NEW YORK (May 14, 2025) – The Specialty Food Association is thrilled to announce and celebrate the winners of its Leadership, Hall of Fame, and Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2025. Collectively known as the “People Awards,” these three programs recognize individuals who have shaped and are currently shaping the $207-billion specialty food industry.
This year, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) has adjusted the categories for the Leadership Awards, making room for two new award types: Next Generation Leader, of which there are three winners for 2025, and Volunteer of the Year, recognizing someone who has directly contributed to the Association’s success.
This year’s honorees are:
2025 Leadership Awards
Equity & Opportunity: Felicia Vieira, Crafted Brand Company
Citizenship: Collette Divitto, Collettey’s Cookie Corp.
Vision & Sustainability: Ayissi Nyembe, EMKAO FOODS
Outstanding Buyer: Holly Long, Whole Foods Market
Next Generation Leader: Caroline McGinley, Gringuita Cookies
Next Generation Leader: Devin Powell, Protein Candy
Next Generation Leader: Rina Perrault, Sun World International
Volunteer of the Year: Sarabjit Sawhney, South Amboy Kitchen, LLC
Click here to learn more about the 2025 Leadership Award winners.
2025 Hall of Fame
Case D. Fischer, Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods, Inc.
Patrick Ford, Bone Suckin’ Sauce
Karta Owens, Associated Buyers, Inc.
Kerry Bamberger, BWI, Inc.
Mitchell Berliner, MeatCrafters, Inc.
Matt Nielsen, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Heather Paul, Specialty Food Association
Norm Jelsma, Milo’s Whole Gourmet, LLC
Click here to get to know the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees.
2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Annie Chun, Annie Chun’s, Inc./gimme Health Foods, Inc.
Stephen Broad, Annie Chun’s, Inc./gimme Health Foods, Inc.
Becky Renfro-Borbolla, Renfro Foods, Inc.
Doug Renfro, Renfro Foods, Inc.
Pamela Barefoot, Blue Crab Bay Co.
James Stott, Stonewall Kitchen
Jonathan King, Stonewall Kitchen
Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman’s
Click here to explore the bios for the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
"One of our most important roles at SFA is celebrating the specialty food industry's successes, and the people behind them. We're proud to recognize accomplished leaders each year through our People Awards programs," said Bill Lynch, SFA President. "This year, with the launch of the Next Generation Leader, and Volunteer of the Year Awards, we're evolving to reflect today's SFA. Congratulations and thank you to all the honorees!"
All 2025 honorees will be recognized at a special SFA People Awards ceremony, taking place on Monday, June 30th, at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City and hosted by Jeni Britton, co-founder of Floura and founder of SFA member brand Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
The Summer Fancy Food Show—June 29-July 1 at NYC’s Javits Center—will showcase thousands of specialty food products from domestic and international exhibitors, educational programming, networking opportunities, and more. Registration for the Show is open now for qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates, and journalists. For more information, please click here.
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About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $207-billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 4,000 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by producing events, programs, and year-round resources and education. SFA owns and operates the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire*, and the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. SFA also produces the e-newsletter Specialty Food SmartBrief, the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions, and Show reports. Find out more at Specialtyfood.com, and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.
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