The Specialty Food Association, Inc. (SFA) is membership-based
trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. An industry tra ...
in the United States representing 3,000+ member companies.
The SFA was established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the
specialty food
A specialty food is a food that is typically considered as a "unique and high-value food item made in small quantities from high-quality ingredients". Consumers typically pay higher prices for specialty foods, and may perceive them as having variou ...
industry in the U.S., worth $148 billion as of May 2020.
The Association is a
not-for-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization whose members are specialty food artisans, purveyors, importers and entrepreneurs, as well as distributors, retailers, and others involved in the specialty food trade.
Bill Lynch was named Interim President of SFA in May 2020 and appointed President of SFA in November 2020.
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.
Among the Association's programs are the annual Winter Fancy Food Show, traditionally held in January in San Francisco, CA, at the
Moscone Center
The George R. Moscone Convention Center (pronounced ), popularly known as the Moscone Center, is the largest convention and exhibition complex in San Francisco, California. The complex consists of three main halls spread out across three block ...
and the annual Summer Fancy Food Show, traditionally held at the end of June in New York, NY at the
Jacob Javits Center
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, commonly known as the Javits Center, is a large convention center on Eleventh Avenue between 34th Street and 38th Street in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City. It was designed by architect James I ...
.
The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest show for specialty food in North America, with 34,000 attendees and 2400 exhibitors annually. More than 50 countries will be participating in the show, with Italy as partner country for 2020.
The Association's quarterly digital publication, Specialty Food magazine, has a circulation of more than 30,000 trade professionals.
Its daily email newsletter, SFA News Daily, reaches more than 49,000 individuals every business day.
Its daily email newsletter, Specialty Food News Daily, reaches more than 52,000 individuals every business day, as of June 2018.
Award programs
SFA produces the annual sofi awards, which recognize creativity and taste across multiple food categories in the specialty food products industry. Gold, Silver, Bronze and New Product winners are announced in the spring and highlighted at both Fancy Food Shows. At each Summer show, a Product of the Year is announced. The annual Leadership Awards honor industry leaders who are active members of the SFA and who are spearheading positive environmental, community, and business practices.
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. The Association’s Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize and celebrate extraordinary industry pioneers.
Location
Specialty Food Association (formerly NASFT) is currently located at 136
Madison Ave
Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States, that carries northbound one-way traffic. It runs from Madison Square (at 23rd Street) to meet the southbound Harlem River Drive at 142nd Stre ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
References
{{reflist
External links
Official website
Food industry trade groups
Organizations established in 1952