The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has named eight finalists for its 2026 Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest, spotlighting innovation across frozen and refrigerated categories ahead of this year’s NFRA Convention.
The grand prize winner will receive a featured showcasing opportunity at Café NFRA during the 2026 NFRA Convention, to be held Oct. 17-20 in National Harbor, Maryland. Three Honorable Mention awards will also be presented for Most Creative Packaging, Most Disruptive Product and Most Unique Promotional Campaign.
2026 finalists
The eight finalists span pizza, frozen desserts, snacks, pasta and breakfast categories:
- Di Fara is entering a Vodka Sauce Pizza inspired by the iconic Brooklyn pizzeria.
- E & J Specialty Foods submitted Ice Box Jam, a frozen spreadable strawberry product designed to be served warm or cold across breakfast, snack and dessert occasions.
- Folkland Foods entered organic Potato Tots cooked in olive oil and seasoned with Himalayan salt.
- Fronen is competing with a Caramel Chocolate Crunch Bar — a dairy-free frozen dessert bar made with coconut cream, sweetened with coconut sugar and topped with a chocolate coating and puffed quinoa crunch.
- Mad Mutz entered The Stingerz, mozzarella sticks made with fresh, filler-free mozzarella and a habanero hot honey caramelized crust.
- Ripi Foods submitted Beef Short Rib Ravioli filled with slow-braised short rib in red wine, Swiss chard and Parmesan.
- San Diablo Artisan Churros entered Take & Bake Churros – pre-fried, pre-filled churros for the air fryer with dulce de leche or chocolate hazelnut filling.
- Skinny Butcher rounded out the field with Crazy Dippers, a portable high-protein snack pack of grilled chicken breast strips with dipping sauce.
Tricia Greyshock, president and CEO of NFRA, said the finalist class reflects broader momentum in the frozen and refrigerated aisle.
“The strength of this year’s finalists speaks to the momentum we’re seeing across frozen and refrigerated foods,” Greyshock said. “These brands are elevating familiar categories, bringing fresh ideas to market, and introducing products that create new opportunities for growth across the industry.”
The grand prize winner will be announced later in 2026. For updates, visit nfraweb.org.