The National Assn. for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) in May announced its 2023 Sofi Awards, which “recognize innovation and remarkable taste, and to highlight the flavors and the creativity found across our industry.”
The Sofi (stands for "specialty outstanding food innovation") Awards each year honor the most innovative specialty food products. Judging is based on innovation, quality, pricing, packaging and ingredient list. They’ve been given at the Fancy Food Show since 1972.
“Thousands of products are reviewed annually at the Specialty Food Assn. headquarters in New York City by a national panel of culinary experts,” the association says. “Every year, Sofi products are celebrated and showcased at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York and the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.”
As you’ll see below, there are 51 individual product categories. In each, the first winner is tops overall, the second name is best new product. For pictures of the winners, see shopspecialtyfood.balluun.com/en-us/custom/sofi-winners-23.
Alcoholic Beverages & Cocktail Mixes
Cocktail Cubes - Orange Blossom by Flouwer Co.
Seraphim Social Beverage ~ CACAO Calm + Clear. Non-alcoholic by Seraphim Beverages, LLC
Appetizers & Snacks
Lobster Grilled Cheese Appetizers by Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co.
Domasen Burek Pie with Cheese by Max's Imports
Baked Goods - Bakery Desserts
Cappuccino Mousse Mason Jar Dessert by Taste It Presents
Peach-Lavender Bundtlet by Lily Maude's
Baking Mixes / Pastry Doughs, Flours & Grain, Baking Inclusions, Decorations & Toppings, Fats & Functional Ingredients
French Almond Cake Mix by Haversack Sales
Everything Scone Mix by Stonewall Kitchen
Barbeque Sauce
Barbeque Sauce by Mighty Quinn's Barbeque
Beans, Grains, Rice & Mixes
Thai Lime and Herb Rice by VeeTee Foods
Jasberry Organic Superfood Rice by Source Atlantique, Inc.
Breads
Cheese and Chive Biscuits by Callie's Charleston Biscuits LLC
Methi Roti by Arya International LLC
Breakfast Foods
Chocolate Hazelnut & Cheese Blintzes by Alexandra Foods
Chocolate & Zucchini Mini Waffles by Make Each Day Delicious LLC
Cereals & Granola
Original Blend Granola by For Good Granola
Chocolate Chile with Tart Cherries by For Good Granola
Cheese - Cow Milk
Raw Cow's Milk Blue Cheese by Sweet Grass Dairy
Reserve Gouda by Holland's Family Cheese LLC
Cheese - Non-Cow Milk, Mixed Milk
Spreadable Goat Cheese – Fig by Belle Chevre, Inc.
Strawberry Spritz Goat Cheese by Vermont Creamery
Chips, Pretzels, Rice Cakes & Salty Snacks
Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips Made with Avocado Oil by Jackson's Food Company
La Vie en Rose. Rose Pedals and Fleur de Sel Potato Chips by Sal de Ibiza GmbH
Chocolate - Dark
Organic Haiti 70% Dark Chocolate Bar by Bixby & Co., LLC
Chocolate - Milk And White
Maine Grains Organic Oat Milk Chocolate Bar by Bixby & Co., LLC
Chocolate Candy
Moroccan Spice with Lime by CocoTutti Chocolates
Bourbon Pecan Toffee by St. Croix Chocolate Company
Coffee & Hot Cocoa (Non-Ready-To-Drink)
Single Origin (Ghana) Hot Chocolate by deZaan Cocoa
Gourmet Drip Coffee by Tertulia Brugge, S.A.
Condiments, Dressings & Marinades
Dill Pickle Ketchup with Bourbon by Milo's Whole World Gourmet,LLC
Thai Spicy Chili Sauce by Thai Culinary Arts Studio
Confectionery (Non-Chocolate)
Spicy Chili Beer Brittle by Bixby & Co., LLC
Probiotic Strawberry Yoggies by Cibo Vita Inc
Cookies & Snack Bars
Corn Biscuit by Effie's Homemade, LLC
Cookie - Oatmeal Cream Pie by Mr. Crumbles' Delectables
Crackers & Crispbreads
Artisanal Crackers - No.1 by Flouwer Co.
French Butter Crackers with Roquefort and Honey by Epicure Foods Corp.
