News

Fermín Panceta, The Best Fancy Meat

25 Jun 2012

Spanish product on the pinnacle of Summer Fancy Food Fest.

Unctuous, delightful, Spanish Ibérico pork captivates the most discerning jury at Fancy Food Fest’s sofi™ Awards.

Fermín Ibérico Smoked Panceta Slices has been chosen as the best product in the Outstanding Meat, Pâté or Seafood category of the sofi™ Awards, an American competition of specialty foods that has announced its winners at the Summer Fancy Food Fest recently held in Washington, DC.

Previously known as the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) Awards, the sofi™ Awards have distinguished the most outstanding specialty foods since 1972. Originally limited to just one domestic and one imported product recognition, the growth of the specialty foods market in America is now reflected in dozens of categories. The jury panel is integrated by specialty food retailers, foodservice professionals, and food journalists.

Ibérico pork products have been on the rise in the United States. The acorn-only diet of this pig breed was highlighted as contributing to the earthy sweetness of the product, which is enhanced by its curing and smoking over hickory embers.

The 2012 sofi™Awards evaluated nearly 2,000 products, of which the outstanding were recognized in 30 different categories at an Awards Ceremony presented by Spanish Chef José Andrés.

Since 1955, the Fancy Food Shows have been North America’s largest specialty food and beverage marketplace. Between the Winter Show in San Francisco and the Summer Show in New York City, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade events bring in more than 40,000 attendees from more than 80 countries to see 260,000 innovative specialty food products.