2026 Deli Innovation Award: 12 Innovations That Deliver
March 25, 2026 | 7 min to read
Cast Your Vote for This Year’s Deli Business Award
The entrants of the third annual Deli Business Innovation Award showcased their top innovations that are sold in the retail deli department.
With a focus on Product, Packaging and Process, Deli Business presents the 12 top-scoring entrants and leaves it up to the industry to decide which item merits the Deli Business Innovation Award.
This year’s submissions highlight key trends, with the deli industry focused on delivering greater convenience and creating innovations that drive sales growth. This crop of winners highlights innovations that are shaping the future of the deli.
The judging, which took place in the Boca Raton, FL, offices of Deli Business, was conducted by editors and staff who are well-versed in the industry.
Only Deli Business readers will evaluate the top-scoring products selected from numerous entries. Please read the descriptions below and scroll to the form to cast your vote by June 1.
CAST YOUR VOTE / CHOOSE A WINNER
- Learn about the innovations below.
- Use the form at the bottom to make your choices. Hit submit when you’re done.
- POLLING ENDS AT 5 P.M., PST ON JUNE 1.
Athenos
Crumbled Tajín Feta Cheese
Stoughton, WI
Caputo Cheese
Orecchiette di Mozzarella
Melrose Park, IL
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese LLC
Heart-Shaped Fresh Mozzarella
Waterloo, WI
Creminelli Fine Meats
Creminelli 7-Ounce Entertaining Tray
Salt Lake City, UT
DeLallo
Olive & Pickle Dip
Mount Pleasant, PA
DePalo Foods
Chicken Bacon Ranch Calzone
Belmont, NC
Fresh Innovations LLC
Yo Quiero! Candied Jalapeno Peppers
Rhome, TX
Gonnella Baking Company
Pretzel Round Bun
Schaumburg, IL
LaClare Creamery
Creamery Lemon Bar Goat Cheese
Malone, WI
Oolie
Dips and Yogurts
Johnson City, TN
Schaller & Weber
Plant-Based Pâté
New York, NY
Upper Cut
Tapas Snack Trays
Phoenix, AZ
7 of 19 article in DeliBusiness Spring 2026
