Two of Martin's Famous Potato Rolls' core foodservice SKUs — the Sandwich Potato Roll and the 4 Inch Potato Roll — have received the Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute, following a structured blind evaluation by a jury of professional chefs and sommeliers drawn from multiple countries and culinary disciplines.
How the Award Works
The Superior Taste Award is not a consumer popularity contest. Participating products are assessed on first impression, visual appeal, aroma, taste, texture, and final sensation — all without brand identification. Every entrant receives detailed sensory feedback from the jury regardless of outcome. "Unlike standard consumer testing, our jury members bring the culinary expertise to not only assess how good a product tastes, but also explain why," said Laurent van Wassenhove, Managing Director of the International Taste Institute. Jury membership is drawn from professionals affiliated with recognized gastronomic institutions, elite restaurant guides, and sommelier competitions.
What Sets the Rolls Apart
For operators, the award puts third-party credibility behind attributes that Martin's has long promoted: a pillowy-soft texture, a distinct golden-yellow crumb, and a sweet, buttery flavor engineered to complement burgers, chicken sandwiches, and barbecue without structural failure under heavy toppings or sauces. The formulation relies on high-protein wheat flour, non-fat milk, real cane sugar, and butter — bypassing high-fructose corn syrup and cheaper fat substitutes. The rolls are made with non-GMO ingredients, carry no artificial colors or sweeteners, contain no soy, and are produced in a peanut- and tree-nut-free facility, a spec that can simplify allergen management for multi-concept foodservice operators.
Operator Availability
Martin's distributes both rolls through foodservice distribution networks globally, positioning them alongside the premium bun segment that has grown as better-burger and craft-sandwich concepts continue to drive menu development across full-service and fast-casual restaurants. The family-owned Chambersburg, Pennsylvania company — which operates a second bakery in Valdosta, Georgia — has grown from a home-garage bakery in the 1950s into a multi-plant operation with established national and international distribution. Operators evaluating premium bun programs for their proteins can find foodservice-specific product information at foodservice.potatorolls.com.
The recognition aligns with broader bakery and bread category momentum in foodservice, where differentiated bun texture and ingredient transparency have become meaningful points of menu differentiation, particularly as operators face pressure to justify premium pricing to increasingly ingredient-conscious guests.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
