The 20 top contenders for MI New Favorite Snack, “the Biggest Snack Competition in America” have been chosen. The finalists will be competing for $50,000 in prize money September 17.
They will be presenting their snacks for the public to taste, buy and have a vote, along with a judging panel that includes Michigan broadcasting icon Chuck Gaidica.
Forty-two companies from across the state of Michigan entered the contest with five of those having multiple entries for a total of 50 snacks. The team at All Star Services Inc. then selected the top 20 based on the following criteria:
- Company story/vision
- Branding/packaging
- Company engagement (community/social media/causes)
- Marketability
- Taste/presentation
One of the following companies will win $30,000, followed by $15,000 for runner-up and $5,000 for third place.
- 4 C's Cookies and More LLC. - Chocolate Chip Cookie - Connie McDermott, Hersey, MI
- Chunk Nibbles - Original Chunk Nibble Mix - Brad Cocklin, Troy, MI
- Dave's Sweet Tooth Toffee - Milk Chocolate Toffee - Andrew Chmielewski, Harrison Township, MI
- Dot's Candy Bar - Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar - Beth Welser, St. Clair, MI
- Downey's Potato Chips - Original Sea Salt - Kali Bagley, Waterford, MI
- Emme's Plantain Chips - Masala Plantain Chip - Emme Eknam, Wyoming, MI
- Ferry Farms - Sweet and Spicy Beef Stick - Stefan Schmelzer, Litchfield, MI
- Fry Daddy's Brand - Original Snack Mix - Morgan Buehler, Spring Lake, MI
- Great Lakes Snack Co. - Candied Pecans - Jill Denkins, Manistique, MI
- Live Crispy - Coconut+Pineapple Crisp - David Shammas, Ferndale, MI
- Mr. Leslie's Cheesecake - Turtle Cheesecake - Marcus Leslie, Lansing, MI
- The Muddy Buddy Boys - S’Mores - Mitch French, Montrose, MI
- Pop City Popcorn - Crosstown Crunch - Becky Bil, Kalamazoo, MI
- Popside Snacks - Freeze Dried Gummy Worms - Jeff Dinser, Whitmore Lake, MI
- Rising Hope Bakery - Oatmeal Fruit Cookie - Gary Waxler, Inkster, MI
- Sherman's Tennessee Hot Crackers - Original Hot Crackers - Pam Lenning, St. Clair Shores, MI
- Sweet Encounter Bakery - Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bar - Nikki Thompson Frazier, Lansing, MI
- Wani Cakes - Berry Summer Cakewich - Anwelli Okpue, Dearborn, MI
- Why Bars - Blueberry Bliss - Chris Forte, Birmingham, MI
- Yell Sweets - CinnaWhat Bun Cupcake - Danielle Jackson, Shelby Township, MI
Jon Holden, vice president of sales and marketing for All Star Services, got to taste these unique specialties and talk to each of the 42 contestants as part of the selection process.
"I was absolutely astounded by not only the amount of entries that we had, but the quality and innovation of the snack products," Holden said in the announcement. "Selecting the Final 20 was one of the most difficult things that I have ever been a part of. All of the companies have incredible people, products and stories associated with them. It was so much fun to connect with these great Michigan-made companies and learn more about them. Michigan is full of tremendous, tenacious, snack makers, and I cannot wait to see who will be crowned the MI New Favorite Snack Champion on September 17.”
