Lou Foah

Lou Foah has perpetuated the legacy of his father, Mario Foah, who was one of the founding members of the Specialty Food Association (then called the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade) and a leading importer of food products from Italy.

Although Lou Foah spent a lot of time visiting food shows and touring factories in Italy with his family as a young child, he didn’t join the family business right out of college. Instead, he worked for a few years in real estate, before his father asked him to join the business in 1986.

The younger Foah has remained active in the specialty food business ever since, both with Foah International, the company he and his father formed at that time, and now with Panos Brands, which acquired the Amore brand that Mario Foah had launched in the U.S.

“We started off representing Italian factories, making mostly private label brands,” says Lou Foah. “Over the years we dabbled in other things, including a gift basket company that we had during the holidays.”

That business, which Lou Foah had started, had supplied gift baskets to retailers such as Sam’s Club, Kmart, and Walmart. It was eventually sold to another specialty company.

Foah International, meanwhile, through its connections with Italian manufacturers, became a leading supplier of private-label products for retailers and distributors. It provided private-label products from Italy for large grocery retailers including Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

In 2018, Lou Foah joined Panos Brands and launched that company’s Alternate Channels division, which has grown to about $13 million in sales to foodservice and other channels. Foah has worked extensively with foodservice distributor Sysco in his career, growing multiple different food brands with that company.

He still owns and operates Foah International, where he is president and CEO, and which continues to represent Italian factories.

“I like the challenge,” Foah says. “I like that it’s not every day the same thing. It's been really a great ride, and I still am still enjoying it.”

Lou Foah has also been volunteering with the Specialty Food Association for the past 24 years, serving on several committees, including as chairman of some. He has served on SFA’s Admissions Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Budget & Audit Committee, and Show Committee.

“I think I’ve been on practically every committee that they’ve had over the years,” he says. “I’ve felt it was important to give back and help young, emerging companies and lead them on a good path.”

His father’s status as a founder of the association in 1952 helped instill his passion for serving its members, Foah says.

He’s also been volunteering as a mentor for other entrepreneurial food makers through the SFA’s mentorship program, working most recently with a startup that is seeking to grow. Foah is helping the company navigate potential financing strategies and expanded distribution opportunities.

“It’s always exciting to help young people,” Foah says.