MY EXPERIENCE AT THE SOLD OUT 2023 SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW

This year I had the privilege of not only attending the 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show, but working behind the scenes with on-site graphics, attendee activations, and videography. After a long 6 months, this show is the culmination of hard work and determination to not only make the Specialty Food Association (SFA) the specialty food authority, but make this trade show the biggest trade show in the US for specialty food and beverage makers.

More than 30,000 specialty food and beverage industry professionals registered for the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) sold-out 67th Summer Fancy Food Show, June 25-27 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Registration was up 20% over 2022, and the Show achieved year-over-year increases in all key qualified buyer categories attending the Show, including a 21% increase in retailers; a 20% increase in food service, and a 12% increase in distributors.

The Fancy Food Shows are the largest specialty food industry events in North America for product discovery, trendspotting, and networking. Exhibit space sold out in mid-May, and more than 2,200 domestic and international companies across 40+ specialty food and beverage categories exhibited at the Show. In addition to makers and buyers, the show attracted industry affiliates, press, influencers, investors, and trendspotters.  

“As a not-for-profit membership trade association, the Specialty Food Association operates the Fancy Food Shows as a service to our more than 3,000 member companies," said SFA President Bill Lynch. “The Fancy Food Shows were created to help facilitate the growth of the specialty food industry, and they are the premiere destination for those who want to see, taste, and experience the incredible breadth of specialty products available today. Specialty food and beverage makers are innovators and trendsetters, and that was on full display during this year's Summer Fancy Food Show."

The next Fancy Food Shows are the 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show, January 21-23 in Las Vegas and the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show, June 23-25 in New York City.