As of 2026, the Good Food Awards are officially under the helm of the Specialty Food Association. (Enter by October 31!)
While the two food competitions remain distinctly different (at least for now), it is exciting to see which “Good Food” winners made the list of 2027 Sofi(tm) Specialty Food finalists.
What’s the difference between the Good Food Awards and the Specialty Food criteria?
The main distinction is that the GFAs are a blind taste test. Taste, feel, texture, and ingredients sourcing are key. The Sofi awards focus on taste and “ingeniuity.”
The SFA says that for 2027, “from more than 1,000 entries, 75 products have advanced as finalists for Gold Awards and three for Outstanding Packaging Design.”
So rewarding to see some farm-based and very small batch producers who have won Good Food Awards over the years also appear on the sofi finalist list:
- Big Spoon Roasted nut butters for their heavenly Pistacho
- Big Picture Farm who has the most adorable goats
- French Broad Chocolate for their brown butter milk chocolate chips, we simply all must try
Interestingly, one of my favorite confectioners and Good Food Award winners, Wildwood, was one of the packaging finalists. If you haven’t tried their caramel-filled bars, the Rosemary Caramel, for which they’re a finalist, or the Fennel Pollen, are must tries! Gooey deliciousness.
Takeaway for Specialty Food Producers
The intersection between packaging and taste / ingredients / innovation is the sweet spot to strive for, as I’ve written about in years past.
Taste and watch for the award winners at the 2027 Winter FancyFaire* which happily returns to San Francisco.
And talk to me if you’re deciding where to locate your local food business!
