Flavor of Georgia finalists hope contest helps their food companies

Winning could help get their products wider distribution in markets across the state, boosting their chances of long-term business success.

“I feel like it would get my name out there, just take it to the next level,” said Gordon, who owns Cuisine on the Run, a retail food shop and commercial kitchen in Marietta, and also sells her products through some local stores and at farmers markets in the area.

“We’re just a small company, but we have lots of potential,” said Gordon echoing the views of others in the competition.

For some of the finalists, at least, the holy grail of distribution is Whole Foods, the giant chain with a buy-local ethos. That, they admit, is no easy pursuit. Still, the aura of being a Flavor of Georgia winner couldn’t hurt.

Susan Cordell, a finalist in the snack foods category for her Goodness Gracious! Granola, has a simple hope if she wins.

“Just getting it out there in front of more people,” said Cordell, whose business is in Lawrenceville. “The granola market is kind of flooded, honestly. We just have to keep knocking on doors.”

Getting the products of the 25 finalists and the seven ultimate winners out in the market is what the competition is all about, said John McKissick, director of the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development at the University of Georgia, which runs the event.

The idea, he said, is to help educate Georgia food industry entrepreneurs on what they need to do to advance their products in the marketplace, as well as help them connect to potential buyers.

While the finalists get to showcase their wares before a panel of food industry insiders, obtaining invaluable advice, all entrants (this year there were 80) get feedback on elements ranging from packaging to financing to the quality of the product itself.

McKissick said helping Georgia food companies is critical because food processing is " an important segment of our economy.”

One of this year’s finalists knows the benefits of the competition. Will Harris’ White Oak Pastures, competing in the meat category with its beef sausage, is a past winner.

“When you’re a small business operating in a limited geographic area and trying to appeal to a narrow market segment … then the more you can expose yourself to your consumer, the more points you put on the board,” Harris said. “It’s about getting your name in front of folks in a positive light.”

One caution offered by some former winners of the competition is to not expect sales to increase without doing plenty of work.

“You really have to do your own marketing effort,” said Cathy Cunningham Hays, owner of Geraldine's Bodacious Food Co., maker of cheese straws and other snacks. "It's a great honor. You have to promote and take advantage of it."

The finalists

BBQ and hot sauces category: Savannah Bee Co.’s Grill Honey; Southern Roots Enterprises’ T. Bill Lee’s Secret BBQ Sauce; Kickin Mule’s Southern Delight BBQ Sauce; Amici’s Original “X” Hot Wing Dipping Sauce.

Confections: Let Them Eat TOFFEE’s Georgia Pecan Toffee; Plain Peanuts’ Nutty Butter Fudge; Gourmet Herb N’ Garden’s Georgia’s Own Biscotti; Lane Southern Orchards’ Lanes’ Fresh Peach Bread.

Dairy products: Cuisine on the Run’s SunGoat Pesto; Decimal Place Farm’s Decimal Place Farm Goat Feta; CalyRoad Creamery’s Clouds of CalyRoad – Camembert.

Jam, jellies and sauces: The Local Harvest’s Extreme Tomato Chutney Original; Cruzon Inc.’s Annie Lee’s Gourmet Chow-Chow Relish; Olive Affairs’ Olive Affairs Gourmet Olive Tapenade.

Meat products: Double Hill Farms’ Quality Pork Products – Pork Chops; Grillers Pride’s Grillers Pride Kosher Italian Grilling Sausages; White Oak Pastures’ White Oak Pastures Grass Fed Beef Sausage; Blue Marlin International’s Blue Marlin Brand American Shrimp.

Snack foods: Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning’s Lauri Jo’s Salsa; Goodness Gracious! Granola’s Goodness Gracious! Granola “You Struck Gold”; Frank Beam’s Buffalo Chicken Dip; Zocalo Restaurant’s Salsa Verde.

Other foods: Oak Leaf at Belmont Specialty Foods’ Honey Bacon Vinaigrette; Vidalia Valley’s Organic Vidalia Onion Tomato Basil Dressing; Hillside Orchard Farms’ No Sugar Added Blueberry Cider.