The 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show will kick off next month for the second time in the host city of Las Vegas. SFA News Daily sat down with Specialty Food Association President Bill Lynch to discuss plans for the Show and what attendees can expect.
What are you most excited about heading into the Winter Fancy Food Show?
There’s a lot to be excited about as we prepare for the 47th Winter Fancy Food Show! Our move into the Las Vegas Convention Center’s larger, state-of-the-art West Hall provides us with more space and greater amenities to showcase thousands of new products from our innovative and creative exhibitors, and we’re adding new Show features and pavilions to make it easier for attendees to find high-priority products. We also will welcome best-selling author Paco Underhill to the Show as our Keynote speaker, where he will share insights from his new book "How We Eat – The Brave New World of Food and Beverages." Of course, I am most excited to see thousands of industry professionals brought together by their passion for specialty food.
What are some new show features that attendees can expect?
There will be a lot to see and do at the Winter Fancy Food Show. We’re introducing NEW NOW NEXT to highlight the industry’s newest products from startups and incubators, and our Spotlight Showcases will focus on the best New, Diversity-Owned and Seasonal products as well as products curated by our Trendspotter team. Our new Diversity Pavilion will highlight makers from traditionally underrepresented communities that have certification in one or more diversity categories. With the Winter Fancy Food Show taking place over Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, we also have a special ceremony planned to honor the civil rights icon.
To make it easier to conduct business, we’re also adding Meet Suites to the Show floor. The Meet Suites are dedicated areas with private meeting pods and high-top tables that can be reserved in person for up to 60 minutes per meeting to provide even more opportunities for exhibitors and buyers to connect.
This is the second time that the Winter Show will be held in Vegas. What do you love about this host city?
The SFA is thrilled to be returning to Las Vegas. Las Vegas offers something for everyone: great food, great shopping, and world class entertainment. As a premiere convention destination, Las Vegas also offers an abundance of hotel rooms near the convention center, easy access to an international airport, and a public transit system that makes it easy to move between your hotel and the convention center along the Vegas Strip.
Is there anything more you'd like to share?
Thousands of industry professionals attend the Winter Fancy Food Show every year for trendspotting, networking, and to discover unique, high-quality specialty food products from around the world. If you haven’t registered for the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show, I encourage you to reserve a badge, book a flight, and join us in Las Vegas. There’s no better way to see and sample specialty foods from around the world and get the inside track on innovations and trends that will drive the industry in the months ahead. We’ll see you in Vegas!
Related: SFA Hosts Winter Fancy Food Show Booth Contest; SFA Podcast: Upcycling With Renewal Mill's Cotto.