It was a caramel maker from Townshend, Vt. that took home this year’s top sofi Award at the Summer Fancy Food Show.
The Raspberry Rhubarb Goat Milk Caramels from Big Picture Farm were named the most outstanding new product of 2015.
The confection is one of 33 winners in the annual competition, which honors excellence across all specialty food categories, from appetizers to pastas to vinegar.
The winners were announced June 29 at a red-carpet awards ceremony at the 61st Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.
Ted Allen, host of Food Network's Chopped delivered a keynote address, and the coveted gold sofi chef statues were handed out by Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, a popular Chopped judge.
This year's winners were selected from 2,715 entries and the final voting ended at the trade show.
A sofi is considered the top accolade in the $109-billion specialty food industry, with "sofi" standing for specialty outstanding food innovation.
The sofi Awards contest, now in its 43rd year, is open to members of the Specialty Food Association, owner and producer of the Summer Fancy Food Show.
In the spring, a national panel of specialty food professionals and food journalists selected the finalists over eight full days of tastings at the Specialty Food Association's offices in New York.
Below is a look at all of the confectionery and snack companies that took home top honors. To find a full list of all the soif winners visit the Speciality Food website.
Outstanding Baking Ingredient Baking Mix, or Flavor Enhancer
Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods:Blood Orange Olive Oil Brownie Kit
Outstanding Chocolate
Laurie & Sons: Dangerously Delicious Black Licorice Chocolate Toffee
Outstanding Confection
Big Picture Farm: Goat Milk Chai Caramels
Outstanding Cookie Brownie, Cake, or Pie
Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery: Organic Molten Chocolate Cake - Dark Decadence
Outstanding Cracker
Grains of Health: Laiki Black Rice Crackers
Outstanding Dessert Sauce, Topping, or Syrup
Coop's MicroCreamery: Salted Caramel Sauce
Outstanding Savory Snack
Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods: Sweet Chili Chickpea Chips
Outstanding Sweet Snack
Pipsnacks: Kettle Pipcorn
Outstanding Vegan or Gluten-Free Product
Tate's Bake Shop: Gluten Free Ginger Zinger Cookie
Outstanding Product Line
Fat Toad Farm: Farmstead Goat's Milk Caramel
Outstanding New Product
Big Picture Farm: Raspberry Rhubarb Goat Milk Caramels
