BY: Liliana Rocio, Senior Editor For World Liberty TV

The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food industry event in North America, and the premier showcase for industry innovation. We are pleased to announce new dates for the 2019 Show – Sunday, June 23 through Tuesday, June 25.

That puts us well before the Fourth of July holiday and other New York City summer celebrations. Join us and experience more new and exciting events, programs, and exhibitors than ever before. This is the place to see and taste the future of food!

The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) annual State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, issued today, reveals that specialty food remains one of the fastest-growing segments of the food business. Fueled by increasing interest from both consumers and retailers, total sales jumped 9.8 percent between 2016 and 2018, reaching $148.7 billion last year.

Specialty food sales outpaced the growth of all food at retail – up 10.3 percent vs. 3.1 percent. Product innovation and the wider availability of specialty foods through mass-market outlets is playing a part in the industry’s success.

Sales through foodservice represented 22 percent of sales, with retail taking the top spot with 76 percent of sales. While online represents less than three percent of sales, it has grown 41 percent since 2016.

“Diverse consumer lifestyles are taking specialty foods mainstream,” said Phil Kafarakis, president of the SFA. “To reach these consumers and increase their own sales, food merchants have embraced the vast assortment of specialty products.

Our research outlines the momentum in the industry and provides a comprehensive picture of where we are today and how businesses can prepare for the future. Conducting important research like this is a part of our mission to champion specialty foods and help our members continue to innovate and succeed.”

The SFA combines its annual research into a comprehensive State of the Specialty Food Industry report and Category Tracking and Forecasts. Working with Mintel, the research explores where the current market stands.

Three specialty food pioneers will be recognized by the Specialty Food Association at the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show. To honor their contributions to the nearly $150 billion specialty food industry, Lifetime Achievement Awards will be given to Benny Curl of Byrd Cookie Company; Ariane Daguin of D’Artagnan; and Bob Moore of Bob’s Red Mill.

“The Specialty Food Association Lifetime Achievement Awards celebrate individuals who have made a lasting impact on the specialty food industry,” said Phil Kafarakis, president of the Association.

“The 2019 honorees – a cookie giant, a trailblazing high-end meat purveyor, and the patriarch of America’s whole grain movement – are all inspirational business leaders. They reflect the diversity, creativity, and dedication to producing quality foods that are mainstays of our membership.

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) announced today that Germany will be their partner country for the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show, the largest marketplace for specialty food in North America, taking place June 23 – 25 in New York City.

“We’re excited to have Germany as our partner country this year,” said Phil Kafarakis, president, Specialty Food Association. “Their Pavilion will showcase an array of outstanding specialties and innovative products from across Germany. In additional to well-known traditional German foods, we anticipate a number of new products on display at the show.”

The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is organizing the joint company presentation in the largest Pavilion the country has ever hosted at a Fancy Food Show. Information and light refreshments from Germany will be available at the pavilion’s show-kitchen and there will be German candy production onsite.

The fastest-growing segment of the food industry, specialty food at nearly $150 billion in annual sales, is gathering in New York, NY for the Summer Fancy Food Show from Sunday, June 23 through Tuesday, June 25. Presented by the Specialty Food Association (SFA), a not-for-profit association with over 3,800 members, including food artisans, importers, buyers and entrepreneurs, the show features 2,400+ companies exhibiting over 200,000 specialty foods – something for every palate.

“The Summer Fancy Food Show is where our industry’s remarkable creativity, drive, and spirit of innovation are on display for an audience of buyers from every channel of the food industry, domestic and international,” said Phil Kafarakis, SFA president. “We’ll fill all of the Javits Center this weekend. It’ll be the best place to see the trends, learn, network and conduct critical business to help serve every customer base and build success for 2020.”

About the Specialty Food Association:The Specialty Food Association is a thriving community of food artisans, importers, and entrepreneurs. Established in 1952 in New York, the not-for-profit trade association provides its 3,600 members in the U.S. and abroad with resources, knowledge and connections to champion and nurture their companies in an always-evolving marketplace.

The Association owns and produces the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, and presents the sofi™ Awards honoring excellence in specialty food.

We at World Liberty TV Food and Wine Channels and blogs have been covering The Fancy Food Show for the past 11 years, it seems to be getting bigger and better every year.

See some of the vendors who we met at the show debuting there products never seen before, be first to see them right here in our World Liberty TV Food and Wine Channels by Clicking here.