AWARD CATEGORIES
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, COCKTAIL MIXES & MOCKTAILS
WHAT’S INCLUDED Premium Wines, Sparkling Wine, and Spirits, Craft Beer, Cold Drink Mix, Cocktail Mix, Concentrate (e.g. infusers, flavor essences, sour mixes, mists, sprays etc.), Drink Syrups, Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
APPETIZERS & SNACKS
WHAT'S INCLUDEDHors d'Oeuvres; Savory Assortments/Snacks; Appetizers, Multi-Component Trays, Jarred Appetizers, e.g., Stuffed Grape Leaves, etc.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED Does not include single item Dips, Salsas, Chips, Cheese only, Meat only
BAKING MIXES/PASTRY DOUGHS, FLOURS AND GRAIN, BAKING INCLUSIONS, DECORATIONS AND TOPPINGS, FATS AND FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDBaking Mixes, Extracts, Flours, Baking Chocolate, etc.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED Ready-To-Eat products, Waffle & Pancake Mixes
BARBECUE SAUCE
BEANS, GRAINS, RICE & MIXES
WHAT’S INCLUDED Ingredient blends and single products: Grains, Beans, Rice, Couscous, Tabouli, Quinoa, etc.
BREADS
WHAT’S INCLUDED Artisan Breads, Fresh Baked Breads, Par-Baked Breads, Soft Breads, Ethnic Breads (i.e. Naan, Tortillas), Flatbreads, Bread Bowls, Bagels, Croissants, Biscuits, etc.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED Breadsticks, Taralli
BAKED GOODS – BAKERY DESSERTS
WHAT’S INCLUDED Brownies, Cakes, Cupcakes, Muffins, Pies, Pastries, Coffeecake, Scones, etc.
BREAKFAST FOODS
WHAT’S INCLUDED Waffles, Pancakes, French Toast, Breakfast Sandwiches / Burritos, Handheld Stuffed Pockets, Toaster Pastries
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED Cereals and Granolas
CEREALS & GRANOLA
WHAT’S INCLUDEDCold Cereal, Rolled Oats, Grits, Farina, Oatmeal, Hot Cereals (instant and non-instant), Granola, Granola Mixes
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDGranola Bars
CHEESE - COW MILK
WHAT’S INCLUDEDOnly cheese made from 100% cow milk
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDOther dairy or dairy-alternative products (e.g., yogurt, butter, cream, etc.); Cheese made from/including goat milk, or other non-cow milk
CHEESE - NON-COW MILK, MIXED MILK
WHAT’S INCLUDEDCheese made from non-cow milk (e.g. goat, sheep, buffalo mozzarella, etc.) or mixed with non-cow milk
CHIPS, PRETZELS, RICE CAKES & SALTY SNACKS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDPotato Chips, Pretzels, Popcorn, Rice Cakes, Tortilla Chips, Corn Chips, Extruded Cheese Snacks, Vegetable Chips (i.e. artichoke, kale, beet, parsnips, carrots chips), Fruit Chips, Seaweed Snack, Pork Rind Snacks, Spelt and Kamut Cakes, Popped Seeds, etc.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDJerkies
CHOCOLATE – MILK/WHITE/DARK
WHAT’S INCLUDEDChocolate bars without ANY additions e.g., nuts, fruit, toppings, flavoring, etc.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDFilled bars or any bars with nuts, seeds, flavorings, or toppings compete in the CHOCOLATE CANDY category; Chocolate sauce or syrup compete in the DESSERT TOPPINGS category; Baking Chocolate competes in the BAKING MIXES/PASTRY DOUGHS, FLOURS AND GRAIN, BAKING INCLUSIONS, DECORATIONS AND TOPPINGS, FATS AND FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS category; Drinking Chocolate competes in the COFFEE & HOT COCOA (NON-RTD) category.
CHOCOLATE CANDY
WHAT’S INCLUDEDFilled Chocolates: Bonbons, Pralines, Truffles; Chocolate-Covered Confections/ Caramels, Chocolate-Flavored Caramels, Ganache, Truffles, Fudge, Chocolate Bars with more Candy/ Toppings than Chocolate, Chocolate with any inclusions, Bark, etc.
CONFECTIONERY (NON-CHOCOLATE)
WHAT’S INCLUDEDNon-chocolate confection (e.g., caramels, gummies, hard candy, mints, lollipops, marshmallows, nougats, brittles and toffees (non-chocolate), pralines, candied fruits and peels, jellied fruits, etc.)
COFFEE & HOT COCOA (NON-READY-TO-DRINK)
WHAT’S INCLUDEDWhole Bean and Ground Coffee, Flavored Coffees, Hot Cocoa Mixes
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDReady-To-Drink Coffee or Cocoa
CONDIMENTS, DRESSINGS & MARINADES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDKetchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Dressings, Soy Sauce and Tahini
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED Barbecue Sauce, Hot Sauce
COOKIES & SNACK BARS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDCookies, Snack Bars, Granola Bites/Clusters
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDWellness Bars, Gels
CRACKERS & CRISPBREADS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDCrackers, Saltines, Filled Crackers, Graham Crackers, Water Crackers, Breadsticks, Taralli, Butter Crackers, Cheese Crackers, Crispbreads, Ancient Grain Crackers
DESSERT TOPPINGS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDDessert Syrup, Sauces and Toppings
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDMaple Syrups
ENTREES, LUNCH, DINNER
WHAT’S INCLUDEDAll types of pre-made, ready to heat or ready to eat entrees such as Pasta, Mac & Cheese, Pizza, Ethnic, Vegetarian or Meat entrees, etc.
