BEST CONDIMENT FINALISTS

STARTUP CPG SHELFIES AWARDS

BEST CONDIMENT

FINALISTS

SYDPLAYEAT

SYDPLAYEAT’s Original SYDSALT is the truffle salt that will replace all other seasonings in your cabinet. Packed with intense umami flavor with a hint of heat, SYDPLAYEAT uses real black truffle, ground into a fine dust, so you get a truffle explosion with each bite. Aleppo pepper, chives and red pepper flakes round out the truffle flavor with brightness and a bit of heat. Whether you use it as an ingredient or a finishing salt, this upgrades any meal or snack to Michelin Star quality flavor.

NEW YORK

SHUK

New York Shuk is bringing Middle Eastern flavors to your pantry. Their Matbucha with Olives and Mint is a slow-cooked tomato condiment that transforms any at-home dish. This traditional Moroccan classic is made with the addition of olives and mint for bright flavors with a tangy twist from preserved lemons. This craft-quality condiment is delicious on your favorite proteins, vegetables, or even as a one-ingredient base for Middle Eastern staple dish, Shakshuka.

HAVEN’S

KITCHEN

Haven’s Kitchen’s Gingery Miso sauce is the flavor-packed pouch that’s upgrading all of our favorite meals. Miso (fermented soybean paste) and ginger are blended with dashes of toasted sesame oil and gluten-free soy sauce to create an umami-rich, salty/sweet marinade & simmer sauce. On a mission to make home cooking more fun, Haven’s Kitchen’s squeezable sauces are fresh and easy to use.

BEST CONDIMENT

AWSM SAUCE

Before Heinz, there were tons of ketchups primarily made out of fruit and vinegar. But when Heinz came in, they decided that tomatoes would be "the thing”— and created a sauce that hit taste buds at different parts of the tongue with the sweet and tanginess. At the time, Heinz was an innovator, the first-of-its-kind sauce that changed the game for good. Today, Heinz is the standard, and has been taking up stagnant shelf space in a dusty category. That is, until AWSM Sauce came in — determined to redefine the dry world of condiments with sauces in powdered form. In 2021, AWSM Sauce was born as a line of delicious, tangy sauces that come to you as a powder to be mixed with water in a reusable container. Once mixed, these sauces mimic the exact texture of those you know and love, without having lugged around the excess liquid in typical sauces. Co-founders Paul Lehmann and Carl Starkey, two dads with a passion for grilling and hosting, saw firsthand the massive plastic problem in the kitchen. They decided to do their part to find a solution, so their kids will never have to. AWSM Sauce is the world's first sustainable sauce company delivering their sauces dry without the BPA add-in or shipping of standard water-based sauces delivered in plastic squeeze bottles that fill pantries and landfill. Within the first few months, AWSM Sauce was accepted into Techstars' MN Twins Program, putting them in the spotlight alongside other major brands. Being selected for a nationally televised show all within the first 6 months of R&D really pushed them to get product ready, and into customers' hands early.

As they continue to grow, the AWSM Sauce team will shift their focus to consumer education. “For any brand, being first-to-market is a blessing and a curse,” says Carl. “We are building our customer base and learning what works and doesn't work ahead of all others. We are footing the build for consumer education, while building a brand that is trusted for sustainability in a sleepy category.” AWSM Sauce is excited that recent recognition will allow them to continue to spread their mission: to create AWSM tasting and innovative food products that reduce waste in the kitchen and make people smile. AWSM Sauce’s products can be found on their website.