The North American Foodservice Grandprix Awards

GRAND PRIX WINNERS: The IFDA Grand Prix Awards were presented during a celebration last January in Toronto.

CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & SPICES

The Winner: VenturaTransFat-FreeKitchen^™The Company: Ventura Foods, LLCProduct Description: Pride Zero Trans Whipped Buttery Spreads contain zero grams of trans fat per serving, are low in saturated fat and are cholesterol free. Phase Zero Trans Liquid Butter Alternative provides natural butter flavor for grilling, sauteing, mixing and topical applications. Both products assist operators in menuing healthy foods with ontrend flavor profiles. Judges said the products are "less expensive than real butter, can be heated to a higher temperature than real butter and have the added benefit of being marketed as a trans-fat free product, which has a high perceived value."

DRY GROCERY

The Winner: UncleBen'sClassicRisottoThe Company: MasterFoodservices^™Product Description: This risotto is fully cooked, fast and foolproof, yielding the same creamy taste and texture as scratch risotto. Made with 100 percent Aborio rice, Uncle Ben's Classic Risotto is easy to customize to any menu, from traditional Italian sides to creamy New England seafood entrees. Small shelf-stable pouches allow for preparation of one or two servings at a time in as little as 90 seconds. Judges said the risotto was "an interesting option for operators who need a higher-end convenient food." They also said it stood up well to the cooking and serving process. "Anyone can make this," one judge remarked.

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

The Winner: Lamb'sSupreme®MashedPotatoesThe Company: ConAgra Foodservice Specialty Potato ProductsProduct Description: Judges tasted two varieties: Original Refrigerated and Jalapeno Cheddar Redskin. Original has a fresh mashed-potato flavor combined with real milk and butter. It has no chemical preservatives and zero grams of trans fat. The Cheddar Redskin variety gets its flavor from cheddar cheese and spicy jalapeno. Judges said "the clean taste, the fresh lumps and ready-to-use state make this option stand out among others in its category. Both products are packed in heat-and-serve, 4-pound pouches.

PREPARED SOUPS & ENTREES

The Winner: Campbell'sWell&GoodSoupsThe Company: Campbell Soup CompanyProduct Description: This is a new line of full-flavored, nutritionally responsible soups that are designed to help consumers watch their weight. The line, which includes Rosemary Chicken & Dumplings and Rustic Beef & Mushroom with Cracked Peppercorns, features on-trend flavors that can fit under many weight-control plans. Each soup is under 100 calories per 8 oz. serving. "Healthy is not supposed to taste this good," remarked the judges. They also liked the homemade taste and look of the soups. "It's a nice option to eat this soup on a diet and not feel like it," remarked another judge.

DAIRY PRODUCTS & EGGS

The Winner: PrestigeUltraOmega3,LiquidEggProductThe Company: Burnbrae FarmsProduct Description: This is a premium whole-egg product enriched with Omega 3 polyunsaturates. Made from Grade A eggs, the ready-to-use product is ultrapasteurized for food safety. The product comes in a carton and requires no cracking nor beating and there is no risk of shell fragments. The carton also takes up 60 percent less storage space in the refrigerator. Judges said the ultrapasteurization and the addition of Omega 3 "are two very important factors in differentiating this product from other liquid eggs."

DESSERTS, SNACKS, CONFECTIONERY & CANDY

The Winner: Ritz®ChipsThe Company: Kraft FoodserviceProduct Description: This snack from Kraft Foodservice offers the taste of Ritz with the satisfaction of a chip. The product is baked for an oven-toasted taste and crunch. It has approximately 40 percent less fat than regular fried potato chips. Ritz® Chips come in two flavors— Original and Sour Cream & Onion. The original flavor offers the buttery taste of Ritz. The Sour Cream & Onion offers a bigger and bolder flavor. A barbecue flavor, not tested by judges, is also availble. Judges liked the single-serve bags, which are ideal for grab-and-go. Judges also liked that the chips are more healthful than regular chips because they are baked.

