Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. has done it again. Its Gourmet Lobster Maine Shore Dinner for 2 has been named the New York City-headquartered Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) Sofi Product of the Year winner. The Topsham, Maine-based company has won numerous Sofi awards over the years.
Distributed in frozen form, the thaw, heat-and- eat dinner features two Maine lobster tails (weighing five to six ounces each), 12 mussels, eight shrimp, eight sea scallops and two ears of corn. It cooks inside a foil smoker bag.
Another seafood entry scored a top prize in the contest, as Double Manuka Wood Roasted Regal New Zealand King Salmon won New Product of the Year honors. The 3.5-ounce (100g) offering, which sells for $9.99, features ready-to-eat kosher lox glazed with Manuka honey.
“Raised in the cold waters of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds, our salmon has struck a chord with food lovers who crave meal solutions that deliver on taste, quality and health all at the same time,” said Michael Fabbro, Regal’s vice president of sales in the USA.
Nearly 1,500 products competed the awards evaluation, which is open exclusively to product-qualified members of the SFA and is judged by members of the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC) in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Through anonymous tastings, products were evaluated in 49 categories that ranged from Cocktail Mixes & Mocktails to Yogurt & Kefir. Judges awarded 130 specialty food products with gold, silver and new product trophies after a rigorous process of assessing entrants for their flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality and innovation.
“The Sofi (which stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation)Awards represent excellence in specialty food,” said SFC Vice President Laura Lozada. “We are proud of our members for forging ahead during uncertain times and continuing to develop and introduce products in our $158.4 billion industry.”
Many award winners may be viewed during the Specialty Food LIVE! virtual marketplace, which runs through May 14. Exhibitors who have won Sofi Awards during the past three years will also be searchable. Registration for the trade-only digital event can be arranged at specialtyfood.com.
