Amid record demand for specialty food, exhibit space at the Winter Fancy Food Show is reaching sell-out status weeks ahead of last year’s record-setting event, according to the Specialty Food Association, the show’s owner and producer.
The West Coast’s largest marketplace for specialty foods and beverages will be held January 19–21 at Moscone Center in San Francisco. Now in its 39th year, the show will have a new look featuring the Specialty Food Association’s new brand for the industry, “Specialty Food: Craft. Care. Joy.”
Registration is now open at fancyfoodshows.com. A special pre-show attendee registration price is available through December 6.
More than 1,300 food artisans and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. and 35 countries and regions will present their latest chocolate, cheese, olive oil, charcuterie, organic products and other top-quality foods to 18,000 buyers of specialty foods from top names in retailing and restaurants.
“Specialty food makers are responding to unprecedented interest in high-quality, artisanal food with new products and innovative twists on classics,” says Ann Daw, president of the Specialty Food Association. “Buyers will find tens of thousands of options for their food-savvy customers.”
The trade-only event will feature more than 100 first-time exhibitors with such hand-crafted products as Thai sauces from Los Angeles, cured meats from Norwalk, Iowa, and organic, gluten free cookies from Miami. International foods are well represented, with the five largest pavilions from Italy, Japan, France, Germany, and Spain.
Show highlights include the Specialty Food Association’s second annual Leadership Awards honoring influential and innovative entrepreneurs who are transforming the way the specialty food industry does business. There is also a section featuring more than 30 emerging food entrepreneurs, New Brands on the Shelf.
The education program begins with the Super Retailer Summit, a one-day offsite workshop on Friday, January 17 with topics including food safety, marketing, technology and local sourcing. This is part of a full menu of show and seminars targeted to industry newcomers and veteran manufacturers.
