The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA-headquartered National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association has announced the finalists for its 2026 Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest, a program designed to recognize standout innovation from emerging brands across the frozen and refrigerated food categories.
This year’s finalists reflect how frozen and refrigerated foods continue to evolve, bringing fresh ideas, differentiated products, and new approaches to familiar categories that align with how today’s consumers shop, cook and eat.
“The strength of this year’s finalists speaks to the momentum we’re seeing across frozen and refrigerated foods,” said Tricia Greyshock, NFRA’s president and chief executive officer. “These brands are elevating familiar categories, bringing fresh ideas to market, and introducing products that create new opportunities for growth across the industry.”
The 2026 Penguin Pitch Finalists include:
• E & J Specialty Foods – Ice Box Jam: Frozen spreadable strawberries (pictured above) designed to be warmed or served cold across breakfast, snacks and desserts.
• Di Fara – Vodka Sauce Pizza: A product inspired by the Brooklyn pizzeria, bringing a classic Italian-American flavor to retail grocery stores.
• Folkland Foods – Potato Tots: Organic tots cooked in olive oil and seasoned with Himalayan salt.
• Mad Mutz – The Stingerz: Mozzarella sticks made with filler-free mutz and a habanero hot honey caramelized crust.
• Ripi Foods – Ripi Beef Short Rib Ravioli: Ravioli filled with slow-braised beef short rib in red wine, finished with Swiss chard and Parmesan.
• San Diablo Artisan Churros – Take & Bake Churros: Pre-fried, pre-filled churros ready for the air fryer with dulce de leche or chocolate hazelnut filling.
• Skinny Butcher – Crazy Dippers: Grilled chicken breast strips paired with dipping sauce in a portable, high-protein snack pack.
• Fronen – Caramel Chocolate Crunch Bar: A dairy-free frozen dessert bar made with coconut cream, sweetened with coconut sugar, and finished with a chocolate coating and puffed quinoa crunch.
The grand prize winner will be announced later this year and will receive a featured product showcasing opportunity at Café NFRA during the trade association’s annual convention, held October 17-20 at National Harbor, Maryland. Café NFRA offers emerging brands direct exposure to industry leaders and retail decision-makers.
In addition, three Honorable Mention awards will be presented, recognizing excellence in three categories: Creative Packaging; Most Disruptive Product; Unique Promotional Campaign.
