"Products that make home cooking more convenient and restaurant-quality are in demand, whether meal starter kits, distinctive salts or butters, condiments from around the world, or foods from different global regions available as frozen entrees," said Denise Purcell, SFA's vice president, resource development. 

Spending on groceries and away-from-home food is up. Inflation plays a role here but spending choices indicate consumers are returning to restaurants and buying freshly prepared foods.

Available only to product-qualified members of the SFA, the sofi Awards were judged at the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC), the SFA's partner for the awards. FIC experts evaluated products using anonymous tastings across 47 categories using criteria that included flavor, appearance, texture, aroma, ingredient quality, and innovation. 102 specialty food products were awarded Gold, and New Product, trophies. 

After more than two years apart, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Trendspotter Panel gathered in person to search the aisles for the Show's hottest trends at the 46th Winter Fancy Food Show. Running February 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Show featured thousands of products from around the world, with companies ranging from established to startup.

In 2021, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Trendspotter Panel virtually assembled at three separate digital SFA shows to research thousands of specialty food and beverage products from around the world. After recording their extensive findings, Denise Purcell, vice president, content and education for the SFA, pored over the data and deciphered five trends that will drive the growth of the $170.4 billion specialty food industry in 2022.