10/21/2026
Sometimes the biggest wins are the ones you never see coming. 🏆
Last night, I had the opportunity to pitch Orka Bar at the Food Innovation Showcase & Pitch Contest at Middlesex College.
Eight emerging food brands were selected to compete for three awards:
🏆 Innovation Award — $500
🏆 Most Shelf Ready Brand — $500
🏆 Best Overall Emerging Brand — $1,500
One by one, the winners were announced.
And Orka Bar wasn’t one of them.
We clapped, celebrated the other founders, and figured that was the end of the night.
But then something unexpected happened… 👀
A representative from the NJ Business Action Center stepped on stage to announce a surprise award that nobody knew was coming.
THE NJ STEP AWARD. 🏆
And the winner?
ORKA BAR!!!
The prize?
🔥 A FREE 10×10 booth on the MAIN FLOOR at the 2027 Summer Fancy Food Show
🔥 Full access to the event
🔥 At least 10 in-person buyer meetings with some of the largest grocery chains
🔥 Additional opportunities to help take our brand to the next level
For a growing food brand trying to earn its place in grocery freezers across the country, this felt like the real grand prize.
Sometimes the opportunities that can change your trajectory aren’t the ones you came looking for.
A huge thank you to the New Jersey Business Action Center, Middlesex College and everyone involved in making this possible.
New doors. Bigger opportunities. And a whole lot more freezers to fill.
We’re just getting started.