Airborne Honey Wins 2026 sofi™ Gold Award & Grand Honor for Timeless Taste at Winter FancyFaire

PRESS RELEASE

115 Years in the Making: New Zealand's Airborne Honey Wins 2026 sofi™ Gold Award & Grand Honor for Timeless Taste at Winter FancyFaire 

First-time entrant earns one of specialty food's highest honors for Creamed Clover Honey

VENTURA, CA, January 2026 – Airborne Honey, New Zealand's longest-standing honey company, has earned two sofi™ Awards from the Specialty Food Association (SFA), marking a breakthrough moment for the 115-year-old family business and introducing American consumers to the craftsmanship behind one of the world's most trusted honey producers.

The sofi Awards, often seen as the Oscars of specialty food, have celebrated excellence and innovation since 1972. This year's winners were unveiled at the SFA's newly launched Winter FancyFaire, held January 11–13, 2026, in San Diego, California.

"Winning the Grand Honor Sofi Award for Timeless Taste is a testament to the quality Kiwis have loved for generations," said Kelsey Horne, U.S. VP of Sales for Airborne Honey. "While Airborne has been producing honey in New Zealand since 1910, we have been supplying the US market for the last 30 years through smaller specialty food stores, but in the last few years, we have started to upscale our offering to a broader range of US customers. This recognition validates what our company has known for over a century—that exceptional honey starts with exceptional care."

Airborne's Creamed Clover Honey rose to the top among more than 1,200 entries, evaluated through blind tastings by a panel of specialty food buyers. Entries were judged on flavor, texture, aroma, appearance, ingredient quality, and innovation, making the recognition both rigorous and highly competitive.

"Congratulations to Airborne Honey and all the 2026 sofi Award finalists," said Bill Lynch, President of the Specialty Food Association. "These finalists rose above their peers to receive top scores from our expert judging panel."

What Makes This Clover Honey Different

Harvested from New Zealand's pristine clover pastures, Airborne's award-winning Creamed Clover Honey is known for its smooth, velvety texture and delicate buttery-vanilla flavor. The honey is raw, unfiltered, and slowly creamed over several days to achieve a silky consistency that won't crystallize into hard, lumpy honey.

Perfect for spreading on toast, swirling into yogurt, or using in baking—no more wrestling with crystallized honey from the jar.

A Momentum-Fueled Year for Airborne Honey

The sofi win caps a year of growth for Airborne Honey. In 2025, the brand reestablished its presence in the U.S. Northeast and expanded into Southern California. Globally, Airborne grew its Costco presence from New Zealand into Australia and China.

"This recognition helps us introduce American consumers to the quality and flavor they can expect from New Zealand honey," added Horne. "In the coming months, our Mānuka Honey range will enter Giant Eagle stores, while our Clover Honey expands across Midwest and Northeast locations."

For more information on Airborne Honey, visit www.airbornehoney.com or follow @airbornenz on Instagram and Facebook.

About Airborne Honey

Family-founded in Canterbury, New Zealand in 1910, Airborne Honey has over 100 years of beekeeping experience in producing honey and 30 years of laboratory expertise. The company uses a patented method to prevent heat damage during packaging, ensuring the highest quality and taste. Family values of authenticity, honesty, and care drive the integrity of every jar produced.

About the SoFi Awards

The Sofi Awards are considered the top honor in the $219 billion specialty food industry. Past winners include Ben & Jerry's, Kettle Chips, Fage Yogurt, Stonewall Kitchen, and Vermont Creamery.

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing the $219 billion specialty food industry. Founded in 1952, SFA now includes more than 4,000 businesses worldwide and produces events, educational programs, and industry resources year-round. SFA owns and operates the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire™, and the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage since 1972. Learn more at SpecialtyFood.com.