ICYMI: Top 5 Articles From the Summer Fancy Food Show

SFA's recent Summer Fancy Food Show brought together nearly 30,000 specialty food industry professionals who took part in product discovery, networking, trendspotting, and education sessions.

In case you missed it, the following were the most-read stories from the Show:

1. SFA Names sofi Grand Honor Award Winners

The sofi Grand Honor Award winners were announced at the SFA Awards Gala at Lavan Midtown in New York City. The event was hosted by celebrity chef and host of Top Chef, Kristen Kish.

2. Buyers Share Tips for Gaining Shelf Space

Decision makers from The Fresh Market, Earth Fare, and Village Supermarkets shared what they’re seeking in terms of specialty and the brands that supply them, during the session “Trendsetters: How East Coast Retailers Impact the Industry.”

3. Approachability, Familiarity With a Twist Stand Out at Fancy Food Show

Specialty foods that may act as a gateway to other innovative fare is among the trends spotted on the Show floor by Melanie Bartelme, associate director of Mintel Food & Drink and member of SFA’s Trendspotter Panel of experts who scour the Fancy Food Shows seeking trends.

4. Whole Foods CEO Shares Secret Sauce

Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods, attributed the chain’s success to its store associates during his keynote presentation. 

5. Gen Z Anxiety, Packaging Ick Influence Purchasing Decisions

Gen Z “is driven more by anxiety than almost any other generation in the U.S. has ever been—that is including things like World War II and World War I,” said Menu Matters president Maeve Webster. “Those were short periods of anxiety that were condensed, then ended, but now it's becoming a more sustained period of anxiety.”