2018 SOFI award winner - best new product in oils

PORTLAND, Ore. - April 24, 2018 - PRLog -- This outstanding cooking and spreading oil won Best New Product in the Specialty Food Association's 2018 sofi™ Award competition.

A sofi is the top honor in the $127 billion specialty food industry. "sofi" stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation and represents the best of the best from members of the Specialty Food Association.

The NITER KIBBEH (ETHIOPIAN STYLE GHEE), by AHARA RASA GHEE (soon to launch rebrand as simply Ahara) was one of 150 Winners selected by a national panel of specialty food experts from more than 3,000 entries across 39 Awards categories including Outstanding Chocolate, Cheese, and Savory Snack. Every eligible entry is carefully assessed by passionate and knowledgeable food professionals including chefs, culinary experts, academics, food writers, and category buyers.  Products are judged on Taste, including flavor, appearance, texture and aroma, Ingredient Quality and Innovation.  All tastings are blind.

"We are honored that our Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced Ghee) has won the SOFI new product award," says Andrea Shuman, co-owner of Ahara Rasa Ghee. "Our Niter Kibbeh is one of our proudest achievements and to be recognized in this award is a great honor and validation. Many don't know what Niter Kibbeh is, but have had it when dining at Ethiopian restaurants. Niter Kibbeh is a specially cooked clarified butter (sometimes made) with onion, garlic, ginger and always with Ethiopian spices like Koseret, Korerima and Black seed. It is savory and delicious on pretty much anything you cook it with or put it on! We are so grateful to have been recognized for this product."

Niter Kibbeh, By Ahara Rasa Ghee is found at selected Whole Foods, Market of Choice, Natural Grocers, New seasons and in cooperative markets on the west coast as well as online on Amazon. ARG will launch their own online ecommerce site this Summer, 2018.

"A sofi means a product, and the people behind it, have arrived," says Phil Kafarakis, president, Specialty Food Association. "This year's finalists represent a devotion to excellence and innovation in specialty food that continues to fuel our industry, excite consumer and expand retail offerings around the world."

The sofi Awards are open to members of the Specialty Food Association, a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 for food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs with more than 3,600 members in the U.S. and abroad. For more information on the association and its Fancy Food Shows, go to specialtyfood.com (http://www.specialtyfood.com). Learn more about the 2018 sofi Awards at specialtyfood.com/sofi (http://www.specialtyfood.com/sofi).

About Ahara Rasa Ghee

AHARA RASA GHEE was founded in 2012 by Andrea Shuman and is now operated with the help of co-owner and fellow Ayurvedic Practitioner, Martin Lemke.  Located in Portland, Oregon. The company's guiding principles rest in sustainability and authenticity. Born out of Andrea's Ayurvedic Health Practice, ARG has never strayed from using ayurvedic principles to make their ghee. The company's ethic rests on Organic, domestic and cultured butter from pastured cows made in the traditional process.  Their flavored ultra-clarified butters allow their customer to use simple, healthy ingredients and make delicious meals with very little effort. ARG's future plans include a re-brand and entirely updated packaging, logo and sizes, set to launch in June along with new product offerings.

About the Specialty Food Association

About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association is a thriving community of food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs. Established in 1952 in New York, the not-for-profit trade association provides its 3,600 members in the U.S. and abroad with resources, knowledge and connections to champion and nurture their companies in an always-evolving marketplace. The Association owns and produces the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, and presents the sofi™ Awards (http://www.specialtyfood.com/sofi) honoring excellence in specialty food. Learn more at specialtyfood.com (http://www.specialtyfood.com/).

Ahara Rasa Ghee media contact:

Andrea Shuman, co-owner, 503-997-5050, andrea@iloveghee.com

Specialty Food Association Media Contact:

PR Department, press@specialtyfood.com