Two of Martin's Famous Potato Rolls' highest-volume SKUs have earned the Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute, following a blind evaluation by a jury of professional chefs and sommeliers. The Sandwich Potato Roll and 4 Inch Potato Roll were assessed on first impression, aroma, taste, texture, and overall sensory experience — competing against products from multiple countries without brand identification.
The Institute's award goes to products that achieve notable quality within their category. "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 members are drawn from recognized gastronomic institutions, elite restaurant guides, and sommelier competitions.
What Sets the Rolls Apart
Martin's attributes the performance to a formulation built around higher-cost inputs: high-protein wheat flour, non-fat milk, real cane sugar, and butter rather than high-fructose corn syrup or commodity fat substitutes. The rolls are made with non-GMO ingredients, contain no artificial colors or sweeteners, are soy-free, and come out of a peanut- and tree-nut free facility — attributes that carry weight with foodservice operators managing allergen disclosures and clean-label menu positioning.
The characteristic golden-yellow color and pillowy-soft texture have long made Martin's a back-of-house staple for roller-grill programs, grab-and-go sandwiches, and made-to-order burger builds at convenience retail. Structural integrity under moist toppings — burgers, pulled pork, sauced chicken — is a practical requirement at the c-store foodservice counter, where bun failure translates directly to customer complaints and waste.
Foodservice Distribution Reach
The Chambersburg, Pa.-based family company, which also operates a second bakery in Valdosta, Ga., distributes its foodservice lineup through wholesale networks across the U.S. and internationally. For c-store operators sourcing buns through broadline or regional distributors, the Superior Taste Award adds a third-party validation point that can support foodservice program menu boards and staff training materials without additional testing investment.
The award timing aligns with continued growth in c-store made-to-order sandwich and burger programs, a category that NACS data has consistently flagged as a top inside-sales driver for operators investing in fresh foodservice. Premium bun specs are increasingly a differentiator as chains compete with QSR on sandwich quality perception. Martin's two awarded rolls cover the core format range — a standard sandwich profile and a smaller 4-inch format suited for sliders, kids' meals, or value-tier builds — giving multi-daypart operators flexibility within a single supplier relationship.
For more information on foodservice availability, visit foodservice.potatorolls.com.
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.
