Caramelized Macadamia Nuts Enrobed in White Chocolate, Madagascar Vanilla, and Cocoa
Impress Judges
Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2026 – BUBÓ Barcelona, maker of artisan chocolates and pastries, is proud to announce that its Macadam has been named a finalist in the Chocolate category of the Specialty Food Association (SFA)’s 2027 sofi Awards, an annual celebration of the best specialty food products of the year.
Macadam combines caramelized, roasted macadamia nuts with white chocolate, Madagascar vanilla and Camargue fleur de sel, finished with a fine dusting of cocoa powder. Its crisp center and smooth chocolate coating bring together sweet, salty and toasted notes.
Standing for “specialty outstanding food innovation,” the sofi Awards have put a spotlight on excellence in specialty food and beverage since 1972 and are considered the top honor in the $219-billion specialty food industry.
“Being named a sofi Gold Award finalist is a great honor for our team,” said Kiko Muñoz, CEO of BUBÓ Barcelona. “Macadam reflects our approach to chocolate: carefully chosen ingredients and a balance of flavor and texture. We are delighted to share this recognition with everyone who helps bring our creations from Barcelona to chocolate lovers around the world.”
Macadam stood out among more than 1,000 entries, judged by an expert panel of specialty food buyers in a rigorous blind tasting process. Products were evaluated based on flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation. 75 products that received the highest marks across these criteria advanced as Gold Award finalists.
BUBÓ Barcelona uses Original Beans chocolate, chosen for its flavor and commitment to responsible sourcing. Original Beans combines traceable cacao with short ingredient lists and no additives, lecithin or added flavorings in its chocolate recipes. Its sourcing model supports cacao growers through long-term partnerships and premium prices, while its agroforestry approach and One4One Trees program support biodiversity, forest restoration and tree protection in cacao-growing regions.
The recognition comes after a busy and productive year for BUBÓ Barcelona, focused on developing its international presence and introducing its artisan chocolates to new audiences. “This honor will help us introduce BUBÓ Barcelona to more specialty food buyers and open new retail opportunities in the United States and other international markets,” Muñoz said. “In the coming months, we plan to build on this recognition by working with our distribution partners to bring Macadam and our wider chocolate collection to more customers.”
BUBÓ Barcelona's award-nominated Macadam and select artisan chocolates are available in the United States through exclusive importer Manicaretti. For Manicaretti, this recognition is especially meaningful as the company continues to champion exceptional artisan producers from Spain, France, and beyond, guided by the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship that has defined its Italian food portfolio since 1988.
For more information on how to order and where to buy in the United States, visit manicaretti.com. Attendees at Winter FancyFaire* 2027 can sample Macadam at Manicaretti Italian Food Imports, Booth 3167.
About BUBÓ Barcelona
Founded in Barcelona in June 2005, BUBÓ Barcelona creates artisan chocolates, pastries and confectionery with a focus on quality ingredients and distinctive presentation. Bubó gained worldwide recognition after winning “Best Chocolate Cake in the World” at the World Pastry Cup in Lyon for its iconic Xabina cake, helping establish the brand as one of Spain’s most distinctive voices in contemporary pastry. Its chocolate range includes Chocofruits, bonbons, chocolate bars and sculptural creations. The brand brings the creativity of Barcelona’s pastry tradition to chocolate lovers in Spain and international markets.
For more information, visit www.bubo.es or follow @bubobarcelona on Instagram (www.instagram.com/bubobarcelona) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/bubobarcelona).
Media Contact For Manicaretti:
Rena Kolhede
[email protected]