Santa Barbara, CA—Pacific Pickle Works, California premier maker of all-natural pickled vegetables and savory cocktail mixers brings home a suite of SOFI™ Awards for three of its signature products:
SOFI Gold Winner, PICKLES, PRESERVED VEGETABLE
Fenn Shui—Organic sliced fennel pickled in a tart & spicy brine of rice wine vinegar, Thai chili & fresh ginger infused with aromatic orange zest.
SOFI Best New Product Winner, PICKLES, PRESERVED VEGETABLE
Pickles Under the Ginfluence—Crunchy, thick-cut pickle chips brined in a flavorful blend of buttery dill, earthy rosemary, jalapeño & herbaceous, top-shelf gin. This product celebrates a local collaboration between Pacific Pickle Works and fellow Santa Barbara favorite, Cutler’s Artisan Spirits.
SOFI Silver Winner, COLD BEVERAGE – DRINK AND COCKTAIL MIX
Bloody Mary Elixir—A robust, umami-rich cocktail mixer anchored by Pacific Pickle Works’ small-batch Worcestershire sauce, hints of tangy-sweet tamarind and a throat-tickling blend of peppers & spice. Just add tomato juice, spirit of choice & an assortment of Pacific Pickle Works garnishes.
Awarded by the Specialty Food Association and presented each year at the Summer Fancy Food Show held in New York’s iconic Javits Center, the SOFI™ represent the highest caliber of specialty food and beverages in taste and innovation. This year, the 156 winners were whittled down from a pool of over 1,800 international products across three days of blind tastings. Hosted at the Association’s New York headquarters, the judges’ panel included culinary professionals, key decision makers, influencers and trendsetters representing all channels of the food and beverage industry.
The trio of 2019 trophies wins brings the company’s collection of SOFIs to a total of four. In 2016, Pacific Pickle Works was awarded a SOFI™ Gold in the Appetizers category for its Brussizzle Sprouts, tender-crisp Brussels in a semi-sweet & spicy brine. “There are so many considerations beyond great flavor that go into creating a viable packaged product for today’s market,” says company founder & Top Pickle, Bradley Bennett. “The cost of crafting consistently excellent pickles certainly starts with our beautiful local produce…but our packaging, certifications, marketing efforts, in-store promotions…it’s staggering how much of a food entrepreneur’s day is pulled in every direction but the food. The SOFI is such a meaningful award because it’s a reminder for our whole team that we’ve held fast to our roots, and continue making tasty, all-natural food a priority.” All Pacific Pickle Works’ products are Non-GMO Project Verified, naturally gluten free and kosher, containing no artificial ingredients or refined sugar.
Pacific Pickle Works also pulled a clean sweep at the Specialty Food Association’s Front Burner Pitch Competition earlier this year, emerging victorious as both the Judges’ Pick and the Crowd Favorite for its refreshingly tangy, 100% plant-based Michelada Shrub. Held at the 2019 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, and hosted by celebrity chef Robert Irvine, Front Burner features live presentations from three finalists showcasing the potential for their products to succeed in foodservice. In addition to the brand’s retail footprint at high-volume natural grocery leaders such as Sprouts, Whole Foods Market, Bristol Farms and Lazy Acres, Pacific Pickle Works can also be found on the menu of California’s top independent restaurants, bars, luxury hotels and country clubs.
About Pacific Pickle Works
Pacific Pickle Works was founded in 2010 by Bradley Bennett, a Santa Barbara native whose spicy homemade pickles began as holiday gifts for friends and family, and quickly sparked a craving amongst locals. Today, the company hand-packs its award-winning West Coast pickles from its Union St. factory, each batch a crunchy, full-flavored salute to peak-season produce. Pacific Pickle Works’ full line of snackable pickled vegetables are Non-GMO Project Verified, naturally gluten free, fat free and kosher, offering shelf-stable convenience with zero artificial ingredients or preservatives. In 2016, the company launched a trio of all-natural, savory cocktail mixers that have garnered numerous awards from the spirits industry. Pacific Pickle Works is currently carried in 1,200+ retail and foodservice locations, including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Bristol Farms, Draeger’s, New Seasons, Wegman’s, Cost Plus World Market and Lucky’s/Save Mart stores. All Pacific Pickle Works products are available online via Amazon, with limited edition releases, recipes and additional company information available at pacificpickleworks.com.
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Media Contact: Victoria Ho, 510-541-3687, press@pacificpickleworks.com
