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Summer Fancy Food Show Opens in Washington, D.C.
Chef José Andrés to Deliver Keynote
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2012) – The Summer Fancy Food Show opens today at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. amid unprecedented interest in specialty foods and the people who create them.
The show, now in its 58th year, runs June 17 – 19. It is the largest marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages in North America. Registration is at www.fancyfoodshows.com.
The exhibit halls will be filled with the latest in chocolate, cheese, olive oil, snack mixes and natural and organic products from food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs looking to connect with buyers from the top names in retailing and restaurants.
Among 2,250 exhibitors, more than 230 specialty food companies are making their show debut, up from 180 newcomers at last year’s event. And a special pavilion presents 34 emerging food entrepreneurs, many in their first year of business. The Fancy Food Show’s signature workshop for individuals interested in launching food companies, The Basics: The Business of Specialty Foods, filled up quickly.
“Our industry is showing real momentum and the vibrant mix of new exhibitors reflects that,” says Ann Daw, president of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT), the show’s owner. According to NASFT research, specialty food sales in the U.S. reached a record $75 billion in 2011.
Show highlights include a keynote address by José Andrés, the noted chef and culinary innovator, who will present the sofi™ Awards for the outstanding specialty foods and beverages of the year at a red-carpet ceremony on Monday, June 18.
Other show highlights include:
- A Visual Feast, an interactive exhibit celebrating the NASFT’s 60th anniversary
- Exhibitors from 80 countries and regions, including new pavilions from Poland, Romania and the Philippines
- Winners of a first-ever New York City-sponsored contest for food manufacturers
- More than 80 companies from the D.C. Metropolitan Area
- 20+ seminars, including Top Ten Mistakes Beginning Manufacturers Make
- Guided Tastings: Salt & Pepper; Artisanal Butters; Korean Food
- What’s New, What’s Hot! Display with new products, gift ideas, natural and organic products, and the latest from participants in NASFT’s Diversity Program
- Business Builders 1-to-1, a customized match-making program for buyers and suppliers
- Chef Demo Theater presented with the Cooking Channel
- Major food donation to the Capital Food Bank
About the NASFT
The NASFT is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,900 members in the U.S. and abroad. The NASFT’s website for consumers, foodspring.com, provides an insider’s look at specialty foods and the companies, food entrepreneurs and artisans behind them. For more information on the NASFT and its Fancy Food Shows, go to specialtyfood.com.
Fancy Food Show Exhibitor News: www.specialtyfood.com/exhibitornews
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