They say too many cooks spoil the broth. That may be true in an actual kitchen but I disagree when it comes to this foodservice feature.

“The envelope please. And the winner is…”

This is one of my favorite times of the year—when we learn about some of the top new products at retail and foodservice. Each spring, Information Resources unveils its annual look at supermarket “Pacesetters” ranked by first year sales. Shortly afterward, foodservice industry judges help the National Restaurant Association recognize Food and Beverage Innovation award honorees. Respectively, you can find these stories on pages 23 and 25.

Remember when life was simple—when the most challenging puzzle involved paper, a colored pencil and picture requiring you to simply connect the dots.

Maybe it’s because -- for 22 years -- I wrote exclusively about refrigerated and frozen foods.