2026 IDFA 2nd Place Award
Kent Worldwide was proud to be recognized at the 2026 International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Innovative Ice Cream & Cultured Dairy Contest, where the team earned Second Place in the “Most Innovative Prototype” category, standing out among more than 30 competitive ice cream entries such as Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Baskin-Robins, The Ice Cream Club, McCormick Flavor Solutions, and Publix Super Markets.
The award‑winning prototype, Frostline Dirty Cherry Soda, is an entirely new creation developed by Arlena Wang, Associate Food Scientist, and was designed to showcase the creativity and technical expertise of Kent Worldwide’s R&D team. The concept features a layered cola flavor with a cherry boost, Pop Rocks to deliver a carbonated sensation, and a condensed milk ribbon to make the soda “dirty”—all built on Frostline’s Premium Dairy Vanilla Soft Serve Mix as the base.
“Turning a cherry dirty soda concept into an ice cream pushed our creativity and flavor balance,” said Wang. “After last year’s 1st place finish, earning 2nd this year reflects our team’s drive to keep pushing flavor innovation and competing at the highest level. I’m honored and proud to see our products continue performing at the top.”
The prototype drew strong attention at the show, reinforcing the category leadership, versatility, and performance of the Frostline® Frozen Treats portfolio within a highly competitive dairy innovation showcase.
“Arlena did an outstanding job developing this concept from start to finish,” said Michael Coladipietro, Senior Manager of R&D/Innovation. “This was a completely new development that began as a dry, water‑add mix—proving we continue to hold our own as a dry mix against traditional ice cream manufacturers and scoop shops.”
This recognition marks the second year in a row Kent Worldwide has placed in the top positions within the IDFA innovation competition. While Dirty Cherry Soda remains a prototype and is not currently in the market, it serves as a strong example of the creativity, expertise, and forward‑thinking approach behind the Frostline® brand portfolio of products.