2024 sofi™ Awards

Honoring creativity and great taste since 1972

The 2024 sofi entry period is now closed. Thanks to all who submitted and we will announce the Gold winners in mid-May!

Food's most coveted prize is back and bigger than ever.


What to Know About the  sofi Competition

The Specialty Food Association’s sofi™ Awards have been honoring the best in specialty food for over 50 years. Winning a sofi Award brings with it exposure to food buyers from top names in supermarkets, specialty retailers, foodservice, and distributors, as well as the press.

The 2024 sofi Awards include some notable changes, implemented by SFA based on feedback from our members.

  • The Award levels have been simplified. There will be just one winner in each of 49 categories, who will take home the Gold Award.
  • An expanded slate of five Grand Honors Awards will be presented live at the sofi Awards Gala during the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City:
     
    • Product of the Year—Food
       
    • Product of the Year—Beverage
       
    • Outstanding New Product
       
    • Outstanding Classic
       
    • Outstanding Packaging Design
       

Food Experts and Buyers Select the sofi Winners

SFA works with the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC) to manage the judging. Through anonymous tastings, FIC experts as well as specialty food buyers, journalists, and influencers will evaluate the 2024 product entries.

A detailed process assesses entrants across 49 categories for their flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation.

Learn more about the sofi Awards judging process.


What You Receive When You Win a sofi

  • Promotion at Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Shows attended by thousands of food buyers from all channels:
     
    • 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, June 23-25, 2024
       
    • 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show, in Las Vegas, January 19-21, 2025
       
  • Inclusion in the SFA sofi Media Blitz:
     
    • SFA Press Release promoting all winners distributed to 400+ members of the trade media
       
    • Online galleries of winning products on specialtyfood.com (161k monthly users)
       
    • Special section in the summer edition of Specialty Food magazine (34k subscribers)
       
    • Features in SFA News Daily (45k daily subscribers)
       
    • Announcements of 2024 winners across all SFA social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
       
  • sofi Branding Rights:
     
    • Exclusive right to use the sofi™ logo in marketing promotion and on packaging
       
    • sofi digital toolkit to help you promote your product
       
  • sofi Trophy:
     
    • A physical sofi trophy that you can display at your business and bring to food events where you exhibit—a recognized symbol of excellence and innovation.

A sofi Award is more than a trophy for your shelf–it’s a doorway to invaluable business opportunities and global recognition.