Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/523050
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE 2015 SOFI AWARDS JUDGING More than 2,700 products descended on the Specialty Food Association offces in New York this spring for the annual sof Awards judging. Chefs, retail buyers, food journalists, and other industry professionals spent two weeks digging into 32 categories. Here's a look behind the scenes, along with some emerging trends. Find full coverage of the event at live.specialtyfood.com. Specialty Food Association's Editorial Team Wins Journalism Award The editorial team behind Specialty Food Magazine and Specialty Food News has won a 2015 Jesse H. Neal Award for Best News Story for "The Plight of the Honeybee." Presented by American Business Media, the trade association for business-to-business media, the Neal Awards recognize editorial excellence in business publications, and have been called the Oscars of the trade media world. The Specialty Food editorial team had one previous article nomination, and this year was shortlisted for three awards. Winners were announced March 27 at the 61st Neal Awards ceremony in New York City. The article on the honeybee crisis, written by Julie Besonen, appeared in the Fall 2014 issue of Specialty Food Magazine and on specialtyfood.com. It examines the issue of colony collapse disorder, its impact on the food industry, and ongoing efforts to find a solution. Judges commented that the magazine did "a masterful job of putting the problem into its proper global context … all in an attractive, arresting presentation." The other nominated articles were "The GMO Debate" by Eva Meszaros (Summer 2014) and "The Ups and Downs of Going Local" by Robyn Pforr Ryan (Spring 2014), both for Best Single Article. The Specialty Food Association's editorial team includes Denise Purcell, edi- tor; Eva Meszaros, managing editor; Maria San Andres, art director; and Susan Segrest, contributing editor. Julie Besonen is a regular contribu- tor to the magazine.—L.K. From left: Julie Besonen, Eva Meszaros, Denise Purcell, Maria San Andres, and Susan Segrest at the Neal Awards association news 154 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com