Top Specialty Foods of 2016 Crowned by Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association has named the winners of the 2016 sofi Awards.

The 2016 sofi Awards winners include flavors of North Africa, Southern Italy and virtually every region of the U.S. Pumpkin seeds, honey and bacon make several appearances on the list of winners and finalists. The latest vegan darling, aquafaba, or chickpea water, made the list, as did chicken fat and coconut sugar. 

The Specialty Association has named the winners of the prestigious 2016 sofi Awards.
The 2016 sofi Awards winners include flavors of North Africa, Southern Italy and virtually every region of the U.S. Pumpkin seeds, honey, and bacon make several appearances on the list of winners and finalists. The latest vegan darling, aquafaba, or chickpea water, made the list, as did chicken fat and coconut sugar. 

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 sauces to desserts to savory snacks, the 2016 honorees were chosen from a record 3,200 entries by a national panel of culinary experts in a blind tasting. Those that reach the level of sofi Winner and Finalist 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. The list of Winners and Finalists can be found here. 

"This year's sofi Awards Winners and Finalists illustrate the vibrancy of the specialty food industry," says Laura Santella-Saccone, chiefs 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 2016 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, June 26-28.