Dennymike's Award Winning Sauces And Seasonings Earn Top Honors At National Bbq Convention

Dennis M. "DennyMike" Sherman, creator of the DennyMike's line of award-winning sauces and seasonings, announced today that he proudly accepted eight awards at the 2012 National BBQ Association's Annual Conference, held recently in San Diego. Judging was conducted under the independent direction of the Rend Lake Culinary Arts School in Ina, Illinois, and more than 360 BBQ enthusiasts from around the country presented their products for judging in more than 20 categories of BBQ sauces, rubs, seasonings and packaging.

Sherman's Maine-made, all natural line was a clear standout and among the top overall winners in the competition. DennyMike's (www.dennymikes.com) garnered gold in the Best BBQ Gift Pack category for its 'Cue Lover's 9 Pack and took fifth place in the same category for the Wooden Crate 9-pack. In the Cajun Dry Rub and Seasoning category, DennyMike's earned a silver medal for Cow Bell Hell and a sixth place award for Pixie Dust. DennyMike's nearly swept the Southwest Dry Rub and Seasoning competition, earning three awards --a silver medal for Pixie Dust, a 4th place award for Chick Magnet, and 5th place recognition for Cow Bell Hell. The line, which has repeatedly earned awards for its creative packaging created by Portland, Maine-based Pulp+Wire, also took 5th place in the best label category for the Hot 'N Nasty sauce. The full list of awards is available at http://www.nbbqa.org/CMS/Resources/Official%202012%20AOE%20Winners%20Lis....

"I'm wicked proud," Said Sherman. "It's incredibly gratifying to return year after year and learn that we continue to measure up against the finest products in the industry."

Sherman's 'cue acumen is clear, based on the string of awards the line has earned since its 2006 launch-in total, DennyMike's has won more than 40 awards from the National BBQ Association; The Scovie Awards for Fiery Foods Challenge held annually in Albuquerque, NM; and the increasingly popular Getting' Sauced Competition in Austin, Texas. Sherman has also become known in the industry for his business acumen and willingness to come to the aid of other BBQ entrepreneurs. As a result, Sherman was a featured speaker at this year's NBBQA conference where he shared his expertise with aspiring 'cue chefs who are considering entering the commercial market.

Sherman joined Mark Lambert of Sweet Swine O' Mine Distributing Co. in Memphis for a presentation called "BBQ Flavors: Reality vs. Perception" and also partnered with Dave Raymond, founder of Sweet Baby Ray's, for a segment on "Bottling Sauces and Rubs." Sherman presented valuable information about the process of establishing a brand and successfully getting products to market.

"It's a thrill to feel not only embraced but respected by my industry peers," said Sherman. "This is very competitive market, and I was truly honored to join these other high-profile professionals as we encouraged other BBQ enthusiasts to make their own dreams come true."

The success of the DennyMike's line has not gone unnoticed by the retail industry. This month, Sherman continued his West Coast expansion where the popular line was picked up by AJ's Fine Foods. The venerable specialty foods chain, considered a trendsetter in the Southwest specialty food business, will carry DennyMike's products in its 13 stores located throughout the Phoenix area. Sherman and his team headed west recently to conduct a series of in-store demonstrations to introduce the products.

Back on the East Coast, DennyMike's recently earned representation by United Natural Foods Inc., the world's largest specialty and gourmet foods distributor, serving North Am