NEW
YORK, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- More than
29,000 specialty food and beverage industry professionals came
together for the Specialty Food Association's (SFA) sold-out 68th
Summer Fancy Food Show, June 23-25 at
the Jacob Javits Center in New York
City.
The Fancy Food Shows are where the
specialty food industry gathers for product discovery, networking,
and education.
The Fancy Food Shows are where the specialty food and beverage
industry gather for product discovery, networking, trendspotting,
and education. More than 2,400 domestic and 56 international
companies across 40+ specialty food and beverage categories
exhibited at the Show. In addition to makers and buyers, the show
attracted industry affiliates, press, influencers, investors, and
trendspotters thanks to the diversity and quality of products on
display, thought-provoking Keynotes, events including the inaugural
SFA Gala and three sold out retail tours, and other
attractions.
Specialty food sales across retail, foodservice, and ecommerce
grew 6.5 percent to a whopping $206.8
billion in 2023, according to the findings of SFA's 2024-25
State of the Specialty Food Industry research, presented for the
first time at a standing-room-only session on Sunday at the Javits
Center.
"This year's Show highlighted our incredible specialty food
community in so many different ways, and SFA appreciates everyone
who participated," said SFA President Bill
Lynch. "It was the place to be for a captivating keynote
with Whole Foods Market CEO Jason
Buechel and an insightful fireside chat with Kristen Kish, who also hosted our SFA Awards
Gala. The exhibitors brought their best to the Show yet again, and
the collective energy this year was palpable. We saw innovations in
product format, flavor, and more that will reverberate through the
wider food industry in the months to
come."
Exhibitors Love the Summer Fancy Food Show
"Summer Fancy Food Show is by far the most relevant time and
place in the world for anyone driving or seeking innovation in food
and beverage, where opportunity and community converge." -- Tsepo
Montsi, Co-Founder, Monatea
"Reflecting on our journey, showcasing at one of the nation's
premier food shows was an unforgettable experience. Our team at
Peepal People had the chance to unveil our refreshed identity at
this year's Summer Fancy Food Show, and it was incredibly well
received by our peers, the press, and retailers alike. Our
heartfelt thanks to (included) CPG and Specialty Food Association
for their steadfast commitment to fostering diversity within the
CPG industry. Their support has been pivotal since day one,
connecting us with a network of peers, mentors, and fellow founders
dedicated to enriching the food landscape with inclusivity and
vibrancy." -- Alyzeh Rizvi, Co-Founder/CEO, Peepal People.
"One of the best Fancy Food shows we've ever exhibited at, from
logistics to buyer attendance to educational opportunities and
special events, everything was great. Best of all, the overall show
energy was a vibe. Everyone I spoke with felt it – attendees and
exhibitors alike were happy to be there and excited to be a part of
the community. Bravo!" -- Jill Giacomini
Basch, Co-Owner / CMO, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese
Company
Summer Fancy Food Show Highlights
Inspiring education programming including the reveal of
the new State of the Specialty Food Industry 2024-25 annual
research report and sessions from notable speakers and brands like
Whole Foods Market CEO Jason
Buechel, Top Chef host Kristen
Kish, Hot Ones by Heatonist, Food Tank, the SFA Trendspotter
Panel - and more - drew 3,000 attendees to 30+ sessions over three
days.
Artisan food and beverage products from 2,400+
exhibitors at dynamic booths that featured exciting special guests
like Giada de Laurentiis, who paid a
visit to the Ciao Imports booth to promote her Giadzy line of
products, and others.
Debut District in Halls D&E, a featured area that
hosted more than 150 booths for first-time exhibitors, new
products, startups, and incubators.
Product Pavilions dedicated to the hottest categories
including Bakery; Beverage; Confectionery, Sweets & Snacks;
Deli; Plant Based.
Exhibitors from 56 countries, spread across 29
International Pavilions representing Africa, Asia,
Europe, North America, Oceana, and South America, including the Show's partner
country, Spain, where live cooking
demonstrations and educational sessions delighted audiences.
