ATLANTIC SEA FARMS WINS BEST NEW PRODUCT SOFIâ„¢ AWARD!
Saco, Maine (August 25, 2020) – Atlantic Sea Farms Fermented Seaweed Salad has won the new product award in the Pickles & Olives category as part of the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) 2020 sofiâ„¢ Awards, a top honor in the $158 billion specialty food industry.
Their fresh Fermented Seaweed Salad was one of 148 winners selected by a panel of specialty food experts from nearly 2,000 entries across 39 product categories. Products are judged on taste, appearance, texture and aroma, ingredient quality and innovation. All tastings are blind. This year, for the first time, sofi judging was held at the prestigious Rutgers Food Innovation Center following strict safety guidelines.
“Our delicious first-to-market fermented kelp products are introducing innovation, obsessively sustainable ingredients, and customer interest to the category. We are thrilled that our Fermented Seaweed Salad has won a New Product Award in the competitive Pickles and Olives category,†says Bri Warner, CEO of Atlantic Sea Farms.
Based in Maine, Atlantic Sea Farms is making a dramatic, positive impact on the ocean, the coastal economy and the health of their customers as a first-mover and women-run company offering nutrient dense and easy to enjoy fresh kelp products with a robust social and environmental mission.
“Atlantic Sea Farms is the first company bringing fresh, domestically line-grown seaweed to consumers in the U.S. We are a woman-run company on a mission to mitigate the effects of climate change on our coast by introducing new and sustainable ways to grow regenerative kelp, all while providing a delicious, domestic, fresh, healthy alternative to imported seaweed products. Winning the sofiâ„¢ is one of the ultimate stamps of approval for the taste and quality of our products, and we’re incredibly grateful for this recognition†says Warner.
Atlantic Sea Farms Fermented Seaweed Salad is the only fresh domestic Seaweed Salad on the market. Unlike imported seaweed, Atlantic Sea Farms products are never dried, never dyed, and feature clean, thoroughly well-sourced ingredients. Their fermented kelp products can be found at MOM’s Organic Market, Wegmans, Whole Foods North Atlantic, Co-ops and Independent Natural Grocers on the East Coast, with expansion to the West Coast beginning in September 2020.
“It’s a privilege to continue the sofiâ„¢ Award tradition of recognizing extraordinary products and the people behind them,†says SFA Interim President Bill Lynch. “Having great news to celebrate, like the sofi Awards, is revitalizing for all of us in this pandemic year. The sofi finalists represent our dynamic industry – exciting consumers and expanding retail offerings around the world.â€
The sofi Awards are open to members of the Specialty Food Association, a not-for-profit trade association with specialty food industry members across the U.S. The awards have been given each year since 1972.
About Atlantic Sea Farms
Atlantic Sea Farms has been championing fresh domestic seaweed since our founders created the first commercially viable seaweed farm in the United States in 2009, with the goal of diversifying how our coastal waters are used and providing a domestic, fresh, healthy alternative to imported seaweed products. Atlantic Sea Farms is making a dramatic, positive impact on the ocean, our coastal economy and the health of our customers as a first-mover and women-run company offering delicious, nutrient dense and easy to enjoy first-to-market fermented and frozen kelp products with obsessively sustainable ingredients and a robust social and environmental mission. Our kelp is grown in the clean, cold waters of Maine by 24 fishermen via regenerative aquaculture, pulling 8,000 pounds of carbon and 250 pounds of nitrogen out of the ocean per season per farm, leaving our ocean and atmosphere better than we found it. More information can be found at www.atlanticseafarms.com
About the Specialty Food Association
Founded in 1952 in New York City, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading advocate for the $158.4 billion specialty food industry. Representing makers, importers, entrepreneurs, retailers, distributors and others in the trade, the SFA aims to champion, nurture and connect its members to deliver traditional and innovative products to consumers that expand consumption of specialty foods. With over 4,000 member companies, SFA helps its members by providing information, research, educational events, and celebrating the industry through its awards programs. The SFA is known for hosting the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows and presents the sofiâ„¢ Awards honoring excellence in specialty food. Learn more at specialtyfood.com.
COMPANY NAME MEDIA CONTACT:
Jesse Baines, Marketing & Sales Director, 207-807-9185, jbaines@atlanticseafarms.com
Specialty Food Association Media Contact:PR Department, press@specialtyfood.com
