Last week we held the 2nd Annual Fuchs Favorites Contest – an internal contest where employees submit their innovative seasoning ideas for snacks and dips! We received almost 75 ideas from our employees, and a team of judges narrowed it down to the top 6. Our R&D team partnered with our 6 finalists to make their vision come to life. At the tasting event last week, our employees voted for their favorite and crowned the winner…. Read below to learn more about the winner and our five other fantastic finalists!
Winner: Carlton Graham, Operations – Rasta Spice Potato Chips
A huge congratulations to Carlton Graham, a member of our Operations team, for winning the contest this year with his Rasta Spice Potato Chip idea. Rasta Spice, which is used to make jerk chicken, is spicy, smoky and truly craveable. Associate Food Scientist Mia Andrisani brought Carlton’s vision to life, basing the seasoning on Carlton’s own recipe. Employees loved the addictive heat this seasoning brought, along with its tropical vibes and ethnic flair.
Finalist: Tom Cossentino, Assistant Controller – Honey Maple Sweet Potato Crisps
Tom’s kitten, Luna, served as an unlikely inspiration for his contest submission this year. As Tom describes, “My wife took a brief business trip to New England over the summer and came back with a little bottle of pure maple syrup from a local artisan’s shop. We waited until the first weekend with a tinge of that fall crispness in the air and we made whole wheat pancakes so we could try out the little bottle of maple syrup. Well, we set the table and put the little syrup bottle out with the top uncorked then returned to the kitchen to finish the last pancake. Moments later we heard the thud of the kitten’s paws as she landed on the dining room table and down went the syrup bottle, most of its contents spilled on the table. In the process of cleaning up the mess, we ended up with a burned pancake and a very sticky kitten but managed to salvage a few drops of syrup that were still in the little jar. My wife mentioned that we could add some honey to our now cold pancakes to remedy our lack of syrup and the honey & maple idea was born.” Food Technologist Courtney Stokes created Tom’s seasoning, which our employees loved for its sweetness – and its funny back story.
Finalist: Ashley Brooks, Regulatory Supervisor – Broccoli & Cheese Crackers
When Ashley decided to submit an idea for the contest this year, she thought about what she would like to see on the grocery store shelves as a consumer. “I want a snack that I can both indulge in and have “good for you” veggies. Broccoli & Cheese is a classic comfort food, but the broccoli also makes it a “superfood.” With consumers like myself becoming increasingly health-conscious, I know this “superfood” ingredient is right on trend,” Ashley describes. The newest member of our R&D team, Mesay Wakjira, created Ashley’s seasoning, which features “superfood” products from our sister company, ESG Krauter.
Finalist: Ryan Stone, Regional Sales Manager – Nduja Cream Cheese Dip
Ryan, partnered with Food Technologist Brian Duffy, brought some heat to the contest with his Nduja Cream Cheese Dip. His seasoning was inspired by a recent trip to Italy with his wife. “Nduja is a spicy pork spread found there although we had it as a sauce for pasta. We were warned by the waitress that it would be very spicy and while it ended up being a little much for my wife, I couldn’t get enough of it,” Ryan explains.
Finalist: Kathryn Svendsgaard, Senior Sales Manager – Roasted Pimento Dip with Lemon & Sea Salt
Packed full of flavor, Kathryn’s dip is highly versatile too! “High roasting a Pimento Pepper takes on a sweet, nutty, caramelized flavor that pairs beautifully with the salty tang of lemon and sea salt. This is one of my go-to dips for entertaining and can be a replacement for Mayonnaise on a sandwich,” she notes. Senior Food Scientist Steven Thommen designed this yummy dip, which our employees loved for its bright citrus notes.
Finalist: Kyle Shultz, Supply Chain Planner/Analyst – Jalapeno Honey Tortilla Chips
Kyle’s inspiration was his love of spicy foods, paired with a hint of sweetness. “It started when I first tried a honey hummus, but I wanted something more. I decided to dice up jalapenos to add them to the dip, and it was perfect! I believe this would be popular flavor because it provides that sweet taste we all crave with a little bit of heat,” Kyle explains. Associate Food Scientist Brian Swing and R&D Director Dan Grazaitis teamed up to make the perfect sweet heat seasoning.
Interested in trying one of these five fantastic seasonings? Contact Rebekah Wicke at [email protected] to request a sample.
For more information about Fuchs North America's products and programs that support food manufacturers in their product development needs, please