Celebrating Culinary Excellence: The 2026 sofi™ Gold Awards Finalists Announced

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has recently unveiled the finalists for the esteemed 2026 sofi™ Awards, recognizing exceptional products throughout 25 diverse categories spanning snacks, beverages, cheeses, and frozen goods. This exciting announcement precedes the highly anticipated Winter FancyFaire event, set to take place from January 11-13, 2026. The shortlisted finalists not only represent innovation and quality, but they also provide a glimpse into the upcoming trends that are poised to shape the specialty food and beverage industry in the coming year.

Since their inception in 1972, the sofi™ Awards have stood as one of the most prestigious honors in the culinary world. Winners are chosen by a discerning panel of leading industry buyers who assess entries based on flavor, ingredient quality, and innovation. This year, the competition intensified as SFA introduced a refined selection of 25 Gold Award categories, including Frozen and Prepared Foods, Charcuterie Meats, Nonalcoholic Beverages, and more.

A total of 1,284 entries were submitted, culminating in the selection of 75 Gold finalists and three finalists for the Outstanding Packaging Design category. Among the impressive list of nominees, the highlights include:

Alcoholic Beverages

- Bittermilk LLC – Bourbon Barrel Aged Manhattan Mixer
- Bittermilk LLC – Gingerbread Old Fashioned Mixer
- Earl's Big Idea, LLC – IMPROVED WHISKEY COCKTAIL

Baking Ingredients

- Dufour Pastry Kitchens, Inc. – Gluten-Free All Butter Puff Pastry
- Flour Olive LLC – Ginger Scratch Olive Oil Cake Mix
- Top Seedz LLC – Bake-At-Home Seed Crackers Sea Salt

Charcuterie Meats

- Elevation Charcuterie and Artisan Meats LLC – Cecina
- Fra' Mani Handcrafted Foods – Rosemary Ham
- True Story Foods – True Story Heritage Breed Prosciutto

Cheese

- Dutch Cheese Makers Corp. – Artikaas Vintage Lot 36 Month Aged Gouda
- Marieke Gouda – Marieke Gouda Reserve Gouda Aged 1000+ Days
- Vermont Creamery – Bijou

Frozen Prepared Foods

- Lettieri Co. Ltd. – Monte Pollino Pizza Napoletana - Burrata
- Lily Maude's LLC – Lily Maude's Double Chocolate Brownie Slow Churned Ice Cream
- Fazlani Exports Pvt Ltd – Food Earth A Perfect Marriage Tomato Coconut Soup

The list goes on, showcasing an array of talent from up-and-coming brands to established favorites. Each finalist demonstrates a commitment to excellence, adhering to the highest standards of innovation and taste.

Leana Salamah, SVP of Marketing and Communications at SFA, remarked, “The sofi Awards set the expectations for innovation in the food and beverage sector, while the Winter FancyFaire reveals the latest trends on the horizon.” She added, “Our finalist products received exceptional scores from buyers who possess keen insights into the current culinary landscape and future preferences.”

The sofi award winners will be publicly announced at Winter FancyFaire, where attendees—comprised of buyers, investors, industry press, and manufacturers—will gather in anticipation on January 12 from 4-6 p.m. This marks a crucial moment in the specialty food industry, as five Grand Honors winners will be named along with a Gold Award for each category based on the overall highest score. Additionally, the products from finalists will be available for sampling at the First Taste Table, ensuring attendees have a chance to experience these innovative offerings firsthand.

Participation in this exclusive event is limited to qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates, and media representatives. To explore more about the event, secure exhibit space, or register to attend, those interested can visit www.winterfancyfaire.com.

About Specialty Food Association

Founded in 1952, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) is a not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to promoting the $219-billion specialty food industry. Representing over 4,000 businesses globally, SFA plays a crucial role in advocating for industry success, facilitating events, programs, and year-round resources and education. The organization manages notable events such as the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire, and the historic sofi™ Awards, which celebrate achievement in specialty food and beverage since 1972. More information can be found at Specialtyfood.com and on various social media platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.