The Gourmet Product Awards has announced the winners of its first annual awards program today.
Dozens of food judges, VIP, celebrity chefs, professional consultants and specialty retail store owners revealed their top picks for the best new gourmet products for 2011. Forty Three winners were chosen from multiple categories ranging from Baby Products, Baked Goods, Beverages, Cheese, Cookies and Snacks, Dairy to Oils, Dressings, Organic and more that included many acclaimed new products. The awards revealed the growing interest in healthy ingredients, green packaging, organic and raw products, supporting charitable causes and more.
The complete list of the 2011 Gourmet Product Award winners can be found online at GourmetAwards.org and many of the companies displayed have representatives available to talk about their award winning new products.
The awards process for the first year was both interesting and challenging. Throughout the summer, the awards committee received a number of outstanding nominations for over 900 products. The process for evaluating and selecting only the best products and in this regard only one recipient for each category in the Gourmet Awards was truly difficult.
During the program the award presenters took time out from the program to recognize the work of the dozens of people who were involved, the nominators, the judges, food panels, festival producers, contest advisors & members of the awards committee who devoted their time, expertise, and energies to these fine selections.
2011 Winners List Sent via Gourmetwire.com —
View by Category / Product / Website
Baby Product: Wean Cubes http://www.weangreen.com/
Baked Goods – Innovation: Elizabeth Jean’s Homemade Pie Kit http://www.elizabethjeanspiekit.com/ Baked Goods – Mix: Marion’s Gluten-Free Cookie and Muffin mix http://www.marionssmartdelights.com/
Baked Goods – Packaged: Alfajor de dulce de leche (Double Caramel Filled Cookie) http://www.ultracongelados.com.ar/
BBQ + Grilling, Barware, etc: Gourmet Grilling Planks http://www.afireinc.com/
Beverage – Bagged Tea: Naturally Sweet Tea http://www.republicoftea.com/
Beverage – Coffee: Mokk-a http://www.mokk-a.com/
Beverage – Herbal Tea: Coconut Hibiscus Tea http://www.republicoftea.com/
Beverage – Loose Leaf Tea: Milk Oolong Full-Leaf Loose Tea http://www.republicoftea.com/
Beverages – Juice: Juices with Fruit bits http://www.mayafoods.com/
Beverages – Mix: Shaken Mango Passion Green Iced Tea http://www.bigtrain.com/
Beverages – Water: HINT Fizz http://www.drinkhint.com/
Breakfast Item: Malibu Pies http://www.malibupies.com/
Cheese: Reading http://www.sbfcheese.org/
Chocolate: Million Dollar Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bar http://www.bartonscandy.com/
Condiments: Hot Mama’s Sweet Pepper Sauce http://www.hotmamasbelize.com/
Confections: Green Apple Butter Caramel http://www.bequetconfections.com/
Cookie: Brent & Sam’s Premium Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies http://www.snyderslance.com/
Dairy: Magnolia Premium Tropical Ice Cream http://www.magnoliaplease.com/
Dressing and Marinades: Coconut Citrus Vinaigrette http://www.schoolhousekitchen.com/
Fruits & Vegetables: Tillen Farms ‚Bada Bing‘ Cherries http://www.tillenfarms.com/
Garlic, Mushrooms & Olives: Himalaya Truffle http://www.greatporcini.com/
Gourmet Promotions and Gift Ideas: Pie in a Jar http://www.sweetshopusa.com/
Kitchen Utensils, Gadgets, Chef Items: Ozonator http://www.ozonator.com/
Lifestyle and Health Choices: TopChips http://www.topchips.com/
New Gourmet Food Products: Teaspoon Willie’s Everything Sauce http://www.teaspoonwillies.com/
Oils – Olive: Rallis Olive Oil http://www.icepressed.com/
Oils (nut, veg, seed, other): Stoger Pumpkin Seed Oil http://www.culinary-imports.com/
Organic: Chipotle Chile Peanut Butter http://www.sunlandinc.com/
Popular Foods: Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups http://www.justinsnutbutter.com/
Raw Foods: Rallis Olive Oil http://www.icepressed.com/
Sauces: Ladybird – Everyday Hot Sauce http://www.ladybirdandfriends.com/
Seafood & Fish (caviar, smoked, shell, etc): Homestyle New England Cod Cakes http://www.pierfish.com/
Snacks – Innovation: Gary & Kit’s Gourmet Mountain Mix http://www.cliffamilywinery.com/
Snacks – Salty: Somersault Snack Co – Pacific Sea Salt http://www.somersaultsnackco.com/
Snac
ks – Sweet: Panda Blueberry Licorice http://www.pandalicorice.com/
Soups, Stews & Beans: Bookbinders Ready to Serve Soup http://www.bookbinderspecialties.com/
Specialty Goods & Items: Keep Cup http://www.keepcup.com/
Spices, Flavorings, Special Ingredients: Rub Joe http://www.rubjoemeat.com/ http://www.rubjoemeat.com/
Spreads, Syrups, Toppings, Jams, Honey etc: Seasonal Preserve Collection http://www.graceandi.com/
Unique Delicious Foods: Grace and I’s Turshi http://www.graceandi.com/
Vinegar (Balsamic, Sherry, etc): Gingras Extra Old Apple Cider Vinegar http://www.cidervinegar.com/
The Winner for most Unique Delicious Foods was Grace and I’s for their Turshi, which is a traditional family condiment somewhere between a pickled chutney and a tangy relish, yet not quite. It is a unique experience yet tastes magically familiar. A complete list of all the 2011 Gourmet Product Award winners shown above can also be found at http://www.gourmetawards.org/
„GourmetPresswire.com is excited to be the official media sponsor for the first annual Gourmet Product Awards program.“ says Michael Ratner, Editor-in-Chief of the US News Bureau parent company. „We are always looking for the latest new products and keeping ahead of evolving consumer market trends.“
Emerging trends include a move toward healthier and more natural foods along with environmental concerns highlighting increased consumer attention to quality and growing concern for value.
Breaking new ground for its 1st year, the Gourmet Product Awards recognizes companies and individuals from around the world that market products in North America.