State and Regional Pavilions included Brooklyn, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Jersey, New York,
North Dakota, Pennsylvania, the Southern United States Trade
Association (SUSTA), US Virgin Islands, Vermont, and Virginia.
A bustling Supplier Diversity Pavilion featured (included)
CPG: Aaji's; JOI; KULA Foods;
Nepal Tea Collective; Peepal People Sauces LLC; Poppa's Custard
Company; Recoup Beverage, Inc.; Shire's Natural; Sweet Fields LLC;
Tal's.
The winners of the five sofitm Grand Honors Awards
were revealed at the SFA Awards Gala on Monday, June 24, hosted by Kristen Kish of Bravo's Top
Chef.
The 2024 Grand Honors Award winners:
- Outstanding Packaging: Strawberry Soft-Serve Milkshake by
Fanci Freeze and Pivot North
Consulting
- Outstanding New Product: Flash Frozen Guinness Beef Stew by
Jane Foodie
- Outstanding Classic: Uncured Wagyu Beef Salami by Alef Sausage
Inc.
- Product of the Year/Beverage: Barcoop Bevy Bloody Mary with
Smoked Sea Salt and Chiles by Bittermilk LLC
- Product of the Year/Food: Molasses Spice Cookies by Girl In The
Little Red Kitchen, LLC
Insight into and emerging trends in specialty food,
courtesy of the SFA Trendspotter Panel: Melanie Bartelme, associate director, Mintel
Food & Drink; Mikel Cirkus &
Hannah Rogers, dsm-firmenich, Taste,
Foresight & Trenz; Kat Craddock, editor in chief, SAVEUR;
Jenn de la Vega, chef, stylist,
cookbook author, trends expert, Randwiches; Jeanette Donnarumma, Emmy award winning
producer, content creator and recipe developer and charcuterie
maker; Dr. Beth Forrest, The
Culinary Institute of America;
Jeanne Houchins RD, global
communications executive, WSET; Thomas
Joseph, executive vice president, Culinary, Marquee
Brands/Martha Stewart, Sur La
Table; Chala June, freelance culture & lifestyle writer;
Sarah Lohman, culinary historian,
author, and public speaker; Klancy
Miller, freelance, For the Culture; Kara Nielsen, Kara Nielsen Food Trends; Chef
Clara Park, claraparkcooks.com,
chef, teacher, consultant and writer; Stan
Sagner, Founder, We Work for Food – CPG and Hospitality
Consultancy; Cathy Strange,
Ambassador of Food Culture, Whole Foods.
Junior Trendspotter GenZ trends
perspective from the Drexel Food Lab/Certificate in Food
Entrepreneurship and Innovation students.
Food Rescue and Donation. The SFA operates an Exhibitor
Food Donation Program in partnership with City Harvest to ensure
unused food makes it to New Yorkers in need. 125 volunteers rescued
95 pallets of specialty food, which were then delivered to six of
City Harvest's partner agencies around New York City.
The next Fancy Food Shows are the 2025 Winter Fancy Food
Show, January 19-21 in Las Vegas and the 2025 Summer Fancy Food
Show, June 29-July 1, in New York City.
About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is
the not-for-profit trade association of the $207-billion specialty food industry.
Representing more than 3,600 businesses worldwide, SFA champions
industry participation and success for a diverse community of
makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by
developing resources, information, education, and events that
celebrate innovation and inclusivity. SFA owns and operates the
Fancy Food Shows as well as the sofi™ Awards, which have honored
excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. The
SFA also produces the e-newsletter SFA News Daily, the Trendspotter
Panel annual predictions and Fancy Food Show reports, the State of
the Specialty Food Industry Report, Today's Specialty Food Consumer
research, and the Spill & Dish podcast. Find out more online
and connect with SFA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and
TikTok.
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SOURCE Specialty Food Association