Sasin Alumni Pradeep Akkunoor, a graduate of MBA 2009 cohort, recently received one of the most prestigious food industry awards in the US for his specialty rice crackers launched in the US.

Laiki Black Rice Crackers was honored as one of the top innovations in the specialty food industry at the 2015 summer Fancy Food Show when the product took home the gold medal in the cracker category. The black rice crackers contain just three ingredients: black rice, sustainably-farmed palm oil and sea salt. Nothing Else.

“We are incredibly proud to take home a gold sofi award. It’s the highest honor any specialty food product can receive and the fact that we are doing so as a start-up is especially exciting for us,” says Laiki co-founder, Pradeep Akkunoor.

Finalists in this category included Lesley Stowe Raincoast Flats Kale and Walnut Flatbreads from Dare Foods and Casa Madaio Tozzetti Al Burro di Bufala from World’s Best Cheeses.

sofi Award Winners and Finalists represent the best of the best in specialty food and beverages. “sofi” stands for specialty outstanding food innovation. This year’s winners were selected from 2,771 entries across 32 awards categories and were announced at a gala red-carpet awards ceremony at the summer Fancy Food Show in NYC hosted by Chopped host Ted Allen and Chopped judge, Alex Guarnaschelli. The winners are selected from the sofi finalists by more than 200 retailers and foodservice buyers which include those from Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Williams-Sonoma and The Fresh Market.

While the product is primarily produced for the US market, Pradeep says the crackers would also be launched in Thailand very soon to cater to the Thai market as well.

LAIKI Crackers website: https://www.laikicrackers.com