North Stonington, CT – Oct 19, 2026, Mystic Koji LLC, maker of Moromi brand small-batch artisan soy sauces, is proud to announce that its Moromi Black Twice Brewed Soy Sauce has been named a finalist for the Specialty Food Association (SFA)’s 2027 sofi Awards, an annual celebration of the best specialty food products of the year.
The sofi (specialty outstanding food innovation) awards have put a spotlight on excellence in specialty food and beverage since 1972.
“The recognition as a sofi Gold Award finalist is a huge honor for us,” said Bob Florence, founder of Mystic Koji LLC. “Our goal is to develop unique and flavorful soy sauces that help home and professional cooks create distinctive meals. Each batch is handcrafted following traditional fermentation techniques to bring out deep, complex flavors. Being a finalist in the 2027 sofi competition really validates our commitment to small-batch craftsmanship with a focus on flavor.”
Moromi Black Twice Brewed Soy Sauce 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. Seventy-five products that received the highest marks across these criteria advanced as Gold Award finalists.
SFA will announce the 2027 sofi Award winners live in a special ceremony on January 17 at the Winter FancyFaire* trade show in San Francisco. Additionally, the three-day show will elevate all 75 finalists through a special product showcase and curated buyer opportunities.
“Each year, our expert judges are blown away by the craft, quality, and innovation of the sofi Award finalists, who set the tone for the industry in the coming year,” said Bill Lynch, president of SFA. “Congratulations to Moromi and all the 2027 finalists, we can’t wait to celebrate you at Winter FancyFaire*!”
This beautiful twice brewed soy sauce has been barrel-aged for over two years resulting in deep umami flavor and richness. Twice brewed soy sauce, also known as saishikomi style soy sauce, is a specialized style that was developed to enhance the flavor of fine sashimi, sushi, and well-marbled beef. Saishikomi soy sauce is less than 1% of all soy sauce production making it an extremely rare and cherished seasoning.
The recognition comes after a busy and productive year for Moromi. Earlier in 2026, Moromi original soy sauce was honored with a Good Food Award further validating the outstanding flavors being crafted by Florence and his team.
“This honor creates the kind of customer enthusiasm and excitement that helps us grow our business while maintaining our commitment to making the most flavorful soy sauces possible.” said Florence.
The sofi Awards are considered the top honor in the $219-billion specialty food industry. Past winners include 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 Moromi and Moromi Black Twice Brewed Soy Sauce, visit www.moromishoyu.com or follow on Instagram @moromishoyu.
About Moromi
At Moromi, we’re dedicated to developing unique and flavorful soy sauces that help home and professional cooks create distinctive meals for their families and guests. Our handcrafted soy sauces are based on traditional fermentation techniques using koji and our natural microbiome to transform a variety of local ingredients into our unique sauces, seasonings, and condiments.
Mystic Koji LLC was founded by Bob Florence, James Wayman, and Debbi Michiko Florence who teamed up to create handcrafted seasonings and condiments under the Moromi brand.
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 4,800 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 oversees the Good Food Mercantile, Good Food Qualification, and Good Food Awards, celebrating tasty, authentic, responsibly crafted food and the people behind it. Find out more at Specialtyfood.com, and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Media Contact for Moromi:
Bob Florence, Owner
[email protected]
860 271 6359
Media Contact for the Specialty Food Association: [email protected]