Websterville, VT — Vermont Creamery was recognized for excellence this week, winning the specialty food industry’s highest honor—a gold sofi Award for its Bijou aged goat cheese; Bonne Bouche was honored as a finalist.
“We’re so proud to be honored amongst our industry peers and recognized for our commitment to innovation and excellence, said Allison Hooper, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Vermont Creamery.
“The Gold Sofi Award is a wonderful testament to our entire team’s efforts as we continue to grow our business and perfect our craft,” said Bob Reese, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Vermont Creamery.
Bijou was one of 28 winners from over 3,200 entries in the Specialty Food Industry’s prestigious competition. Every eligible entry to the sofi Awards was carefully assessed by a panel of passionate and knowledgeable food professionals including chefs, culinary experts, academics, food writers, and category buyers.
This is the third sofi Award Bijou has won in six years, with a win for Outstanding Foodservice Product in 2010 and Best Perishable Food Service Product in 2014. Bijou has also received top accolades from the American Cheese Society and the World Cheese Awards in previous years.
“A sofi means a product, and the people behind it, have arrived,” says Laura Santella-Saccone, chief marketing officer for the Specialty Food Association.”
On the market since 2006, Bijou is French for “jewel” and epitomizes all that is special about goats’ milk and the making and caring for a small cheese. This geotrichum-rinded cheese has a unique sweet and yeasty flavor. Made with fresh pasteurized goats’ milk from family farms, Bijou curd coagulates overnight, drains in cheese cloth and is then shaped into little buttons. Dried, and ripened for one week, Bijou evolves with time, gaining a sharpness and complexity after thirty days.
About Vermont Creamery
Combining the European tradition of cheesemaking with Vermont’s terroir, Vermont Creamery’s line of fresh and aged goat cheeses, cultured butter, and crème fraîche have won over 100 national and international awards. In their 32nd year of business, Vermont Creamery supports a network of more than 15 family farms, promoting sustainable agriculture in the region. B Corp Certified in 2014, Vermont Creamery is the founder of Ayers Brook Goat Dairy, the country’s first demonstration goat dairy. For more information, visit www.vermontcreamery.com.
Source: Vermont Creamery
