NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade announced winners of the 36^th annual sofi™ Awards for outstanding products of 2008 at its 54^th Summer Fancy Food Show last night. The awards were presented by noted chef and cookbook author Jacques Pépin during a ceremony at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The sofi awards recognize excellence in specialty foods and beverages in 32 categories, and are considered a coveted industry honor.

“The winners of this year’s sofi awards are evidence that our members continue to create distinctive products that delight consumers,” said Ann Daw, president of the NASFT. “That is part of why our industry remains resilient in this challenging economy,” she added.

This year’s contest was the most vibrant yet, with a record 2,191 entries. The field was narrowed to 150 Silver Finalists over four days of judging this spring by an independent panel of specialty food experts. Gold winners were selected by more than 400 retailers and foodservice buyers attending the Summer Fancy Food Show, which began Sunday and ends today. Winners learned of their honor at the ceremony, where they were presented with a gold statue of a chef. “sofi” stands for specialty outstanding food innovation.

The winners are:

Outstanding New Product: Transatlantic Foods, Aux Délices des Bois Black Truffle Butter

Outstanding Appetizer, Antipasto, Salsa or Dip: Robert Lambert, Dark Cherries Preserved in Merlot Syrup

Outstanding Baked Good, Baking Ingredient or Cereal: Callie's Charleston Biscuits, Callie's Charleston Biscuits - Cheese

Outstanding Cheese or Dairy Product: Coach Farm Triple Cream Goat Cheese

Outstanding Chocolate: Brandini Toffee, Brandini Toffee

Outstanding Cold Beverage: SAAF Ginger Beverage Company, Gingernize®™ Ginger Lemonade Rush™

Outstanding Condiment: Rolls Enterprises, Kerala Curry Tomato Chutney

Outstanding Confection: Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier, Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas

Outstanding Cookie: Minnie Beasley's, Almond Lace Gourmet Cookies

Outstanding Cooking Sauce or Flavor Enhancer: TIE

• Delicae Gourmet: Strawberry Zinfandel Balsamic Glaze
• Sukhi's Quick - N - Ezee Gourmet Indian Food, Tikka Masala Paste

Outstanding Cracker: Mary's Gone Crackers, Mary's Gone Crackers Original

Outstanding Dessert or Dessert Topping: Shootflying Hill Sauce Company, Salty Butterscotch Dessert Sauce

Outstanding Diet or Lifestyle Product: Organic Nectars, Raw Agave Gelato Pistachio

Outstanding Food Gift: The Seasoned Palate, dba tsp spices, tsp spices Sweet Basic

Outstanding Frozen Savory: Good Wives®, division of Innovative Foods, Mushroom Profiteroles

Outstanding Hot Beverage: Sarabeth's Kitchen, Hot Chocolate Parisienne

Outstanding Innovation in Packaging Design or Function: Knipschildt Chocolatier, Petit Egg Sampler

Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Honey or Nut Butter: Barefoot Contessa, Lemon Curd

Outstanding Meat, Pate or Seafood, The CheeseWorks: Ortiz Conservas Boquerones Marinated White Anchovies

Outstanding Non-Food Specialty Item: Twist, Twist® European sponge Cloth #20

Outstanding Oil: Stella Cadente Olive Oil Company, Basil Oil

Outstanding Pasta Sauce: Nuovo Pasta Productions: Roasted Portabella and Truffle Gourmet Sauce

Outstanding Pasta, Rice or Grain: Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company: Port Clyde Lobster Mac & Cheese

Outstanding Perishable Foodservice Product: Good Wives®, division of Innovative Foods: Beef Wellington

Outstanding Pet Product: Big Bark Bakery, Mega Bite Peanut Treat

Outstanding Product Line: Vermont Butter & Cheese Company: Vermont Butter & Cheese Company

Outstanding Salad Dressing: Stonewall Kitchen, Balsamic Fig Dressing

Outstanding Shelf-Stable Foodservice Product: Sweetfields: Wild Strawberry SweetCrystal PLUS Pansies

Outstanding Snack Food: Route 11 Potato Chips, Sweet Potato Chips

Outstanding Soup, Stew, Bean or Chili: Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company, Spruce Head Smoked Scallop Lobster Bisque

Outstanding USDA-Approved Organic Product: Blackwell's Organic Gelato, Raspberry Sorbetto

Outstanding Vinegar: Lettieri & Company, Giuseppe Riccardo Balsamic Vinegar

The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,800 members in the U.S. and abroad. For further information on the NASFT and its Fancy Food Shows, go to www.specialtyfood.com.

NASFT Media Contacts:
Ron Tanner, VP Communications & Education
646-878-0115
rtanner@nasft.org
or
Louise Kramer, Communications Director
646-878-0130
lkramer@nasft.org