SFA President Shares Show Highlights
SFA News Daily sat down with Specialty Food Association President Bill Lynch to discuss what attendees can expect as they head into the Summer Fancy Food Show.
What will be new on the Show floor at the Summer Fancy Food Show?
There’s a lot that’s new on the Show floor this year, and we’re so excited for our attendees and exhibitors to experience it all. Debut District, of course, is a brand-new featured area spanning two halls at the Javits Center that’s all about the new. Attendees can find exhibitors with new products, first-time exhibitors, startups, and incubators all in one place, which we know is something our buyer attendees in particular are hungry for at every Show. Debut District opens 30 minutes early every day, so we encourage everyone to set their alarms and enjoy this new area.
We’re also very excited about the speakers and sessions we have planned for our Main Stage and Big Ideas Stage at this Show. Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel will be giving the keynote talk on Monday morning and Kristen Kish, who’s the new host of Top Chef, will treat us to a fireside chat. From insight into trends like nuanced heat with the founder and CEO of Heatonist to the reveal of the 2024-25 State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, there are new and exciting sessions for every participant.
What can attendees expect to discover?
The Fancy Food Shows are known as meccas of discovery and inspiration. As we do each year, SFA has worked hard to optimize the Show experience around product discovery, and attendees can expect to encounter the newest and best offerings in the categories they’re interested in—but they should also be ready to discover the unexpected! The manufacturers and makers who exhibit at our Shows are always working, always innovating, up to the last minute before we open, so there’s no telling what surprises they might have in store.
In Debut District, six category-specific Pavilions, and the Spotlight Showcases section, attendees can quickly navigate to the exhibitors and products they’re seeking. Need some gluten-free offerings in the red-hot “treats” category? Make your way to the Confectionary, Snacks & Sweets Pavilion. Looking for products that deliver the at-home luxury customers are hungry for? Visit the Deli Pavilion, where delights like compound butters and high-end charcuterie await.
Remember, the My Show Planner tool in the official Fancy Food Show app can help attendees plan out each day so they find just what they’re looking for.
The Show will be co-located with Vinexpo America. Will exhibitors be exposed to a broader pool of buyers as a result?
Yes—we are so happy to be co-located with a show that will bring like-minded buyers over to our exhibitors. Anyone who’s been in a wine & spirits store recently knows that they merchandise lots of specialty foods, and we expect there to be meaningful interest in Fancy Food Show exhibitors from the Vinexpo buyers, who represent both U.S. and international businesses of all sizes.
What sort of events will take place after Show floor hours?
On Saturday night, June 22, we will host our first-ever New Member Party! As an organization, SFA is always looking for new ways to celebrate our members, and this party is just one example of new ways we’re working to build community and connection among members from their earliest days with SFA.
The 5 Boro Block Party is back this year and will kick off just as the exhibit halls close on day one, Sunday, June 23. It’s open to everyone, with food, drinks, and entertainment from 5-6 p.m., and gives us a chance to celebrate the entire Fancy Food Show and SFA community, from volunteer leaders to members as a whole to Show attendees.
This year, we will host a very special event on Monday, June 24th – the SFA Awards Gala, a celebration of product, innovation, and leadership. Hosted by Kristen Kish of Bravo’s Top Chef, this event will recognize the winners of the 2024 sofi Awards, as well as this year’s outstanding Leadership, Hall of Fame, and Lifetime Achievement Award honorees. We are so looking forward to recognizing all the winners together in person.
As we head into the Show, to what are you most looking forward?
I always end Fancy Food Shows with a couple new smile lines, and a ton of inspiration. I am most looking forward to the conversations I get to have with exhibitors, attendees, SFA volunteer leaders, speakers, and others who will help to make the Show a success. There really is nowhere like the Summer Fancy Food Show, and there’s no community like the SFA community in terms of welcoming and celebrating one another and our great industry.