Ellington, CT 10/20/205 Oakridge Creamery, maker of Oakridge Dairy’s Glass Bottled Milks, is proud to announce that its Horchata Milk 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 an exciting moment for us,” said Brie Hyde. “The sofi Award is a testament to our team’s creativity and care — every bottle we make represents our shared pursuit of exceptional flavor and freshness-it shows that our mission to bring people extraordinary dairy experiences is resonating.”
Horchata Milk 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 Oakridge Creamery and all the 2026 sofi Award Finalists!”
“Our horchata milk blends creamy, farm-fresh dairy with warm cinnamon and sweet vanilla for a smooth, comforting flavor. It’s a refreshing twist on a traditional favorite, crafted to capture the taste of homemade horchata in every sip. This accolade will help us share our expanded flavored milk line into new retail channels, Hyde, said. In the coming months you can expect to see more limited-editional seasonal flavors like Maple Cream, Eggnog and Merry Mint boosting retail engagement.
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 Oakridge and Horchata Milk, visit www.oakridgedairy.com or follow on Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin at Oakridge Dairy .
About Oakridge Dairy:
Oakridge Dairy was founded in 1890 in Ellington, Connecticut, and remains a family-owned, full-service dairy farm dedicated to producing fresh, high-quality milk and other dairy products. Their mission centers on delivering from “farm to table” freshness through a tightly controlled supply chain, delivering to area stores and offering home delivery. Their distribution footprint covers much of the Northeast, and their single-source model has earned them recognition for sustainability and innovation in dairy operations. Most notably, Oakridge Dairy recently transitioned all milk sent to the Oakridge Creamery as 100% A2A2 milk — meaning the cows only produce the A2 beta-casein protein — so every bottle now carries this specialty gene-profile milk while retaining the same taste and nutrition.
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 Oakridge Dairy:
Brie Hyde
[email protected]
860-861-0724
Media Contact for the Specialty Food Association:
[email protected]