Ciao Bella Gelato Company - Belgian Chocolate S'mores Gelato

This unstoppable gelato company that got its start in New York City’s Little Italy in 1983 has taken home its 17^th sofi Award in 17 years. When asked about the key to the winning streak, Deborah Holt, vice president of marketing, could think of a few strategies that seem to be working.

“We use high-quality ingredients, so our products taste great, but we also have an advantage because we’ve worked with chefs for so many years—since 1988,” she notes. “We tend to be ahead of the food-trend/food-innovation curve. Last year, for example, blood orange was trendy, but we won our sofi for Blood Orange [Sorbet] in 2006.”

Sometimes being ahead of the trends requires a look to the past. This year’s sofi Gold Winner—made with Belgian chocolate gelato, large chocolate chunks, marshmallow swirls and bits of graham cracker—evolved from memories of yesteryear.

“Ice cream is nostalgic,” says Holt. “And s’mores are a part of that nostalgia too.” The product was developed not only to reach chocolate lovers but also to appeal to a male audience as a modern twist on a campfire favorite. It uses natural ingredients, is rBST-free, has no corn syrup or artificial hormones and is dairy kosher. Last year Ciao Bella switched from corn syrup to tapioca syrup and from refined sugar to organic evaporated cane sugar in all products.

Expect to see more innovations from Ciao Bella as the company plans to reshape the way consumers perceive sorbet. “It’s not just low-fat,” says Holt. “It can be indulgent.”—Deborah Moss

How to Enjoy It: Next to a roaring campfire—but not too close, lest your gelato melt too quickly.

MSRP: $4.99/pint

Website: ciabellagelato.com

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