From Our Print Edition

Emerging Brands Spotlight Innovation Across Frozen and Refrigerated Foods

HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 12, 2026) — The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2026 Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest, a program designed to recognize standout innovation from emerging brands across the frozen and refrigerated food categories.

This year’s finalists reflect how frozen and refrigerated foods continue to evolve, bringing fresh ideas, differentiated products, and new approaches to familiar categories that align with how consumers shop, cook, and eat today.

“The strength of this year’s finalists speaks to the momentum we’re seeing across frozen and refrigerated foods,” said Tricia Greyshock, President & CEO of NFRA. “These brands are elevating familiar categories, bringing fresh ideas to market, and introducing products that create new opportunities for growth across the industry.”

The 2026 Penguin Pitch Finalists include:

• Di Fara – Vodka Sauce Pizza: A vodka sauce pizza inspired by the iconic Brooklyn pizzeria, bringing a classic Italian-American flavor to grocery retail.
• E & J Specialty Foods – Ice Box Jam: Frozen spreadable strawberries designed to be warmed or served cold across breakfast, snacks, and desserts.
• Folkland Foods – Potato Tots: Organic tots cooked in olive oil and seasoned with Himalayan salt.
• Fronen – Caramel Chocolate Crunch Bar: A dairy-free frozen dessert bar made with coconut cream, sweetened with coconut sugar, and finished with a chocolate coating and puffed quinoa crunch.
• Mad Mutz – The Stingerz: Mozzarella sticks made with fresh, filler-free mutz and a habanero hot honey caramelized crust.
• Ripi Foods – Ripi Beef Short Rib Ravioli: Ravioli filled with slow-braised beef short rib in red wine, finished with Swiss chard and Parmesan.
• San Diablo Artisan Churros – Take & Bake Churros: Pre-fried, pre-filled churros ready for the air fryer with dulce de leche or chocolate hazelnut filling.
• Skinny Butcher – Crazy Dippers: Grilled chicken breast strips paired with dipping sauce in a portable, high-protein snack pack.

The grand prize winner will be announced later this year and will receive a featured product showcasing opportunity at Café NFRA during the 2026 NFRA Convention, held October 17-20, 2026, National Harbor, Md. Café NFRA offers emerging brands direct exposure to industry leaders and retail decision-makers throughout the Convention.

In addition, three Honorable Mention awards will be presented, recognizing excellence in:

• Most Creative Packaging
• Most Disruptive Product
• Most Unique Promotional Campaign

For more information about the Penguin Pitch program and updates on this year’s finalists, visit nfraweb.org.

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About the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA)
NFRA is a non-profit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. NFRA sponsors national promotions ReDiscover Dairy & Frozen (January), March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month, and Summer Favorites Ice Cream & Novelties (June/July); and provides consumer information such as lifestyle content, meal preparation tips, recipes and sweepstakes opportunities through its Easy Home Meals consumer website and social media properties. To learn more, visit nfraweb.org and easyhomemeals.com.