At the Summer Fancy Food Show, held in New York in June, David Hirschkop, former owner of Dave's Gourmet, was inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame for his contributions to the specialty food industry. He spoke about the origins and subsequent success of the business.
He also discussed the most important aspects of working in the specialty food industry that exhibitors should consider to ensure their success.
"Every item by its nature is mostly average. So, [businesses] need to look at their product through an objective lens, through the consumer's eyes, and think, 'Is it really that special? Is there really a reason for consumers to buy my item?' Most of the time the answer is no," said Hirschkop. "So, what can you do to make your item stronger? That's the first thing you need to do."
SFA partnered with Food Institute on the livestream coverage. Watch the full video below:
Related: 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee: Dave Hirschkop, Dave’s Gourmet; Expert Shares Best Practices for Preparing Your Business to Scale