Specialty Food Association President Bill Lynch sat down with SFA News Daily to discuss what’s in store for attendees and exhibitors at the 67th Summer Fancy Food Show, which kicks off at the Javits Center in New York, Sunday.
What has you excited about this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show?
Exhibit space is sold out and attendee registration is back to pre-COVID levels, so there’s just tremendous energy surrounding this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show. We’re preparing to welcome more than 2,000 exhibitors to Javits, including 550+ exhibitors with new products and 250+ first-time exhibitors. I’m looking forward to meeting as many of our new exhibitors as possible and seeing what innovative products they bring to the Show. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Summer Fancy Food Show without the sofi Awards, so I’m excited to get a first look at the Gold and New Product category winners and to find out which products the buyers select for the sofi Product of the Year and sofi New Product of the Year Awards.
What sort of new experiences might attendees have at the Show?
I’m very proud of the work the SFA team has done to create new experiences for Summer Fancy Food Show attendees. We’re introducing a Plant-Based Pavilion for those looking to source plant-forward products, and we have welcomed Morocco as our country partner for this year’s Show. We’re also excited to introduce three new destinations—Sips Bay in the Beverage Pavilion, Lower Cheese Side in the Deli Pavilion, and The Plant-Packing District in the Plant Based Pavilion—where attendees can network, sample products, and take part in brief, interactive sessions about hot trends like adult, non-alcoholic beverages, upcycled food, and more.
What kind of buyer presence is expected at the Show?
Buyers attend the Fancy Food Show for access to thousands of high-quality, artisan products in dozens of categories, and thousands of verified buyers have already registered for this year’s Show. These buyers represent all major channels including national grocery, big box retailers, foodservice, independent grocery, independent and specialty retailers, hospitality, luxury department stores, natural retailers, and more.
Tell me about the judging opportunity for buyers when it comes to the sofi Awards.
We recently announced the 2023 sofi Gold and New Product award winners in 53 categories from among 2,000 individual product entries. Buyers will get their first look at the year’s sofi winners at the Summer Fancy Food Show, and these products will quickly become the hot, category-leading items that consumers want in their kitchens. This year, we’re giving buyers the opportunity to select the winners of the prestigious sofi Product of the Year Award and sofi New Product of the Year Award that will be announced during the Summer Fancy Food Show. Buyers will be able to take part in a blind sampling of the five highest scoring Gold and New Product sofi Award category winners from which the overall winners will be chosen. Buyers should stop by the sofi Awards area in the NEW NOW NEXT pavilion in Hall D on Sunday and Monday to take part.
Is there anything more you’d like to share?
As a not-for-profit member trade association, the SFA is extremely proud of the role the Fancy Food Shows play in promoting the global consumption of specialty food and beverage. The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food industry event in North America, and there’s simply no better place for trendspotting, networking, and discovering unique products from around the world. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to New York City for the 67th Summer Fancy Food Show. See you at the Show!
Related: SFA Report: Specialty Food, Beverage to Reach $207 Billion; Lessons Learned With Jonathan Milo Leal, Milo's Whole World Gourmet.