Specialty Food Association Names sofi Winners

Since 1972, the sofi Awards have helped the Specialty Food Association advance culinary excellence and creativity worldwide by recognizing the outstanding work of its members. 

From mouthwatering sauces to delectable desserts to savory snacks, these 2016 honorees were chosen from more 3,200 entries by a national panel of culinary experts in a blind tasting. Those that reach the level of winners and finalists serve as ambassadors for the industry and represent the best of what specialty food has to offer.

In all, the 2016 sofi Awards Honorees include 28 winners and 100 finalists across 28 categories. For a list of all finalists, click here.

"This year's sofi Awards winners and finalists illustrate the vibrancy of the specialty food industry," said Laura Santella-Saccone, chief marketing officer for the Specialty Food Association. "Each one reflects the passion and creativity Association members bring to the food they present to American, and international, food lovers."

A sofi is the top honor in the $120.5 billion specialty food industry. "sofi" stands for outstanding specialty food innovation.

For two weeks in May the judges tasted and evaluated each product and scored the entries on excellence of taste and ingredients. In all, 46 judges including chefs, culinary instructors, recipe developers, food journalists and specialty food buyers who are experts in particular categories such as cheese and oil, participated in the selection process. 

The 2016 sofi Awards honorees will be celebrated at the Summer Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center in New York. The show, owned and produced by the Specialty Food Association, is the largest marketplace for specialty food and beverages in North America.

The show will feature displays of all 2016 sofi Awards winners and finalists, and the winners will be highlighted in special showcases at the event's opening night party at the Javits Center from 5 to 7 p.m. June 26.

Winners by category are:

Appetizer: Brussizzle Sprouts by Pacific Pickle Works

Baking Ingredient, Baking Mix or Flavor Enhancer: Coriander Lime Global Fusion Rub by The Spice Hunter

Breads, Muffins, Granola or Cereal: Ginger Hemp Granola by Michele’s Granola

Cheese: Bijou by Vermont Creamery

Chocolate: Money on Honey by Droga Chocolates

Cold Beverage: No. 3 Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour by Bittermilk

Condiment: Non-GMO Salted Caramel Fig Spread by King’s Cupboard

Confection: Sea Salt & Vanilla Farmstead Goat Milk Caramels by Big Picture Farm

Cookies, Brownies, Cakes or Pie: Holly Baking Cookie Brittle Cinnamon & Spice by Moon Dance Baking

Cooking, Dipping or Finishing Sauce: Barnier Pimento Sauce with Preserved Lemon by FoodMatch

Cracker: Cranberry Pistachio “The Original” by Jan’s Farmhouse Crisps

Dairy or Dairy Alternative: Organic Cocoa Coconut Butter by Epicurean Butter

Dessert Toppings, Sauces and Syrup: Bourbon Matured Maple Syrup by BLiS

Hot Beverage: Single Origin Drinking Chocolate 72 Percent Belize, Toledo by Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate

Ice Cream, Gelato, Frozen Treat: Ripe Mango Sorbetto by Gelato Fiasco

Jam, Preserve, Honey, Nut Butter: Cioccomiel by Marcelli Formaggi

Meat, Påté, Seafood: Fermín Ibérico Pork Dry-Cured Chorizo Sausage Spicy by Fermin USA

New Product: Radicchio, Parsnip & Apricot Ravioli by La Pasta

Oil: Stöger Organic Austrian Pumpkin Seed Oil by Los Chileros

Pasta Sauce: Pianogrillo Sicilian Cherry Tomato Sauce by Gustiamo

Pasta, Rice and Grain: Pastifico Artigianale Leonardo Carassai by Bravo 

International

Salad Dressing: North African Chermoula Dressing by Wozz! Kitchen Creations

Salsa or Dip: Pumpkin Seed Salsa by American Spoon Foods

Savory Snack: Hickory Smoked Spicy Candied Bacon by Little Red Dot Kitchen

Soup, Stew, Bean or Chili: Dinner Tonight Black Bean Tortilla Chili Mix by Backyard Safari

Sweet Snack: Organic Coconut Snacks by Creative Snacks

Vegan or Gluten-Free Products: ParmCrisps Mini Aged Parmesan Crisps by Kitchen Table Bakers

Vinegar: Balsamic Nectar by Boulder Flavours