These three cold foods companies pulled away from the pack of nominated products in online voting throughout March and April and will be honored with individual Q&As in our July eMag and online. The overall winner, Good Foods Group, will be featured on our July episode of the From the Cold Corner podcast. 

First place: Good Foods Group Dairy Free Nacho Cheeze Dip
This new offering has helped Good Foods push the refrigerated dips category by creating something not only delicious, but also championing inclusivity — its formula meets a variety of dietary needs, redefining dips that everyone can enjoy. Good Foods formulated its innovative, cauliflower-based line of dairy-free dips, including Nacho Cheeze, so that everyone can dip into something good and create shareworthy moments. On taste, this creamy, vegan dip will make any dairy lover proud — it’s a culinary masterpiece designed for flavor enthusiasts. Nacho Cheeze offers an authentic taste of ballpark nacho cheese, expertly recreated without the heaviness of traditional dairy ingredients. The dip was also uniquely inspired by consumer research that uncovered chip flavors that people love.

Second place: New York Bakery Gluten-Free Texas Toast 
Unlike most gluten-free options that rely on batter-based formulas, this product uses a first-of-its-kind, dough-based recipe that delivers the signature soft interior and crispy, golden crust of traditional Texas Toast. This innovation removes the long-standing trade-off between gluten-free and flavor, making it a game-changer in the frozen aisle. It meets a growing demand for premium, allergen-friendly frozen foods while proving that high-quality, crave-worthy bread can come straight from the freezer. More than just a niche innovation, it has earned mass-market placement in Publix, Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons—demonstrating its ability to drive both retail success and category growth.
 
Third place: Greenridge Naturals Grass-Fed Beef Refrigerated Snack Sticks
The newly formatted 1-ounce snack sticks marked the brand's entry into the rapidly rising snacking category. With the same great flavor as the retail and club-size beef sticks, these portable snack sticks meet the growing demand for healthy, high-protein grab-and-go snacking options. Greenridge Naturals' Beef Stick is a unique introduction in the refrigerated meat snacking category, as shelf-stable sticks dominate the meat snacking sector. It is all-natural, free from MSG, soy, gluten, added preservatives, and artificial colors, with zero sugar and 49% lower sodium than the USDA data for smoked beef snack sticks. Seasoned with a unique European-inspired spice blend, these snack sticks stand out in both the snacking and refrigerated categories for their quality and freshness.

Thank you to the dozens of companies who submitted new retail products for consideration and congratulations again to Good Foods Group, New York Bakery and Greenridge Naturals for earning top spots in 2025!