NEW YORK (June 29, 2015) – Raspberry Rhubarb Goat Milk Caramels from Big Picture Farm in Townshend, Vt., is the winner of the sofi™ Award for outstanding new product of 2015. The confection is one of 33 winners in the annual competition which honors excellence across all specialty food categories, from appetizers to pastas to vinegar.
The winners were announced Monday night at a red-carpet awards ceremony at the 61st Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. Ted Allen, host of Food Network's Chopped delivered a keynote address, and the coveted gold sofi chef statues were handed out by Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, a popular Chopped judge.
This year's winners were selected from 2,715 entries across 32 awards categories. The final voting ended Monday morning at the show. A sofi is considered the top accolade in the $109-billion specialty food industry. "sofi" stands for specialty outstanding food innovation.
The winners are:
Outstanding Appetizer, Antipasto, or Hors d 'Oeuvres
Lone Mountain Wagyu: 100% Fullblood Wagyu Beef Summer Sausage
Outstanding Baking Ingredient, Baking Mix, or Flavor Enhancer
Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods: Blood Orange Olive Oil Brownie Kit
Outstanding Bread, Muffin, Granola, or Cereal
Callies Charleston Biscuits: Cheese and Chive Biscuits
Outstanding Cheese
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.: Bay Blue
Outstanding Chocolate
Laurie & Sons: Dangerously Delicious Black Licorice Chocolate Toffee
Outstanding Classic Product
Vermont Creamery: Cultured Butter Sea Salt Basket
Outstanding Cold Beverage
Owl's Brew: White and Vine
Outstanding Condiment
Sir Kensington's: Special Sauce
Outstanding Confection
Big Picture Farm: Goat Milk Chai Caramels
Outstanding Cookie Brownie, Cake, or Pie
Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery: Organic Molten Chocolate Cake – Dark Decadence
Outstanding Cooking, Dipping, or Finishing Sauce
TIE CHarissa: Authentic Moroccan Seasoning, Kitchens of Africa: Zanzibar
Outstanding Cracker
Grains of Health: Laiki Black Rice Crackers
Outstanding Dairy or Dairy Alternative Product
Bellwether Farms: Blackberry Sheep Milk Yogurt
Outstanding Dessert Sauce, Topping, or Syrup
Coop's MicroCreamery: Salted Caramel Sauce
Outstanding Foodservice Product
Crown Maple: Grade A Very Dark Color Strong Taste Maple Syrup
Outstanding Frozen Savory
Callie's Charleston Biscuits: Country Ham Biscuits
Outstanding Hot Beverage
Tea Forte: Vanilla Pear Tea
Outstanding Ice Cream, Gelato, or Frozen Treat
Steve's Ice Cream: Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream
Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Honey, or Nut Butter
Manicaretti Italian Food Imports: Sicilian Pistachio Spread
Outstanding Meat, Pâté, or Seafood
Fra' Mani Handcrafted Foods: Salametto Piccante
Outstanding Oil
Culinary Collective: Castillo de Canena Smoked Arbequina Olive Oil
Outstanding Pasta, Rice, or Grain
Nella Pasta: Corn, Caramelized Onion & Thyme Ravioli
Outstanding Pasta Sauce
Sauces 'n Love: Pumpkin and Kale Alfredo Sauce
Outstanding Salad Dressing
Nago Foods: Cracked Sesame Miso
Outstanding Salsa or Dip
Wozz! Kitchen Creations: Kiwi Lime Salsa Verde
Outstanding Savory Snack
Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods: Sweet Chili Chickpea Chips
Outstanding Soup, Stew, Bean, or Chili
Cook San Francisco: Nona Lim Thai Curry and Lime Broth
Outstanding Sweet Snack
Pipsnacks: Kettle Pipcorn
Outstanding Vegan or Gluten-Free Product
Tate's Bake Shop: Gluten Free Ginger Zinger Cookie
Outstanding Vinegar
Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods: Organic Apple Balsamic Vinegar
Outstanding Product Line
Fat Toad Farm: Farmstead Goat's Milk Caramel
Outstanding New Product
Big Picture Farm: Raspberry Rhubarb Goat Milk Caramels
The sofi Awards contest, now in its 43rd year, is open to members of the Specialty Food Association, owner and producer of the Summer Fancy Food Show. In the spring, a national panel of specialty food professionals and food journalists selected the finalists over eight full days of tastings at the Specialty Food Association's offices in New York.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the judging, including photos, stats, and trends, view Specialty Food News' live blog coverage
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 Awardshonoring excellence in specialty food. Learn more at specialtyfood.com.
Specialty Food Association Media Contact:
Louise Kramer, Public Relations Director, 646-878-0130, lkramer@specialtyfood.com
Facebook: facebook.com/craftcarejoy
Twitter: twitter.com/craftcarejoy #sofiawards; #SFFS15
LinkedIn: Specialty Food. Craft. Care. Joy.
Pinterest: pinterest.com/craftcarejoy
Instagram: craftcarejoy
Source: Specialty Food Association
