Stonewall Kitchen wins American Inhouse Design Awards and Is Nominated for NASFT Awards

April 17, 2008 York, Maine – Quality and exceptional good taste have been the hallmarks of Stonewall Kitchen since it’s beginning in 1991. The designs and packaging of their award-winning products have continued to leave a impression on guests year after year. Recently five of Stonewall Kitchen’s creative packaging designs were awarded top honors at the American Inhouse Design Awards.

There were over 5,000 entries for numerous categories for 2007 and the creative team at Stonewall Kitchen won five awards for the following submissions:

Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Packaging 2007 “Christmas Traditions”, Stonewall Kitchen Pretzel Dip Packaging, Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Recipe Booklet, Stonewall Kitchen Downeast Cracker Boxes, Barefoot Contessa Holiday Packaging.

For four decades, Graphic Design USA has sponsored national design competitions that spotlight excellence for creative professionals. The American Inhouse Design Awards is the original and premier showcase for first rate work being done by businesses across the nation.

In addition to five design awards, three of Stonewall Kitchen’s products have been nominated at the upcoming Awards held by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT). Established in 1952, the NASFT is a not-for-profit business trade association that fosters trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. The Annual Awards are held each summer to honor truly outstanding specialty foods. The competition, judged by specialty food retailers, is open to all members of the NASFT. This summer the following Stonewall Kitchen products are up for nomination:

Balsamic Fig Dressing for Outstanding Salad Dressing. Bellini Jam in the category of Outstanding New Jam, Preserve, Honey or Nut Butter and for Stonewall Kitchen’s exclusive Barefoot Contessa line, Lemon Curd has been selected for Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Honey or Nut Butter.
Awards are announced at the annual Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, scheduled this year for late June.

Both Stonewall Kitchen and Barefoot Contessa products have been selected as Silver Finalists for the 2008 NASFT Sofi Awards Competition.

We are all extremely excited about this accolade as there were close to 1,500 submissions across 32 categories.

The items listed below have been selected:
Outstanding Salad Dressing: Balsamic Fig Dressing
Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Honey or Nut Butter: Bellini Jam-NEW Barefoot Contessa Lemon Curd

The winners will be announced at the Summer Fancy Food Show in June 2008!



Awards by the NASFT (National Association for the Specialty Food Trade)
• WINNER 2007 - Outstanding Cooking Sauce or Flavor Enhancer for Roasted Apple Grille Sauce
• FINALIST 2007 - Outstanding Cracker for Blue Cheese Seasame Seed Cracker
• WINNER 2005 - Outstanding Classic for Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam
• WINNER 2003 - Outstanding Savory Condiment for Wasabi Ginger Sauce
• WINNER 2002 - Outstanding Product Line
• WINNER 2002 - Outstanding Jam/Preserve for Black Raspberry Jam
• WINNER 2001 - Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Spread or Sweet Dessert Topping for Fig and Walnut Butter
• FINALIST 2001 - Outstanding Savory Condiment for Onion Chutney
• FINALIST 2001 - Outstanding Oil, Vinegar or Salad Dressing for Porcini Parmesan Caesar Dressing
• FINALIST 2000 - Outstanding Savory Condiment, Pasta Sauce, Cooking Enhancer or Spice for Fresh Fennel Relish
• FINALIST 2000 - Outstanding New Best Seller for Coffee Caramel Sauce
• FINALIST 1999 - Outstanding Sweet Topping for Coffee Caramel Sauce
• FINALIST 1998 - Outstanding Food Gift Pack for Let's Barbecue Kit
• FINALIST 1998 - Outstanding Packaging or Design for Maine Maple Syrup
• FINALIST 1998 - Outstanding Savory Condiment for Roasted Garlic Peanut Sauce
• FINALIST 1997 - Outstanding New Product for Sun-Dried Tomato & Olive Relish
• WINNER 1997 - Outstanding Food Gift Pack for Peanut Butter & Jam Kit
• WINNER 1997 - Outstanding Savory Condiment for Maple Chipotle Grille Sauce
• FINALIST 1996 - Outstanding Savory Condiment for Old Farmhouse Chutney
• WINNER 1996 - Outstanding New Product for Ginger Peach Tea Jam
• WINNER 1996 -Outstanding Product Line
• WINNER 1995 - Outstanding Preserve for Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam
• WINNER 1995 - Outstanding Product Line

Meet Stonewall Kitchen founders Jonathan King and Jim Stott and enjoy an outstanding weekend of food and wine, highlighted with cooking demonstrations, recipes, book signings and dinner with Jim and Jonathan.

