Spirit of Innovation Awards

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Prepared Foods is pleased to announce and recognize winners of its 19th annual Spirit of Innovation Awards (SOI). Since 2003, these distinctive awards honor food and beverage product development teams for excellence in consumer insights, cross-functional execution and overall innovation. This year’s awards recognize items introduced from January 2020 through March 2021. 

One part of the story involves King & Prince Seafood Corp., Brunswick, Ga., and one of its most popular products, Lobster Sensations®. It’s a frozen, premixed blend of lobster and seafood for foodservice operations to easily and quick thaw, portion and serve. Yet back in 2018, King & Prince customers—including convenience stores, sandwich shops and in-store delis—said their employee teams still needed a little more help in the kitchen. 

Van Cleve-Talbert grew up around seafood as a family member-employee in The Van Cleve Seafood Co. in Spotsylvania, Va. The company dates back to 2001 when her mom, Shelly, opened a small seafood “shack” to source and sell better quality seafood in the area. From the start, Monica and her sister, Allie, were involved in every step of the business. 

Grand View data show North America as the largest regional kombucha market and the firm’s analysts divide the category into “original” and “flavored” segments. These analysts expect flavored kombucha to continue holding the leading market share and register the fastest CAGR of 21.8% during the 2020-2027 forecast period.

Last February saw foodservice distributing giant Sysco Corp. approve and start selling Tyson Crispy Thigh Wings. These are boneless, skinless, whole muscle chicken thigh portions uniquely cut to look and eat just bone-in wings. It’s all to give consumers the tender, juicy taste of wings they crave—but without the bones. 

The well-known proverb used to be “if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.” As ascribed to Thomas Palmer, the phrase had everything to do with education and encouraging 19th century American school children.

Here’s a twist on the dinnertime dilemma between parents and picky eaters. Want your kids to eat more vegetables? Just hand them a breadstick. Actually, that’s part of the magic behind B&G Foods’ new Green Giant Cauliflower Breadsticks, which made their freezercase debut in March 2020. 

Prepared Foods is talking new products and honoring nine food and beverage companies for their excellence in consumer insights, R&D teamwork, cross-functional execution and overall innovation. Specifically, there are six category winners and three additional honorable mentions in Prepared Foods’ 18th annual Spirit of Innovation Awards (SOI).

For its part, Prepared Foods believes new product development is a team sport and PF's 16th annual "Spirit of Innovation" (SOI) awards honor those food and beverage manufacturer teams collaborating and creating distinct new products that stand out in their respective markets.