Winners named in the statewide MI New Favorite Snack Competition

More than $75,000 in cash prizes were given away at the recent event in Port Huron, Michigan, and four micro-businesses from Michigan were named winners of the MI New Favorite Snack Competition. 

Twenty finalists – from both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas – competed for more than $75,000 in cash prizes at the McMorran Place Plaza in downtown Port Huron on September 9. More than 1,500 people attended the event and voted to select the People's Choice Award Winner.

Live Crispy of Ferndale, owned by Dave Shammas, was named grand prize winner with its Blueberry-Pineapple flavored crisp chips. Shammas also won the Mindful Munchies category and a total of $30,000 in cash prizes. Shammas also won a distribution agreement with All Star Services, a breakroom services company based in Port Huron.

"This year's entries were amazing and our judges had a very difficult time narrowing down each category," Jon Holden, vice president of sales and marketing at All Star Services, a competition partner, said in the announcement. "Our judges made some very strong arguments for their favorite snacks. It really is a testament to just how good all of these products really are. Each and every product represented should be proud of themselves. Running a small business like this is not easy. All of them are truly committed to providing their customers with an excellent taste-sensation-type of experience, and their passion for their products shows. Congratulations to all of the category winners, and congratulations, also, to all who participated. Your hard work is paying off."

The winners included:

Category: Sweet Sensations – What's the Dill of Detroit, owned by Leona Milton, which entered Kool-Aid flavored pickles and won $15,000.

Category: Confectionary Creations – Wani Cakes of Dearborn, owned by Anwelli Okpue, which entered its Berry Summer Omich, or "cakewich," and won $15,000.

Category: Crunchy Cravings – Chunk Nibbles of Troy, owned by Brad Cocklin, which entered Apple Cinnamon Chunk Nibbles and won $15,000.

Category: Mindful Munchies – Live Crispy of Ferndale, owned by Dave Shammas, which entered Blueberry Pineapple Crisp Chips and won $15,000. Live Crispy won an additional $15,000 when it was named the Grand Prize Winner.

People's Choice Award – MJ's Bakes of Fort Gratiot, owned by Marleigh Jones, which entered a Cookies 'n Cream Cookie and won $2,500.

The MI New Favorite Snack Competition, now in its second year, aims to provide capital to a few micro-businesses consisting of 10 or fewer employees and based in Michigan. In both 2022 and 2023, the competition attracted 50 entries from both peninsulas of Michigan.

In 2023, the grand prize winner again received both a cash prize and a distribution agreement with All Star Services.

The MI New Favorite Snack Competition is produced by the following sponsors and community partners:

Presenting Sponsor:

Community Foundation of St. Clair County

Platinum Sponsor:

McLaren Port Huron

Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

Eastern Michigan Bank

Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling 

Community Partners:

All Star Services

Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce

City of Port Huron