(Koshertoday.com and combined sources) Following industry recognition for its smoked chicken sausages and beef-based “facon,” Jack’s Gourmet BBQ of Brooklyn was the winner of the Best in Show product at the annual Kosherfest New Product Competition, this time for its packaged heat-and-eat pulled beef brisket. The BBQ brisket also won in the Packaged Meats category. Hundreds of products were submitted into the competition, which will also be on display at Kosherfest on November 10-11 at the Meadowlands Center in Secaucus, NJ. The panel of judges included Jamie Geller (Joy of Kosher), Yakov M. Yarmove (NAI/Jewel-Osco), Marty Stein (Tree of Life, KeHE Foods Company), Joel Schoenfeld (Evergreen) and Gitel Leibler (Quality Frozen Foods).

In addition to Best in Show, winners in the other categories were as follows: Cheese or Dairy—Double Ale Cheddar Cheese (TheCheeseGuy.com); Candy—Oodles Raspberry (Paskesz Candy Company); Sweet Snacks—Dairy Caramel Popcorn (Shay’s Chocolate); Gourmet Sweets—Artisan Milk Chocolates (CocoArt); Dips, Spreads & Salsa—MIKEE Tahini Sauce Line (Exotic Sauce Packaging); Jams/Preserves and Dried Fruit—Heirloom Vermont Apple and Maple Syrup Butter (TheCheeseGuy.com); Beverages—Non-Alcoholic—Ceres Fruit Juice (Stanmar International); Condiments, Sauces, Dressings & Marinades—BRIANNAS Kosher Line (BRIANNAS Fine Salad Dressing); Cereals & Convenience Breakfast—Chocolate Almond Matzolah (Foodman’s Matzolah); Savory Snacks—Sunrise Popella Popcorn (Goldbaums); Non-Food—Koshwhere (KOSHWHERE.COM); Kosher for Passover—Hazelnut Chocolate Macaroons (The Manischewitz Company); Mixes and Baking Goods—Semi-Sweet Vegan & Soy-Free Chocolate Chips (California Gourmet); Pastas, Rice & Grains—Le Veneziane Penne (Quattrobimbi Imports); Frozen Entrees & Meal Components—Tuscanini premium pizzas (Kayco); Alcoholic Beverages—Teperberg Legacy Petite Sirah (Kayco); Frozen Desserts—Froozer (Cool Frootz, LLC).

As a group, the new product winners this year represent a great deal of product enhancement and line extension in many of the categories. Some of the winners were the familiar kosher companies that have been steadily increasing their SKUs, often going well beyond their traditional items. Like last year, Manischewitz won the best new Kosher for Passover product; this year it was its Hazelnut Chocolate Macaroons. Other familiar winners were Kayco, Exotic Sauce and Paskesz.