CLEANING & CHEMICAL PRODUCTS

The Winner: Oasis146Multi-QuatSanitizerThe Company: Ecolab, Inc.Product Description: This product from Ecolab is an EPA-registered disinfectant/sanitizer that does not require a rinse step after the sanitizing step. It is effective across a dilution range of 0.25 to 0.67 oz per gallon of water and has a 150-400 ppm sanitation range for maximum convenience. Simply put: it's an easy spray and wipe, mop bucket or third sink sanitizer with no rinsing required. Judges said the product's ability to remove the rinse step is a big plus. A product this easy to use is also welcomed and will save labor, judges added.

POULTRY, MEAT & SEAFOOD

The Winner: Lou'sFullyCookedPrimeRib,MediumRareThe Company: TMF—The Meat FactoryProduct Description: This prime rib is slow-roasted to a medium rare and lightly seasoned to bring out the rich and hearty beef flavors. It has also been hand-trimmed to provide minimal shrinkage. The company gaurantees its tenderness, rich taste, natural texture and high yield. Judges described the product as very tender with nice flavor. They also said it was appealing to the eye. "Being fully cooked is labor saving for the operator and offers flexibility in cooking options," said one judge.

PAPER, PLASTIC & FOIL

The Winner: CleanBetweenHighChair&DispenserSystemThe Company: Classy Kid, Inc.Special Honor: Best of ShowProduct Description: The CleanBetween High Chair and Dispenser System features disposable products, such as bibs and placemats. The placemats have a light adhesive strip that sticks to the table edge to provide mess control, germ defense and easy cleanup. The dispenser can mount to existing high chairs or to the wall or hostess station. Cartridges for the system include bibs, placemats, Table Bibs® (a bib and placemat combination) or sanitizing wips. Judges said the system was easy for servers to change when empty and would appeal to both operators and parents.

TABLETOP

The Winner: Privilege^™DinnerNapkinsThe Company: Cascades Tissue GroupProduct Description: These embossed dinner napkins have the look and feel of linen, but are a single-use, disposable product that save on the cleaning and replacement costs of linen. They come in all-white or with custom printing in up to four colors. Cases contain eight dispensers with 50 napkins in each. Because of the dispenser, these napkins can be used for all-purpose hand towels in washrooms. The judges said the napkins are well made and durable, even when they are damp. They also thought that the ability to put a foodservice logo on the napkin gave this product the edge over other paper napkins and even linen.

DAIRY PRODUCTS & EGGS

The Winner: ActiviaThe Company: Danone, Inc.Special Honor: Innovation Award Product Description: Activia is a stirred probiotic yogurt that promotes regularity in the digestive system. The product, which is packaged in eight singleserve containers, is positioned as a health product reflecting the trend toward sounder diets. Flavors include prune, peach and fiber, vanilla and strawberry. Judges said the live bacteria is a strong selling point for consumers searching for more healthful eating alternatives. They also said the flavors are "very good" and comparable to competitive products. Operators will like this product for healthoriented breakfast programs.

POULTRY, MEAT & SEAFOOD

The Winner: BalanceWiseSeasoned,BreadedChickenFilletswithFlaxThe Company: Elmira Poultry, Inc.Special Honor: Innovation AwardProduct Description: Designed exclusively for the foodservice industry, these whole-meat fillets are coated with a breading utilizing flax. As a result, they have a nutty flavor with light peppery highlights and a crispy texture. A single serving provides fiber, Omega 3 fatty acids and is free of trans fatty acids. The judges said the chicken fillets with flax are an ideal option for someone who is looking for a delicious, healthful chicken item on a menu.

BEVERAGES, HOT & COLD

The Winner: FairleeSparklingThe Company: A Lassonde, Inc.Product Description: Fairlee Sparkling is a carbonated beverage made with 99 percent pure juice. The apple and raspberry-flavored products provide a refreshing and more healthful alternative to traditional carbonated beverages. Judges said Fairlee Sparkling has a "great taste and smell," along with an attractive package for self-service display.They added that the beverage has a clean, crisp taste and a nice finish.