2026 Good Food Awards Finalists Announced

The Good Food Awards proudly announce the 2026 Finalists in 16 of 18 product categories judged in a blind tasting held in October 2025. Products from 234 outstanding American companies were selected as finalists from over 1,200 entries by makers dedicated to crafting food and drink that are not only delicious, but also sustainable and responsibly produced.

While the majority of finalists have been determined, the Grains and Oilscategories will be judged in March to accommodate the seasonality of those products. Finalists for these two remaining categories will be announced in April.

The finalists announced today represent a diverse array of culinary traditions, techniques, and regions, embodying excellence within their craft. Each year, over 250 Good Food Awards judges come together for a blind tasting of the entries. They meticulously evaluate submissions to identify products that push the boundaries of taste, quality, and ethical production.

"The geographic diversity of this year’s finalists—spanning 40 states—is a testament to the fact that the movement for tasty, authentic, and responsible food continues to thrive in every corner of our country, said Sally Rogers, Good Food Foundation Board President.

The 2026 Good Food Awards Winners will be announced in conjunction with the Good Food Mercantile and the Specialty Food Association's 

Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, taking place June 28-30, 2026. This annual event brings together a diverse community of values-minded food crafters, retailers, grocers, and chefs passionate about good food.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF FINALISTS HERE.

THE GOOD FOOD AWARDS Since 2011, the Good Food Awards have been celebrating the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic, and responsible. Awards are given in 18 categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, drinks, elixirs, fish, grains, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks, and spirits. The Good Food Awards Seal, found on winning products, assures consumers they have found something exceptionally delicious that also supports sustainability and social good.

THE SPECIALTY FOOD ASSOCIATION (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $219-billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 4,400 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by producing events, programs, and year-round resources and education. SFA owns and operates the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire*, and the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. Find out more at Specialtyfood.com, and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.