Two of Martin's Famous Potato Rolls' highest-volume foodservice SKUs — the Sandwich Potato Roll and the 4 Inch Potato Roll — have received the Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute, a Brussels-based evaluation body whose jury is drawn exclusively from credentialed chefs and sommeliers across multiple countries.
The recognition carries operational weight for broadline distributors and chain buyers already specifying Martin's in burger, chicken, and barbecue daypart builds. The award is decided through a structured blind-tasting protocol that scores products on first impression, visual appeal, aroma, taste, texture, and finish — with no brand identification visible to the jury.
What the Award Signals
For foodservice operators evaluating center-of-plate bun specs, third-party sensory validation increasingly functions as a procurement signal, particularly as chains and fast-casual concepts sharpen ingredient storytelling for menu positioning. Laurent van Wassenhove, Managing Director of the International Taste Institute, noted that the jury's culinary expertise allows evaluators to articulate not just whether a product performs well, but why — a distinction from standard consumer panel methodology.
Martin's rolls carry a formulation profile that has become a differentiator in a commodity-heavy bun segment: high-protein wheat flour, non-fat milk, real cane sugar, and butter in place of high-fructose corn syrup. The products are non-GMO sourced, free of artificial colors and sweeteners, soy-free, and produced in a peanut- and tree-nut-free facility — attributes that align with clean-label requirements now standard in many chain supplier codes of conduct.
Distribution and Operator Fit
The Chambersburg, Pa.-based family bakery — which also operates a second plant in Valdosta, Ga. — distributes its foodservice portfolio through broadline and specialty distribution networks domestically and internationally. The 4 Inch format is a workhorse SKU for burger and slider builds across quick-service and fast-casual segments, while the Sandwich Roll addresses a wider daypart range including deli, breakfast, and LTO applications.
For procurement teams, the blind-tasting result adds a defensible quality data point alongside the brand's longstanding operator equity. Martin's distinct golden-yellow color and pillowy texture have made its rolls a visible menu callout for independent operators and regional chains seeking a bun that holds structural integrity under heavy toppings and sauce loads — a practical performance metric that sensory evaluators also assess through texture and final-sensation scoring.
The Superior Taste Award positions Martin's competitively within the specialty baking and bakery supply segment at a moment when operators are scrutinizing ingredient quality claims more rigorously as part of broader menu transparency initiatives. Full foodservice product information is available at 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.
