The Specialty Food Association’s annual Leadership Awards recognize individuals who are making waves in the specialty food industry through bold and positive leadership. Each year, one Award is given in each of six categories to a business leader who has made standout contributions in that area.


Past Leadership Award winners include Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams(Opens in a new window), Adna Durran of Saffron Road(Opens in a new window), Pierre Thiam and Phil Teverow of Yolélé(Opens in a new window), Elizabeth Stein of Purely Elizabeth(Opens in a new window), Sam Mogannam of Bi-Rite Family of Businesses(Opens in a new window), and Caryl Levine of Lotus Foods(Opens in a new window). 


Meet the Past Winners

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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Ayissi Nyemba

    EmkaoFoods
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Caroline McGinley

    Gringuita Cookies
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Collette Divitto

    Collettey’s Cookie Corp.
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Devin Powell

    Protein Candy
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Felicia Vieira

    Crafted Brand Company, LLC
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Holly Long

    Whole Foods Market
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Rina Perrault

    Sun World International
    2025
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  • 2025 Leadership award winner for Business Leadership

    Sarabjit Sawhney

    South Amboy Kitchen, LLC
    2025
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  • 2024 Leadership award winner for Citizenship

    Phil Meldrum

    FOODMatch, Inc.
    2024
    Entire villages in Greece and other parts of the Mediterranean owe their continued prosperity to Phil Meldrum, founder and CEO of FoodMatch in New York City, which has been supporting small farmers internationally and domestically for the past 28 years.
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  • 2024 Leadership award winner for Emerging Leader

    Anna Hammond

    Matriark Foods
    2024
    After a 35-year career working in the art world and for nonprofit organizations, Anna Hammond embarked on a for-profit journey with a not-for-profit mission. “We live in a world of food abundance yet 30 percent or more of that food goes to waste,” said the 62-year-old Hammond, CEO of Matriark Foods, New York City. “People have diet-related illnesses due to improper nutrition. We need to change the system so everybody has access to healthy, nutritious food.”
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