Certifications and Awards

We are so proud of the strict standards that give families confidence in our food. The certifications and awards from these trusted third-parties are the icing on the cake!


Certifications

All our products are certified free from gluten, peanut, tree nut, soy, fish, sesame and crustacean. These claims are certified through the Certified Free From™ program by MenuTrinfo. We're also certified by Virginia SWaM as a small, women-owned and minority-owned business.

Virginia SWaM certificate for The Difference Baker (TDB1 Enterprises LLC), valid through 2030
Virginia SWaM certified: small, women-owned and minority-owned business
Certified Free From specific allergens seal

Awards and Acknowledgements

2023 National Allergy Award, Best Food Allergy Innovation for Restaurants (MenuTrinfo)

Best of Loudoun 2026, Top 5 bakery (Loudoun Times-Mirror readers' poll), and a finalist in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025

Best of Ashburn 2021, Bakery & Pastries winner (Ashburn Magazine)

Finalist, Main Street Business of the Year, Loudoun Chamber Small Business Awards 2022

Commended by the Virginia General Assembly in Senate Joint Resolution 264 (2020)

Founder Alyssa Sobecki named to Spokin's Top 100 Women in Food Allergies (2021)

Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite in 2023, 2024 and 2025

Best of Loudoun 2021 finalist badge from the Loudoun Times-Mirror
Best of Loudoun 2020 finalist badge from the Loudoun Times-Mirror
Best of Ashburn 2021 award badge from Ashburn Magazine
National Allergy Awards winner seal from MenuTrinfo
Spokin Top 100 Women in the Allergy Industry 2021
Spokin Verified Allergy Friendly badge
Three people holding a framed commendation inside The Difference Baker
Daily Voice logo
Marquis Who's Who Biographee seal
My Perfect Cupcake children's book cover
2023 National Allergy Awards winner seal