Nearly 1,500 Products Competed for Top Specialty Food Association Awards
Houston, Texas (May 10, 2021) – Lone Star Bee Company has won the New Product Award as well as the Gold Award in the sweeteners category as part of the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) 2021 sofi™ Awards, a top honor in the $158 billion specialty food industry.
Tuscan Blue Rosemary & Black Pepper infused honey was awarded the New Product Award and Lucky Lime & Sea Salt infused honey was awarded the Gold Award. A total of 130 winners were selected from nearly 1,500 entries across 49 product categories. Products are judged in an anonymous sampling for taste - including flavor, appearance, texture and aroma - ingredient quality, and innovation. The sofi judging was held at the prestigious Rutgers Food Innovation Center in April following strict safety guidelines.
“We are thrilled to have won not just one sofi Award, but two,” says Nicki Praiswater, co-founder and co-owner of Lone Star Bee Company. “We’re proud to have won the New Product Award for our Tuscan Blue Rosemary & Black Pepper infused honey as well as the Gold Award for our Lucky Lime & Sea Salt infused honey. It is a huge honor to be recognized by the Specialty Food Association (SFA).”
The award-winning infused honeys can be purchased at select H-E-B locations, Whole Foods Markets in Texas, and Buc-ee’s Travel Centers, among other retailers shown on their website. They can also be purchased directly from Lone Star Bee Company’s website at www.lonestarbee.com.
The sofi Awards competition is open annually to members of the Specialty Food Association. The Awards have been given each year since 1972. They recognize extraordinary specialty food and beverage products and the people who create them.
About Lone Star Bee Company
Lone Star Bee Company was founded in 2016 by Mark Crippen and Nicki Praiswater in Houston, Texas. The company was a finalist in H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best in 2017. In 2018, Lone Star Bee Company was awarded Second Runner Up in the food category of the Texas Works Awards for their Lucky Lime & Sea Salt infused honey. The company currently has three infused honey products, including their top-selling Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey, infused with habanero and jalapeno peppers. Lone Star Bee Company has a focus on wholesale and food service. Future plans include growing their product line with more infused honey products. More information can be found at www.lonestarbee.com
About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA), is the leading trade association and source of information about the $158.4 billion specialty food industry. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA represents makers, importers, retailers, distributors, and others in the trade. The SFA is known for its Fancy Food Shows; the sofi™ Awards, which honor excellence in specialty food and beverage; Trendspotter Panel Show reports and annual predictions; the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report; the Product Marketplace database, featuring specialty foods and beverages in 161 categories and sub-categories; Infinite Aisle, a new ecommerce marketplace that enables SFA Members to make buyer-maker connections and sales year-round; and Specialty Food LIVE!™, a digital marketplace experience.