NEW YORK – The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) 70th Summer Fancy Food Show attracted more than 32,000 manufacturers, buyers, distributors, media representatives and industry professionals to New York City’s Javits Center from June 28-30, underscoring the continued growth and influence of the specialty food and beverage sector.
The event expanded to more than 345,000 square feet of exhibit space—its largest footprint in six years—and drew more than 9,100 registered buyers, an 8% increase from 2025.
A total of 2,529 domestic and international specialty food manufacturers showcased products spanning the industry’s diverse categories. Exhibitors introduced more than 700 new products, while 421 companies participated for the first time, the highest number of new exhibitors since 2019.
The show also welcomed nearly 14,000 registered attendees, including buyers, foodservice professionals, distributors, investors and members of the media, creating opportunities for networking, product discovery and business development throughout the three-day event.
To highlight evolving food and retail trends, SFA introduced new pavilions and experiential activations across the show floor. The Fancy Bodega, powered by WISEcode, offered an immersive retail experience inspired by New York City’s food culture, allowing attendees to discover emerging products in a realistic shopping environment.
Meanwhile, the sold-out Spark Pavilion featured more than 50 emerging brands and first-time exhibitors, showcasing innovative products and fresh ideas from the next generation of specialty food entrepreneurs.
"The Summer Fancy Food Show is the biggest moment of the year for the Specialty Food Association, and this year's Show was truly bursting at the seams with innovation around every corner," said Bill Lynch, President of SFA. "As the specialty food industry continues to expand in response to consumer demand, we're so proud to bring together the passionate food and beverage manufacturers to share their products, tell their stories, and make crucial connections with buyers, distributors, foodservice members, and press to drive their businesses forward."
Highlights from the Show include:
- Specialty food and beverage products from 2,529 exhibitors, including more than 700 new products and 421 first-time exhibitors.
- Exhibitors from 57 countries and six continents, with 31 international pavilions, a 29% increase over 2025. The Show also spotlighted the Saudi Dates pavilion from the Show's partner country, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and their National Center for Palms and Dates.
- The sold-out Spark Pavilion, curated by SFA, featured more than 50 first-time exhibitors, incubators, and accelerator brands showcasing fresh innovations.
- The Good Food Mercantile, co-located within the Summer Fancy Food Show for the first time, highlighted 77 makers whose products share a commitment to great taste, quality ingredients, and sustainability.
- State and Regional Pavilions including New York, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, SUSTA, Vermont, and new pavilions Indiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
- More than 20 informative and inspiring sessions from notable industry experts and thought leaders, including a keynote address from Chef Marcus Samuelsson about the changing patterns in how we eat and how the U.S. continues to find new, exciting intersections of food, culture, and flavor, all in service of bringing joy through food. Other topics included shifting retail trends, DTC strategy, AI optimization in the food industry, securing the appropriate funding for your brand, how to harness the right consumer trends for CPG brands, and an insider look at how Walmart is supporting emerging brands to drive growth.
- The Fancy Face-Off, a pitch competition that invited four founders to tell their stories and showcase their products in front of a panel of influential judges. 50 Hertz Tingly Foods took home the grand prize of $10,000 in the live competition.
- SFA's annual People Awards Ceremony, hosted by legendary food writer and convener Dana Cowin, spotlighting the past, present, and future of the specialty food industry. In addition to honoring industry trailblazers through Leadership Awards, Hall of Fame inductions, and Lifetime Achievement awards, SFA also recognized the newest cohort of Maker Prep graduates.
- Food Rescue and Donation. SFA operates an Exhibitor Food Donation Program in partnership with City Harvest to ensure that unused food is provided to New Yorkers in need. This year, more than 70,000 pounds on 98 pallets of specialty food were donated by SFA members.
Here were some observations from the Summer Fancy Food Show participants reinforce the Show as a must-attend in the industry:
"What a week. Six events. Countless buyer and investor meetings. So many incredible conversations with founders, retailers, and partners. We're leaving inspired, energized, and more excited than ever for what's ahead," said Liana Krasnow, Noodoo.
"It's always energizing to see how innovation, consumer insights, and culinary creativity come together to shape what's next in food. Looking forward to bringing these ideas back to Aramark's guests & clients with future innovation," added Janette Bohensky, Aramark.
"The last three days have been amazing. We've had a lot of good leads, met some amazing retailers and distributors, and tons of good contacts. One of the biggest benefits for me is to connect with other founders and learn from them," commented Roger Velasquez, The Purple Drop.
"The show has been very good for us. We are meeting new customers and getting good leads. SFA helps make the connections between the retailers, distributors, and manufacturers, so you don't have to navigate all these people yourself. It's easier when the right people come to you," said Ricardo Gutierrez, Hoard's Dairymen.
"Fancy Food Show 2026 was my favorite of all time in 30 years! The key: combining friends, family, co-workers and experiences into the blender that is FFS-NYC, and then just allowing an amazing experience to happen! I want to honor the Specialty Food Association for recreating the show into an extremely relevant and valuable experience for brands, retailers and service providers," Luke Abbott, V Driven Consulting said.
SFA will hold its next trade show - Winter FancyFaire* - in one of the world's great food cities: San Francisco, January 17-19, 2027. Proud to hold the first trade show of the new year for the specialty food and beverage community, SFA will also unveil its 2027 Trend of the Year live at Winter FancyFaire*. Learn more here.
