Based on sales data from the past three calendar years, the new Specialty Food Association's (SFA) annual State of the Specialty Food Industry Report  reveals a robust specialty food industry hitting $158.4 billion in sales, a 10.7% increase since 2017. The full report includes commentary throughout that reflects the impact and ramifications of COVID-19.

Bill Lynch has been appointed the interim president of the Specialty Food Association by the SFA’s Board of Directors. Lynch, who has 20 years of experience with the Association, will take over the leadership position as the contract expires for the current president, Phil Kafarakis. Kafarakis will assist Lynch over the coming month to take over leadership duties.

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) represents as many as 4,000 independent specialty food companies. Its two annual conventions—the Winter Fancy Food Show in January and Summer Fancy Food Show in June—prove to be key scouting opportunities for those manufacturers, retailers and foodservice operators interested to preview food and beverage trends.

The Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel reviewed 80,000 specialty food and beverage products to select a robust group of products and companies representing eight notable trends in the specialty food and beverage industry.

Headquartered in New Jersey with operations in California, Florida and Canada, White Toque sells both frozen and dry specialty foods to more than 250 distributors and wholesalers across the US.

Visitors will be able to taste the classic and unique A Dutch Masterpiece, a collection of four premium mature cheeses that have won excellence awards around the world thanks to exclusive recipes and commitment to the art of traditional Dutch cheesemaking.

The company’s Omya Calcipur® line of calcium carbonate particles provides multiple ways of boosting both nutritional value and ease of processing in a broad variety of finished products. 

The crispbreads offer a high fiber, low sugar alternative to bread that is free of hydrogenated oils. Offered in Original, Caraway, Fig, and Pink Peppercorn varieties, these light crisps make the perfect partner for canapés and are the natural choice for cheese. 

The Hatchery Chicago, a nonprofit incubator dedicated to helping Chicago entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses, introduced six new and innovative CPG startups at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show.

Building on previous findings and predictions, the panelists tasted their way through the show, identifying products currently attaining prominence in the specialty food industry.