Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association, Inc. (SFA) is membership-based trade association in the United States representing approximately 3,800 member companies.[1] The SFA was established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry in the U.S., worth $148 billion as of May 2020. [1]

Specialty Food Association
AbbreviationSFA
MottoShape the Future of Food.
Formation1952 (1952)
Founded atNew York City
Typenot-for-profit
President
Phil Kafarakis
Formerly called
National Association for the Specialty Food Trade

The Association is a not-for-profit organization whose members are specialty food artisans, purveyors, importers and entrepreneurs, as well as distributors, retailers, and others involved in the specialty food trade.

Phil Kafarakis was named President of SFA in July 2016.[2]

Activities

The Specialty Food Association is a source of industry information, educational events and in-person and online networking opportunities, including workshops, certification and training programs and events.[3]

Among the Association's programs are the annual Winter Fancy Food Show, traditionally held in January in San Francisco, CA, at the Moscone Center and the annual Summer Fancy Food Show, traditionally held at the end of June in New York, NY at the Jacob Javits Center.[4][5]

The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest show for specialty food in North America, with 34,000 attendees and 2400 exhibitors annually.[6][7] More than 50 countries will be participating in the show, with Italy as partner country for 2020.[8][9]

The Association's quarterly publication, Specialty Food Magazine, has a circulation of more than 30,000 trade professionals.[10] Its daily email newsletter, Specialty Food News, reaches more than 47,000 individuals every business day.[11]

Award programs

The Specialty Food Association produces the annual sofi Awards[12][13] which recognize excellence in specialty food products. The 2016 award winners[14] were selected from 3,200 entries across 28 product categories, including best chocolate, cheese and savory snack.[15]

Annual Leadership Awards honor influential and innovative entrepreneurs who are transforming the way the specialty food industry does business. These awards honor SFA members who have advanced food standards in society by creating positive social, economic and environmental impact through their innovations and vision.[16]

The SFA's Hall of Fame for the specialty food industry's mission is to honor individuals whose accomplishments, impact, contributions, innovations, and successes within the specialty food industry deserve praise and recognition. Multiple individuals are inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.[17] The Association’s Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize and celebrate extraordinary industry pioneers.[18]

Location

Specialty Food Association (formerly NASFT) is currently located at 136 Madison Ave in New York City.

References
  1. "Specialty Food Association Lobbies Against Tariffs". Progressive Grocer. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  2. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/specialty-food-association-names-new-president-300302185.html
  3. "Specialty food industry continues surge upward".
  4. "Our Fancy Foods, Ourselves".
  5. "The 2015 Fancy Food Show In New York, One Smorgasbord You Won't Want to Miss". 26 June 2015.
  6. Webb, Kayla (2019-06-25). "2019 Summer Fancy Food Show Highlights: Inside New York". Deli Market News. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  7. Watrous, Monica. "Trends at the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show". www.foodbusinessnews.net. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  8. Paltrowitz, Darren (2019-07-01). "18 Fun, Healthy and/or Kosher Brands From The 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  9. "SFA cancels Summer Fancy Food Show 2020". Italianfood.net. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  10. "Specialty Food Magazine - WINTER 2016". specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com.
  11. "preview". emailactivity1.ecn5.com.
  12. "Specialty Food Association". specialtyfood.com. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  13. "These awards are like Oscars, but for artisan food - The Boston Globe".
  14. "Gallery: Sofi winners reflect latest specialty trends". 6 June 2016.
  15. "Slideshow: Top innovations at Summer Fancy Food 2016".
  16. "Leadership Awards - Specialty Food Association". www.specialtyfood.com.
  17. "Hall of Fame - 2016 Hall of Fame Recipients Summer". www.specialtyfood.com.
  18. "Specialty Food Association Names Lifetime Achievement Award Winners". 27 June 2016.
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