Jim and Jonathan started Stonewall Kitchen with a passion for food, in a small home kitchen in Hampton NH. Family and friends helped bottle, label and box products to take each weekend to farmer's markets and craft fairs throughout New England.

Today, Stonewall Kitchen boasts over 6,000 wholesale accounts nationwide, thriving catalog and web divisions and eight company stores. The entire product line continues to be one of the most awarded in the industry year after year.

Jonathan and Jim together as Stonewall Kitchen have been awarded the Governor's Business Excellence Award for the State of Maine, and were selected as the choice for Entrepreneurial Business of the Year by the Small Business Association of the State of Maine in 2002. Year after year, their specialty foods are awarded prestigious NAFST awards for their products and packaging.

From $269 Per person, double occupancy.
Space is Limited!

Package Includes:

2 Nights Lodging at the White Mountain Hotel & Resort, May 16-18
Gift Bag upon arrival filled with Stonewall Kitchen products

Friday Night Reception ~ 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Meet Jim and Jonathan
Samples of Cold River Vodka and different flavored martinis
Samples of Wine from Martignetti Wines
Stonewall Kitchen recipe hors d’oeuvres
Cash Bar available

Saturday Breakfast at leisure
Presentation and Cooking Demonstration by Jim and Jonathan – 3:30-4:30 pm
Book signing to follow with Cookbooks available for sale
Cocktail Reception with Hors d’oeuvres – 6-7 pm
Special “Stonewall Kitchen” Dinner Menu – and dining with Jim and Jonathan, 7 pm

Sunday Champagne Sunday Brunch – 9 am to 1 pm

Stonewall Kitchen has been proud to support national and local charities over the past ten years. Designating a percentage of sales of several products (cause marketing) to various agencies has helped not only to build the donation for these organizations, but helps to also promote awareness of these worthy causes. The Save the Children Foundation, Share Our Strength, ARS and the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Maine have received large contributions from Stonewall Kitchen from the sales of different items. Our commitment to the environment has bee recognized in part with our donation to the Nature Conservancy of Maine. And, with a continuing interest in the education and prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS, the company donates services, goods and funding to local in national agencies dealing with this cause.

Stonewall Kitchen is pleased to also be able to help the town of York. They are active participants in the schools system, offering jobs to high school age children, providing job shadowing opportunities, hosting field trips and giving donations to local schools fund raising projects. A senior from York High School is chosen each year to receive the Stonewall Kitchen Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. Our staff is encouraged to participate in mentoring activities and several employees participate in Literacy Month in the schools by visiting classrooms and reading with classes on the elementary level. Additionally, Stonewall Kitchen contributes dozens of product donations monthly for various good causes and sponsors many local fundraisers. In the past year we have focused much of our local giving to the building fund for the town library and supporting the local food pantry.

In 2007 Stonewall Kitchen was delighted to award an $8,000 grant to the York’s Parks and Recreation Department to provide scholarship money so that all children could participate in summer programs that the town offers. Over 100 families and 400 kids were helped with this donation.

Click here to view our Charitable Giving Guidelines >>

On October 19th, 2007, Stonewall Kitchen of York was recognized as the Maine State Retailer of the Year by the Maine Merchants Association. Roger Pomerleau of the Market Place of Augusta and Andrew Charles of Westbrook-headquartered Haven’s Candies shared the MMA’s 2007 Government Service Award.

Stonewall Kitchen, the specialty food company that is quickly gaining national and international recognition.  It was awarded the Governor’s Business Excellence Award for the State of Maine in 1999.  Founders Jonathan King and Jim Stott were finalists in the regional Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002, and in the same year were awarded the SBA Small Business of the Year Award for Maine.

Governor Baldacci spoke at the award ceremony noting the company’s growth since its beginning in Kittery, Maine and the continuing commitment from Stott and King to stay in Maine. Their flagship store, located in York, has become a destination for tourists and a truly welcoming first stop to visitors from all over the US and the world.

Established in 1991, Stonewall Kitchen has developed eight retail stores (three in Maine), 6,000 wholesale accounts, and growing catalog and Internet sales. Employment has increased from 37 in 1999 to current year-round average of 250. Seasonally Stonewall Kitchen employs over 400 in the fourth quarter. Manufacturing of Stonewall Kitchen’s complete line of specialty foods is done in the York facility. Throughout the past 16 years the company has received dozens of awards for their products from the National Association of Specialty Foods Trades.

Maine Merchant Association President, Jim McGregor noted he was pleased to nominate and present Stonewall Kitchen with this year’s award. Some recent recipients have included Hammond Lumber, Reny’s, Marden’s, Greenville's Indian Hills Trading Post and Lamey-Wellehan.