NRA to present 2015 FABI Awardees at May event

NEW food and drink trends that are likely make a mark in today’s restaurant industry will be showcased at the NRA Show 2015 from May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. This year, 28 products have won the Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards as chosen by the National Restaurant Association for their achievement in taste, marketability, creativity and profitability potential. Among them introduce gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives to local sourcing initiatives, including a revolutionary technology to freeze fruits and vegetables for up to three years.

The Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards recognize progressive food and beverage products that will make a significant impact in the restaurant industry. Representing the largest number of products to date in the awards’ five-year history, the 28 winners represent  today’s  leading  food  trends  from  new  takes  on  gluten-free  and  vegetarian  alternatives  to  local sourcing initiatives, including a revolutionary technology to freeze fruits and vegetables for up to three years. 

An  independent  panel  of  experts,  representing  a  variety  of  both  commercial  and  non-commercial  industry segments, selected the FABI Award recipients based on their exciting benefits to restaurant operators as well as the end consumer.

Some of the 2015 FABI Award winners are:

Brands of Britain, LLC  |  Fever-Tree Hand-Picked Elderflower Tonic Water  |  BOOTH #3784

Artisan-crafted in glass bottles to ensure premium freshness and high levels of carbonation, Fever-Tree Hand-Picked Elderflower Tonic Water uses only the best natural ingredients—handpicked elderflower from the UK, real quinine from Africa, and pure cane sugar—making its refreshing floral flavor both light and subtle in character, a true standout among mixers.

The Coca-Cola Company  |  Coca-Cola Freestyle® 7000  |  BOOTH #4402

Offering 60+ beverages, the Coca-Cola Freestyle® 7000 is an ice-cooled countertop beverage dispenser that saves space and retrofitting costs for foodservice operators who want the advantages of the original Freestyle, but without compromising the benefits of consumer engagement, flavor variety and choice, and unparalleled access to consumption data and marketing programs.

CUP4CUP LLC  |  Gluten-Free Wholesome Flour Blend  |  BOOTH #10233

Developed in the kitchen of the famed French Laundry in Napa Valley, CA, Cup4Cup’s new Wholesome flour blend boasts such healthy additions as ground golden flaxseed and rice bran delivering 4g of fiber, 1200mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and 14g of whole grains per serving, making this the premier certified gluten-free, dairy-free, Kosher and non-GMO Project Verified cup-for-cup flour replacement for cooking and baking.

Cane Simple™  |  Liquid Sugar  |  BOOTH #10730

The only individually packaged simple syrup on the market and available in three flavors—

Original, Mint and Vanilla—this all-natural Liquid Sugar not only dissolves instantly into cold beverages (unlike granulated sugar), but is ideal for hot beverages too.     

Explore Asian Inc.  |  Organic Black Bean Spaghetti  |  BOOTH #10635

Offering foodservice operators another way to reach the growing consumer audience looking for healthier meals and gluten-free dishes, this delicious Black Bean Spaghetti cooks to al dente in just 7-8 minutes, delivering an organic, vegan, non-GMO and kosher experience packed with 25g of protein and 12g of fiber per serving.

Hail Merry® LLC  |  Nut Hummus   |  BOOTH #10642

Made from Macadamia nuts and cashews rather than traditional garbanzo beans, these dairy and gluten-free vegan dips are available in three savory flavors of Sriracha, Red Pepper Macadamia and Hatch Green Chile. They pair well with vegetables and crackers as well as sandwich spreads or pasta sauces to provide consumers with the beneficial fats and protein  derived from raw nuts.

Heineken® USA  |  BrewLock Draught Beer System  |  BOOTH #11309

This revolutionary, 100% recyclable draught system for Heineken Lager and Newcastle Brown Ale provides brewery fresh taste and perfect carbonation from the first pour to the last. It also eliminates the need for mixed gases to dispense the beer and its 20-liter kegs weigh in at 25% less than steel sixth-barrels and boast a 99.9% yield, considerably more than traditional draught systems and, therefore, more profitable.

Nice Fruit  |  Nice Fruit  |  BOOTH #9116

The result of 10 years of research, Nice Fruit allows locally produced fruits and vegetables to reach any country in the world at any time of the year via a 100% physical process that allows the foods to be frozen without damaging their cellular structure, thus maintaining the vitamins, flavor and organaleptic properties of fresh-picked produce for up to three years.

Teart  |  The New Way of Drinking Tea  |  BOOTH #10519

Consisting of a patented conic disposable infuser that adapts to any sized paper cup and filled with 3g of premium loose-leaf tea, Teart combines the operational simplicity of tea bags with the premium loose-leaf flavors and aromas of the traditional tea pot. The result is a delicious and affordable single-serve beverage suitable for today’s on-the-go urban lifestyle.

Waiakea® Inc.   |  Waiakea® Hawaiian Volcanic Water  |  BOOTH #10638

Beginning as snowmelt and rain in one of the purest environments on Earth—the peak of Hawaii’s active Mauna Loa volcano—then naturally filtered through 14,000 feet of porous volcanic rock, Waiakea volcanic water offers consumers a delicious tasting, naturally healthy, alkaline, carbon-neutral and ethically sustainable thirst-quenching beverage.