Summer Fancy Food Show Retail Store Tour: Meatpacking District, Williamsburg
Specialty Food Association has teamed up with Retail Store Tours to offer a two-hour guided tour of specialty stores in Manhattan’s historic Meatpacking District or Brooklyn’s bustling Williamsburg neighborhood.
Makers, buyers, brokers, distributors, and other industry professionals attending the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show can participate to learn about these unique specialty shops while networking with like-minded peers. Additionally, the event will present tangible examples of the latest trends in specialty food.
At each store, employees will share details on features, innovations, store design, customer service enhancements, and brand stories.
“The Retail Store Tour at the Fancy Food Show was a meticulously curated showcase of innovation insights and trends in the evolving landscape of food retail and far exceeded my expectations,” said previous tour attendee, Anne Lopez, innovation manager at Sheetz. “Engaging with diverse, like-minded participants from across the globe further enriched the experience, fostering a dynamic atmosphere of thoughtful discussion.”
The following tours are available to attendees of the Summer Fancy Food Show:
Saturday, June 22
• Meatpacking District: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 5 - 7 p.m.
• Williamsburg, Brooklyn: 2 - 4 p.m.
To sign up, attendees can add on the desired Retail Store Tour walking tour timeslot when registering to attend the Fancy Food Show. If you have already registered to attend the Show, simply click the link in the registration confirmation email to enlist from the add-on page.
SFA News Daily spoke with Retail Store Tours founder and CEO Dan Hodges about what tour attendees can expect.
What makes New York City’s food scene special?
According to U.S. government statistics there are hundreds of languages spoken and cultures represented in New York. The city is known as a “melting pot”—since New York’s founding, wave after wave of people continue to bring their rich cultures, food, and much more.
What went into the decision to explore Williamsburg and the Meatpacking District?
Both are vibrant areas of growth and culinary and food innovation. We listened to Fancy Food Show attendees, and these were the two top requested areas.
What can tour attendees expect?
Attendees will have the chance to go behind the scenes and talk directly with food entrepreneurs. They will also be able to ask questions and interact with food executives and innovators on the tour.
What are you most excited to show attendees?
The food industry is in a rapid innovation cycle. We want to discuss and show examples of the eight intelligent engagement index factors driving success in the food industry: human touch, technology use, store design, brand story, employee training, the ability to change, unique value propositions, and safety.