Ivy’s Gourmet, maker of artisanal, gluten free granola, is proud to announce that its Hazelnut Coffee granola has been named a Finalist for the Specialty Food Association’s 2026 sofi Awards, a distinguished honor recognizing the best specialty food products of the year.
The annual sofi Awards have celebrated excellence and innovation in specialty food since 1972. This year’s winners will be announced live in a ceremony at the Specialty Food Association (SFA)’s newest trade show, Winter FancyFaire*, January 11-13, 2026, in San Diego, California. “Being recognized as a sofi Finalist is a huge honor for myself and my team,” said Sarah Tamm, founder and owner of Ivy’s Gourmet in Stratford, CT. “We strive to bring high quality, small-batch granola to our customers which they can snack on straight from the bag. No gimmicks, no short-cuts, just clean ingredients with thoughtful flavor pairings.
Hazelnut Coffee granola stood out among more than 1,200 entries, judged by a panel of specialty food buyers in a blind tasting. Products were evaluated based on flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation. “There are thousands of food and beverage products that are sold on store shelves and yet amidst the multitude of options, these finalists have risen above their peers to receive top scores from our expert judging panel of buyers,” said Bill Lynch, president of the Specialty Food Association. “Congratulations to Ivy’s Gourmet and all the 2026 sofi Award Finalists!” A classic flavor combination, our Hazelnut Coffee granola is made with chopped hazelnuts, dark chocolate chunks and the highest quality coffee. Can be eaten over yogurt for breakfast or as a late night snack. Attendees at Winter FancyFaire* 2026 can sample their Hazelnut Coffee granola at booth #3950.
The recognition comes after a busy and productive year for Ivy’s Gourmet. We are now sold in all Roche Bros (MA), launched in North Shore Farms (NY), and is the manufacturer for DeCicco & Sons in-house granola offering seven new, exclusive flavors. “This accolade will help us show proof of concept, that by keeping our recipes clean, striving to produce tasty, snacking granola all while keeping our price point aggressive has allowed us to grow in revenue and marketshare, Tamm, said. In the coming months you can expect to see expansion in Whole Foods Market NE region, covering parts of CT and all Westchester stores. To accommodate for this growth, we will be moving into a larger facility.
The sofi Awards are considered the top honor in the $219-billion specialty food industry. Past winners have included some of today’s most recognizable and successful brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Kettle Chips, Fage Yogurt, Stonewall Kitchen and Vermont Creamery. For more information on Ivy’s Gourmet and Hazelnut Coffee granola, visit www.ivysgourmet.com or follow on Instagram @ivysgourmetgranola.
About Ivy’s Gourmet:
Ivy’s Gourmet was launched in 2017 when its founder, Sarah Tamm, looked to recreate a snacking granola she ate as a child, then later created recipes with her daughter Ivy. Inspired by unique flavor combinations, Ivy’s Gourmet set out to bring an artisanal, gluten free granola that’s bursting with flavor and full of snackable clusters. Now found in over 250+ retailers, Ivy’s Gourmet has dominated the granola market in the Northeast as being the #1 selling brand by velocity. With expansion in Whole Foods Market in January, launching in Dave’s Fresh Market (RI), and moving into a larger facility, 2026 is proving to be an exciting year for the company.
About the Specialty Food Association:
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $219-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.
Media Contact For Ivy’s Gourmet:
Sarah Tamm
Owner
[email protected]
203-515-5010
Media Contact for the Specialty Food Association:
[email protected]