Lewis Road Creamery's 10-Star Certified Salted Butter has been named the 2023 sofi Product of the Year at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.
The award is presented to a single product annually at The Specialty Food Association's (SFA) sofi Awards. Bestowed since 1972, they are a top honour in the $194 billion specialty food industry.
"Judging was performed by a panel of 400 food experts, and for a product that originates on our farms in the Waikato to win the major award at a show in NYC is a huge accomplishment. We're extremely proud," said Lewis Road Creamery's general manager Jason Clemens.
Jason Clemens
The 2023 sofi Awards recognised a Gold Winner in 53 specialty food and beverage product categories. Products were judged on taste, including flavour, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation at the prestigious Rutgers Food Innovation Center. Nearly 2,000 products from domestic and international makers entered the 2023 competition.
"It might seem like there's not much you can do with just one ingredient and a sprinkle of salt, but when you put the time into nurturing the soil, grass, and animals, it shines through in the end product," said Lynette Maan, from Lewis Road Creamery.
Lynette Maan
She continued that Lewis Road Creamery was delighted that the difference in its butter had been recognised in a blind tasting at this level.
The grass-fed, traditionally churned butter is made from cream exclusively off Lewis Road's parent Southern Pastures' farms, which meets stringent and independently-audited 10 Star Certified Values that cover grass-fed, free-range, animal welfare, environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation criteria.
The Lewis Road Butter was blind-tasted against other category winners for the 2023 sofi Product of the Year Award, which buyers selected via anonymous tastings, and announced at the Summer Fancy Food Show on June 27 in New York City. The Summer Fancy Food Show is North America's largest B2B-only specialty food industry event.
"The sofi Awards recognise the best, most innovative products in the Specialty Food Industry and the creative, passionate people who make them," said SFA President Bill Lynch.
Lynch stated that winning a sofi Award could open doors to new markets and expand business opportunities for the winners, which is central to the SFA's work on behalf of its member makers and manufacturers.
Winning a sofi Award creates added exposure for products with food buyers from top names in supermarkets, specialty retailers, food service, distributors, and the media.