FROZEN DESSERTS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDPremium/Super Premium Dairy-Based Ice Cream, Frozen Novelties, Gelato, Sorbet, Italian Ices and Specialty Frozen Desserts
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDEDFrozen Brownies, Cakes, Cupcakes, Pies, etc.
FRUIT SPREADS, JAMS & JELLIES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDGourmet Fruit Jams, Jellies and Spreads, Preserves, Marmalades
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
WHAT'S INCLUDEDShelf Stable/Refrigerated/Frozen forms of Fruits and Vegetables, including Fruit Sauces (i.e., Applesauce, etc.)
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDEDDried Fruits, Pickles, Olives
HOT SAUCE
JERKY & MEAT SNACKS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDMeat Jerky, Meat Sticks, Meat Snack, Meat Bars, Meat Chips
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDPlant based jerkies
JUICES & BEVERAGES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDJuices, Fresh Juices, Pressed Juices, Premium Juices, Drink Mixes, Concentrates
MEAT & POULTRY
WHAT’S INCLUDED Meat, Poultry, Deli Meats
NUT, SEED AND CONFECTIONERY BUTTERS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDPeanut Butter, Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, Cookie Butter, etc.
NUTS, SEEDS, TRAIL MIX, DRIED FRUIT
NUT AND OTHER OILS
WHAT’S INCLUDED Flavored Oils, Nut Oils, Cooking Oils
OLIVE OILS
PASTA & NOODLES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDNoodles, Pasta, Vegetable Pasta, Legume/Lentil/Bean/Chickpea and Ancient Grain Pasta, Soba and Buckwheat Noodles
PICKLES & OLIVES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDDomestic/Imported Pickles and Olives, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickled/Marinated Vegetables, Relish, Roasted Peppers, Sundried Tomatoes
PLANT BASED MILK AND OTHER PLANT BASED DAIRY
WHAT’S INCLUDEDNon-Dairy Beverages that are Soy, Nut, Rice or Grain based and Non-Dairy Items – Butter, Cream, Creamers, Cheese, Ice Cream and Yogurt
PLANT BASED PROTEIN
WHAT’S INCLUDEDPlant Based Protein Items – Soy, Potato, Heme, Pea Protein, Grains, Mushrooms, Legumes, Tofu, Plant Based Jerkies, etc.
SALSA AND DIPS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDSalsa, Dips (can be ready-to-eat or dry mix, i.e. onion, spinach, etc.), Yogurt Based Dips, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Guacamole and Spreads
SAUCES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDPizza, Pasta, Tomato, Pesto, Ethnic Sauces, etc.
SEAFOOD
WHAT’S INCLUDED Fish, Seafood, Caviar
SEASONING & SPICES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDSeasoning, Spices, Herbs, Seasoning Blends, Spice Mixes, Salt/Sea Salts, Pepper, Brines
SODA & CARBONATED BEVERAGES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDSoda, Craft Sodas, Carbonated Soda Beverages, Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Juices
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDEDSparkling Waters, Seltzers
SOUP
WHAT’S INCLUDEDSoup, Broth, Bone Broth, Stocks, Consommé, Miso, Soup Mixes, Instant Soup, Ramen Type Soup, Bouillon, Soup Cups, Soup Bases, Bottle Soups, Chilled /Cold Soups
SWEETENERS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDPure Maple Syrups, Honey, Agave, Sucanant, Raw Sugar, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Turbinado, Demerara, Cane Sugar, Natural Alternative Sweeteners, Stevia
TEA, CHAI AND TISANES
WHAT'S INCLUDEDHot Teas, including Flavored Teas, Brewed Iced Teas, Herbal Teas, Chai and Tisanes
TEA AND COFFEE (READY-TO-DRINK)
WHAT’S INCLUDEDAll sizes of shelf stable and refrigerated/chilled ready to drink Teas, Coffees, Espressos
VINEGARS
WHAT’S INCLUDED Vinegar, Balsamic Vinegar, Balsamic Glaze
WATERS AND FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES
WHAT’S INCLUDEDSpring water, Naturally Flavored Waters, Coconut Water, Enhanced or Functional Waters, Sparkling Waters, Seltzers, Kombucha, Energy Drinks, Performance Beverages, Sports Beverages, Enhanced or Functional Drinks, Aloe Vera Juice, Drinking Vinegars, All beverages with a functional or implied claim
WELLNESS BARS & GELS
WHAT’S INCLUDEDLifestyle or Wellness Bars, Athletic or Performance Bars, Energy Bars, Protein Bars, Nutrition Bars
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDEDSnack Bars, Granola Bars
YOGURT/KEFIR/OTHER DAIRY
WHAT’S INCLUDEDYogurt, Greek Yogurt, Icelandic Yogurt, Drinkable Yogurt, Kefir, Cultured Dairy Products (can be made with cow, sheep, goat or water buffalo milk), Dairy Based Butter, European-Style Butter and Cream, Clarified Butter, Ghee – Domestic and Imported, Milk, Eggs
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