SUMMER 2021 13
5 Trends From the
2021 sofi Awards
Comfort food is the top trend among
product entries in this year's SFA sofi
Awards competition.
As consumers continue to
navigate the disruption and unrest
of the past year, familiar, simple
flavors, and nostalgic and retro
products are in demand, and stand
out among 1,500 entries in 49 award
categories. More plant-based
options of classic comfort fare are
also entering the market. Despite an
emphasis on comfort, however, with
people sticking closer to home than
ever before, a need for global flavors
and interesting options is also still
prevalent.
Here are some of the trends from
the 2021 sofi Awards competition:
Comfort food. Classic and retro
recipes and ingredients are common
across sofi categories this year, which
showcase comfort items like chocolate
chip cookie and vanilla ice cream
sandwiches, deviled egg seasoning,
French onion soup, classic milk
chocolate bars, pigs in a blanket, and
brownie-stuffed cookie dough.
Global and restaurant-quality
food at home. Global and
restaurant-level flavors and recipes
are going strong among sofi
entrants, including Vietnamese
coffee, Sicilian capers in wine
vinegar, Maine Shore lobster dinners
for two, Indian hot sauce featuring
the Guntur Sannam chili pepper, Pibil
simmer sauce based on a Yucatan
dish, and plant-based street tacos.
Functional and better-for-you
ingredients. Beverage categories
showcase the most functional
options like blue sage honey shrubs,
blueberry collagen, avocado seed
brew, and konjac jelly soda, which
is associated with cholesterol
management. Snacks and treat
categories reveal several better-for-
you options including butternut squash cinnamon stalks,
sea buckthorn popcorn, and ice cream snacks in flavors like
butternut squash and butterscotch.
As for flavor trends, two in particular stand out and
exemplify the current consumer interest in both familiar
flavors and more upscale profiles in everyday products.
Cherry. This classic flavor shows up in condiments,
beverages, bars, hot cereals, and sweet treats. Products
include: chocolate almond goji cherry energy bars; cherry
juice; cherry, almond and linseed toasts; Amarena cherry
balsamic vinegar; sour cherry soda; jalapeño cherry barbecue
sauce; cherry cacao oat porridge; cherry and Aleppo pepper
mostarda; and bourbon cherry chocolate ice cream.
Truffle. The second sofi flavor trend leans toward luxury and
in some cases elevates common products like mayonnaise
and pasta sauce. Truffles are an ingredient in several
entries including black truffle butter (including a plant-
based variety), truffle pasta sauce, Brie and Gouda cheeses
flavored with truffles, black truffle mayo, truffle crisps, and
truffle hot sauce.
Find a full list of 2021 sofi winners in the Gold, Silver,
and New Product categories on page 39.—Denise Purcell
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