Flour & Olive Announced as sofi Award Finalist by the Specialty Food Association

Kirkland, WA (October 20, 2025) – Flour & Olive, maker of globally inspired olive oil cake mixes, is proud to announce that its Ginger Olive Oil Cake Mix has been named a Finalist for the Specialty Food Association's 2026 sofi Awards, a distinguished honor recognizing the best specialty food products of the year.

The annual sofi Awards have celebrated excellence and innovation in specialty food since 1972. This year's winners will be announced live in a ceremony at the Specialty Food Association (SFA)'s newest trade show, Winter FancyFaire, January 11-13, 2026, in San Diego, California.

"Being recognized as a sofi Finalist is a huge honor for us and we are incredibly grateful to the Specialty Food Association," said Estelle Sohne, Founder, Flour & Olive. "Hot off the heels of our 2024 sofi Gold Award for our Almond Olive Oil Cake Mix, this recognizes our dedication to crafting globally inspired cake mixes that are delicious and wholesome."

Our Ginger Olive Oil Cake Mix stood out among more than 1,200 entries, judged by a panel of specialty food buyers in a blind tasting. Products were evaluated based on flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation.

"There are thousands of food and beverage products that are sold on store shelves and yet amidst the multitude of options, these finalists have risen above their peers to receive top scores from our expert judging panel of buyers," said Bill Lynch, president of the Specialty Food Association. "Congratulations to Flour & Olive and all the 2026 sofi Award Finalists!"

Our Ginger Cake Mix walks a delicious tightrope between bold, expressive flavors and a delicate crumb. The comforting heat of ginger, elegant complexity of allspice, and deep, aromatic notes come together to create cakes that are both familiar and transportive. Like all Flour & Olive's mixes, it is crafted with premium, clean ingredients—including unbleached and whole wheat flour—and designed to be paired with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil. Each mix invites you into a sensory journey through our interactive online cake map, featuring over 70 globally inspired recipes that bring the world into your kitchen.

Flour & Olive's award-winning cake mixes are available at select specialty retailers and through our online shop. To discover where to buy, visit our stockists page for a full list of locations.

Attendees at Winter FancyFaire 2026 can sample our Ginger Olive Oil Cake Mix at Booth #1222.

The recognition comes after a busy and productive year for Flour & Olive. We have proudly earned recognition across the industry for shaping the future of flavor. We were spotlighted by The Specialty Food Association as a Top 2025 Food Trend, named one of Food & Beverage Magazine's 2025 Industry Innovation Leaders, and highlighted among Trend Hunter's Top 100 Lifestyle Trends. Our newly launched Bake the World Cake Mix Gift Set was also selected as an Editor's Top Pick by Food & Beverage Magazine, celebrating its global inspiration and standout design.

"This recognition opens the door to exciting new retail opportunities in 2025," Sohne said. "We're just getting started—and the coming months will bring additional growth and momentum."

The sofi Awards are considered the top honor in the $219-billion specialty food industry. Past winners have included some of today's most recognizable and successful brands such as Ben & Jerry's, Kettle Chips, Fage Yogurt, Stonewall Kitchen, and Vermont Creamery.

For more information on Flour & Olive and our Ginger Olive Oil Cake Mix, visit our website or follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

About Flour & Olive:

FLOUR & OLIVE was founded in 2022 by Estelle Sohne. Located in KIRKLAND, WA, the company is driven by a mission to take customers on an interactive cake journey—one that awakens the senses and celebrates global flavors. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its presence in retail stores, bringing its immersive baking experience to even more kitchens.

About the Specialty Food Association:

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 4,000 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. SFA also produces the e-newsletter Specialty Food SmartBrief, the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions, and Show reports. Find out more at Specialtyfood.com, and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.

Press Contact: Specialty Food Association, Press Office

Media Contact for Flour & Olive: Estelle Sohne, Founder