Top of the Pantry Awards

Chad Gillard, Co-founder of Midwest Pantry, would like share the winners of the inaugural Top of the Pantry (TOPS) Awards, and shine a spotlight on these local food entrepreneurs.

Midwest Pantry's strategic partners at Foodservice News will also publish this list of winners in their August edition, ahead of the 2015 August Local Food & Gift Trade Show.

Rookies - awarded to a new company
 • Curly Girlz Candy (Medford, MN) – natural, preservative free fudge, toffee, old fashioned nut rolls, and more.

Shooting Stars - awarded to a new product, released within the last 12 months
 • Fierce Ferments (Northfield, MN) – locally made pro-biotic goodness in several varieties of kim chi & sauerkfraut.

Shelf Classics - awarded to an existing product that continues to impress
 • Smude Oil (Pierz, MN) – cold pressed sunflower oil in 6 flavors, soaps, lip balms, lotion and massage oils.

Zero Flour Power - awarded to a gluten-free product
 • Two Gelato Guys (St. Louis Park, MN) – foodservice sized gelato in a multitude of artisan flavors.

Good Enough to Eat, but Don’t - awarded to a premium non-consumable product
 • suds! Bath & Body (North Mankato, MN) – complete line of all natural, handmade bath and body products packaged with recyclable and/or compostable materials.
 • Create Laser Arts (Minneapolis, MN) – artist created laser-engraved coasters, ornaments, cabin wares from high quality wood, reclaimed leather, paper and other materials reflecting our connection to nature: trees and plants, vegetables and animals, bikes.  (You can find their work at the Mill City Farmers Market!)

Hey, Hey Good Lookin’ - awarded for outstanding packaging design
 • Mademoiselle Miel (St. Paul, MN) – award winning urban rooftop honey in luscious bon-bons and honey sticks.

The judging panel for the 2015 Top of the Pantry Awards included:
 •Amy Gasman (editor of FoodService News)
 •Amy Brown (co-founder/co-owner/Boss Lady of Chowgirls Killer Catering)
 •Angie Bastian (co-founder/co-owner/namesake of Angie's Boom-Chick-A-Pop)
 •Brenda Langton (owner/head chef at Spoonriver & founder of Mill City Farmer's Market)
 •Jason DeRusha (WCCO & MSP magazine)
 •Laurie Crowell (owner of Golden Fig Fine Foods)
 •Melissa Kjolsing (Executive Director of MN Cup)
 •Shelly Culver (specialty buyer at Valley Natural Foods)
 •Sue Doeden (syndicated food writer, blogger & author of 'Homemade with Honey')
 •Sue Zelickson (Minnesota Monthly magazine, WCCO Radio, founder of Women Who Really Cook and Kid's Cafe )