Dessert Toppings
Bourbon Caramel Sauce by Caramel Kitchen
Dark Chocolate + Peppermint Sauce by Sunday Night Foods LLC
Entrees, Lunch, Dinner
Thin & Crispy Cauliflower Crust Pizza – Meat Lover’s Trio 2 Pack by Milton's Craft Bakers
Aged Cheddar & Beer Macaroni & Cheese by Cabot Creamery Cooperative
Frozen Desserts
Raspberry Cheesecake & Chocolate Crust by McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
Vegan Passionfruit Mochi Ice Cream by Mochidoki
Fruit Spreads, Jams & Jellies
Cherry Shiraz Jam by Fruit of the Land Products
Xoconostle Spread (Wild Sour Prickly Pear Spread) by Coma Gourmet Foods LLC
Fruits & Vegetables
Street Corn by Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Niagara Pears by Fruit of the Land Products
Functional Beverages
Hibiscus Energy drink with Honey by Source Atlantique, Inc.
Hot Sauce
Ethiopia by Clark and Hopkins, LLC
Jerky & Meat Snacks
Pepperoni by Lettieri & Co. Ltd.
Parmesan Salami Minis - Uncured Italian Salami by Creminelli Fine Meats
Juices & Beverages
Cherry Lemonade by Tabletree Montana, LLC
Tangerine, Pineapple, Sweet Basil, Orange, and Aloe Juice by Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company
Meat And Poultry
Dry Cured Prosciutto by Creminelli Fine Meats
Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon by North Country Smokehouse
Nut And Other Oils
Cold Pressed Grapeseed Oil by Salute Santé!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Pressed with Whole Bergamots by Manicaretti Italian Food Imports
Nut, Seed & Confectionery Butters
Chocolate Raspberry Honey Cream Spread by BumbleBerry Farms LLC
Vanilla Caramel Almond & Cashew Butter by Big Spoon Roasters
Nuts, Seeds, Trail Mix, Dried Fruit
Dried Mandarin Orange Segments with Chili by KIN DEE TRADING Co., Ltd.
"The Grinders" Organic California Grown Dates by Rancho Meladuco, LLC
Olive Oils
Extra virgin olive oil - P.D.O. Monte Etna – Organic by Manfredi Barbera & Figli S.p.A.
First Crush Olive Oil by FoodMatch, Inc.
Other Dairy
Salted Grass fed butter by Lewis Road Creamery Ltd.
Garlic & Herbs Butter Medallion by Fabrique Delices
Pasta & Noodles
Tagliolini Delicata by De Medici Imports, Ltd.
Busiate al Nero di Seppia by Bona Furtuna LLC
Pickles & Olives
Pickled Gherkins with Chili by Square Enterprises Corp.
Pickled Veggies The Garden Jar by N&H Foods
Plant Based – Other Dairy
Vegan Lemon Poppyseed by Clementine's Creamery
Plant Based Milk
Unsweetened Barista by Milkadamia
Plant Based Protein
Plant-Based Calamari by Jinka
Vegan Boneless Chicken Wings by Myrtle Greens
Salsa & Dips
Hot Roasted Pepper Spread by Max's Imports
Cilantro-Mint Indian Fusion Salsa by Khalsa Salsa
Sauces
Spanish Inspired Pasta Sauce by Ashlynn's Gourmet, Inc.
Tomato Passata / Tomato Puree by Pomi USA, Inc.
Seafood
Sardines with Lobster Oil by The French Farm
Petingas (Small Sardines) Brava by A Priori Specialty Food & Distribution
Seasoning & Spices
Garnishing Salt – Floral by Flouwer Co.
Fleur de Sel La Vie en Rose by Sal de Ibiza GmbH
Soda & Carbonated Beverages
Sparkling Oolong Tea Lychee by Brooklyn Food & Beverage, LLC
Soup
Mushroom Broth by Two River Gourmet Mushrooms LLC
White Miso Soup Concentrate by Yamasa Corporation USA
Sweeteners
Creamed Elderberry Honey by HoneyGramz
Hot Honey from Longan Flower by KIN DEE TRADING Co., Ltd.
Tea
Kusmi Tea BB Detox by Finesaler LLC
Control Sugar Delete Tea by AyurSome Foods LLC
Tea & Coffee (Ready-To-Drink)
Enlighten Mint Matcha Green Tea by Ashlynn's Gourmet, Inc.
Vinegars
Rosé Aged Balsamic vinegar by Babuni Inc.
Blueberry Pureevino Vinegar by Laconiko
Waters
Artesian water by Smeraldina Corporation
Wellness Bars & Gels
Cherry Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar by Big Spoon Roasters
Yogurt & Kefir
Meyer Lemon Yogurt by St. Benoit Creamery
Regenerative Organic Probiotic Kefir by Alexandre Family Farm LLC
