Caribbean Food Delight’s patties and Levi Roots’ ‘Reggae Reggae Jerk Sauce’ have been shortlisted in the best new food category of the inaugural World Food Awards.

Caribbean Food Delights is owned by Jamaican-born Vincent HoSang. The company produces a range of patties from its New York headquarters, which are distributed in the United Kingdom (UK) by Caribbean Savouries Limited.

Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Savouries, Paul Scott, told JIS News that the company is “over the moon” at being shortlisted.

“We are absolutely happy and delighted at being shortlisted. This means that we will be in the spotlight,” he said.

Mr. HoSang said the acknowledgement coincides with the company’s plans to expand the range of products and services.

The company has been trading in the UK since October last year and Mr. Scott said that the response to the products has been very good.

Levi Root’s Reggae Reggae Jerk Sauce came to prominence after Roots was able to persuade investors, on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den programme, to buy into the product.

This led to him hosting a BBC series on Caribbean cooking and writing two Caribbean cookbooks.

The World Food Awards 2009 was introduced to recognise the best operators in the world food sector in the United Kingdom and Europe.

It is supported by the World Foods Association, which represents the interests of UK companies operating in the ethnic food service markets, which cover Asian, Oriental, Afro-Caribbean, East-European, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean products.

The inaugural award ceremony will be held on October 31 in London, England.