Scott Witherow, Franklin resident and owner, of Olive and Sinclair chocolate has some bragging rights as they received a Speciality Outstanding Food Innovation award recently at the Summer Fancy Food Show.
Olive & Sinclair was founded in September of 2009 and full sales and production of Southern Artisan Chocolate™ began in September of that year. Since then, the team at Olive & Sinclair has grown a bit, with the addition of new machines, old machines and several wonderful employees. Rounding out the O&S team are Casey Dailey, assisting and leading in production and chocolate making, a few folks to help hand wrap each chocolate bar, the occassional intern, and even Witherow’s mom, Reda, who helps with books and deliveries to many local retailers and lovers of Southern Artisan Chocolate.
The excitement was palpable at the Fancy Food Show. According to the show’s organizers, the Specialty Food Association (SFA), this year’s show was the largest ever: 2,700 exhibitors, 300 of whom were there for the first time. With sales up 18.4 percent to $88.3 billion between 2011 and 2013, times are good in the gourmet food industry.
Olive and Sinclair’s Bourbon Nib Brittle was awarded the SOFI Gold in the confectionery category. Witherow was approached by his friends at Corsair Distillery to combine his chocolate skill with their bourbon casks. The result is a 67 percent dark chocolate paired with high rye-based bourbon flavor to make for a winning combination.
Witherow has also won other awards at the SOFI; in 2013 a silver award in the chocolate category for Mexican Style Cinnamon Chili Bar, in 2010 a SOFI silver in the new product category for its Salt and Pepper bar.
Some of the new confectionery trends to note this year: Spirited – the art of craft confectioners combing with craft distillers, Smokey, Fiery- think hot chili, Coconut-paleo friendly and health conscious driven, S’mores kits- how can you beat the classic taste of chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallow.
New this year, Witherow created a line called Chocuterie combining flavors of sweet and savory such as Chocolate
Salami and Salt & Vinegar Caramel.
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