2014, following the keynote address by Neil Grimmer, co-founder of Plum Organics. The keynote address is from 5 – 6 p.m. at Moscone Center.
Nominations for the awards were made by members of the Specialty Food Association and others in the specialty food industry. A panel of specialty food professionals and industry influencers selected the honorees from 66 nominations. The judges included Hanna Bree, Blue Hill Market, Pocantico Hills, N.Y.; Donna Daniels, Social Venture Network, San Francisco; David Gagnon, Organic Trade Association, Brattleboro, Vt.; Nicole Kagan, City Harvest, New York; Tim Metzger, Tillen Farms, New York; John Raiche, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), Providence, R.I.; Errol Schweizer, Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas.
About Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association is a thriving community of food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs who bring craft, care and joy to the distinctive foods they produce. Established in 1952 in New York, the not-for-profit trade association provides its 3,000 members in the U.S. and abroad the tools, knowledge and connections to champion and nurture their companies in an always-evolving marketplace. The Association (formerly the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc.) owns and produces the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Show, and presents the sofi Awards honoring excellence in specialty food. Learn more at specialtyfood.com
Source: Specialty Food Association
