The votes are in for Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2019 Best New Retail Products contest. Congratulations to CAULIPOWER, Encino, Calif., for taking the first place spot for its Cauliflower Tortillas.

Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods and the creator of the Best New Retail Products contest, talked exclusively with Gail Becker, founder and CEO, to discuss the “winning” product, why veggie-first is the start of a “VEGolution” in the freezer aisle and what’s in store for the future of vegetable-enriched products.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: First off, congratulations on placing FIRST in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2019 Best New Retail Products contest, with a whopping 37,373 votes - the most votes this contest has ever experienced. What does this recognition mean to you, your company, your products, and your consumers?

Gail Becker: When I started CAULIPOWER, I took a risk and gambled everything on, well, a vegetable. Like so many others, I was simply in search of better-for-you alternatives. Our innovations are inspired by the needs and wants of our consumers, so the recognition from Refrigerated & Frozen Foods and our fans is incredibly humbling.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: Your new retail product—Cauliflower Tortillas—was nominated by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ editor-in-chief, Marina Mayer. What unique and innovative features does this new product hold that would allow it to even be nominated? What separates this product from the other tortillas on the market?

Becker: We’re a company of never-before-dones. As the first frozen veggie-first tortilla, we are providing a healthier alternative to one of America’s favorite comfort foods yet again, without sacrificing great taste. Like all CAULIPOWER products, cauliflower is the first ingredient, making these tortillas naturally gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO and a good source of fiber. And, for those looking for a grain-free alternative, we’ve got you covered. Our grain-free SKU boasts all the same nutritional benefits and is only 8 net carbs per tortillas. To make these even better, they’re frozen, meaning they have no preservatives. Frozen really is the new fresh. Most importantly though, they taste great.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: This frozen, ready-to-eat tortilla is a gluten-free alternative. What does this say about the future of the industry, consumers and their demands? Why create this new product?

Becker: The inspiration for all of CAULIPOWER’s products comes from our fan base. Our goal is to provide better-for-you alternatives to our favorite comfort foods, making them more convenient, but also making sure they taste like the foods we want to eat. We hear from our consumers every day, not just about how much they love our products, but about how much our products have changed their lives in some way. By revolutionizing the use of vegetables in our food, eating healthy no longer has to be a compromise. We saw how creative our fans were getting with CAULIPOWER pizzas and crusts, personalizing their own creations. Launching another better-for-you “canvas” that consumers can customize seemed like a natural fit, and if the early reviews are any indication, we think the tortillas will be a fantastic addition to the CAULIPOWER family.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: What is on the horizon for your company come 2019 into 2020?

Becker: CAULIPOWER will continue to bring meal hacks to life through celebrating vegetables in our food - never hiding them. This is just the beginning of a “VEGolution.”