Produce suppliers carve out small niche at Fancy Food Show in New York
Produce suppliers carve out small niche at Fancy Food Show in New York
It is little surprise that a trade show named "Fancy Food" would quickly grow into one of the food industry's larger trade shows. It draws so many people that it is now held three times a year in three major U.S. cities: San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade sponsors the Fancy Food Shows. The not-for-profit business trade association was established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Recent Fancy Food Shows have attracted as many as 32,000 attendees from specialty food, wine, gift and department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, mail order, and other related businesses who come to the shows to see over a thousand exhibitors from around the world presenting over 50,000 specialty foods. NASFT indicated that business booms at the shows. Studies have shown that 87 percent of attendees either authorize or recommend purchasing decisions.
Each year, and as specialty produce continues to grow as a category, increasing numbers of fresh produce producers and distributors set up exhibits to display their "fancier products to the foodservice and retail markets. The recent New York City Fancy Food Show, held at the Javits Center July 9-11, was no exception.
Robert Schueller and other staff members of Melissa's/World Variety Produce in Los Angeles were on hand to display some of the items in the company's specialty produce line. Visitors had the opportunity to view and sample products now in season and currently being shipped from the company's facilities.
"The Fancy Food Shows gives top chefs, restaurant and other foodservice operators an opportunity to learn about a variety of new and in-season produce items, and to do it at the same time they are looking at other categories of products, said Mr. Schueller. "It creates a good opportunity for them, and at the same time, it exposes Melissa's and its products to a wide variety of customers and potential customers.
Melissa's featured several new and in-season products, including Red Raven plums, a black plum variety with a unique red flesh. Also displayed were its "Melissa's Peeled Garlic, individual bags of whole peeled cloves -- the equivalent of four bulbs -- contained inside a zipper package for added freshness.
On July 12, Chef Sarah Moulton appeared on the CBS "Good Morning America program to feature some of the great products she discovered while meandering the aisles of the Fancy Food Show. She chose both Melissa's plums and garlic items to add to her segment.
Melissa's also displayed Saturn peaches, lychees, peeled baby red beets and many other products. Erwan Landivinec, vice president of IPEX, a division of Baldor Specialty Foods in Bronx, NY, was also on hand at the show. Mr. Landivinec spoke with clients and potential clients about the company's specialty products, including its extensive value-added selection and its growing gourmet line of processed, packaged food products.
Bill Walker, marketing specialist for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, was at the Fancy Food Show to help promote the "Jersey Fresh name and program to visitors from both the foodservice and retail categories of the food business.
Sid Wainer & Son was also exhibiting at the show. The company is a specialty produce and specialty foods supplier headquartered in New Bedford, MA. Besides a full line of processed, prepared and packaged food products, the company has dealt in fresh produce for over 90 years. It supplies over 23,000 high-level restaurants, hotels, gourmet shops and caterers internationally. The company's fruits and vegetables are stored in over 300,000 square feet of temperature-controlled coolers.
The Growers Union LLC/ERA 2000, headquartered in Guanajuato, Mexico, also made its presence known at the show. Gerardo L?pez Cruz, president of the organization, was on hand to explain its culture and goals. The consortium is dedicated to the commercialization and distribution of fresh vegetables and fruits in the global market.
"Expansion and consolidation in the new markets set the basis for the Growers Union, said Mr. L?pez Cruz. "It was formed as a solution to improve quality in service and logistics, and has established a very efficient channel of distributions in the United States and Canada.
Celso Paganini, president of Paganini Foods, which imports and distributes fresh Italian produce under the "BellaVita label, also exhibited at the Fancy Food Show. Mr. Paganini said that it is an important event because it helps produce companies such as his to stay abreast of trends in the industry. "It is also a good venue for interacting and networking, said Mr. Paganini. "Attending and having a presence at trade shows such as this one is always time and energy well spent.
"BellaVita products were being presented in partnership venues with other product lines, as well as the European Unions EAT exhibition booth.
The Gourmet Gala was held in conjunction with the Fancy Food Show. The July 10 event took place at the Marriott Marquis, and benefited the SOS Share Our Strength organization that combats hunger. Chefs from more than 40 top restaurants, many located in cities far from New York, prepared small plates of their favorite recipes. The fare included rack of lamb with beef risotto and lavender sauce by Paul Nelson of Thalia, Taylor Bay scallops, curry-celery root pur?e and marinated salmon roe by Nils Nor? of Aquavit and cheesecake lollipops by David Burke of David Burke & Donatella. Since 1984, SOS has distributed more than $80 million to more than 1,000 anti-hunger, anti-poverty programs worldwide.
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade sponsors the Fancy Food Shows. The not-for-profit business trade association was established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Recent Fancy Food Shows have attracted as many as 32,000 attendees from specialty food, wine, gift and department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, mail order, and other related businesses who come to the shows to see over a thousand exhibitors from around the world presenting over 50,000 specialty foods. NASFT indicated that business booms at the shows. Studies have shown that 87 percent of attendees either authorize or recommend purchasing decisions.
Each year, and as specialty produce continues to grow as a category, increasing numbers of fresh produce producers and distributors set up exhibits to display their "fancier products to the foodservice and retail markets. The recent New York City Fancy Food Show, held at the Javits Center July 9-11, was no exception.
Robert Schueller and other staff members of Melissa's/World Variety Produce in Los Angeles were on hand to display some of the items in the company's specialty produce line. Visitors had the opportunity to view and sample products now in season and currently being shipped from the company's facilities.
"The Fancy Food Shows gives top chefs, restaurant and other foodservice operators an opportunity to learn about a variety of new and in-season produce items, and to do it at the same time they are looking at other categories of products, said Mr. Schueller. "It creates a good opportunity for them, and at the same time, it exposes Melissa's and its products to a wide variety of customers and potential customers.
Melissa's featured several new and in-season products, including Red Raven plums, a black plum variety with a unique red flesh. Also displayed were its "Melissa's Peeled Garlic, individual bags of whole peeled cloves -- the equivalent of four bulbs -- contained inside a zipper package for added freshness.
On July 12, Chef Sarah Moulton appeared on the CBS "Good Morning America program to feature some of the great products she discovered while meandering the aisles of the Fancy Food Show. She chose both Melissa's plums and garlic items to add to her segment.
Melissa's also displayed Saturn peaches, lychees, peeled baby red beets and many other products. Erwan Landivinec, vice president of IPEX, a division of Baldor Specialty Foods in Bronx, NY, was also on hand at the show. Mr. Landivinec spoke with clients and potential clients about the company's specialty products, including its extensive value-added selection and its growing gourmet line of processed, packaged food products.
Bill Walker, marketing specialist for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, was at the Fancy Food Show to help promote the "Jersey Fresh name and program to visitors from both the foodservice and retail categories of the food business.
Sid Wainer & Son was also exhibiting at the show. The company is a specialty produce and specialty foods supplier headquartered in New Bedford, MA. Besides a full line of processed, prepared and packaged food products, the company has dealt in fresh produce for over 90 years. It supplies over 23,000 high-level restaurants, hotels, gourmet shops and caterers internationally. The company's fruits and vegetables are stored in over 300,000 square feet of temperature-controlled coolers.
The Growers Union LLC/ERA 2000, headquartered in Guanajuato, Mexico, also made its presence known at the show. Gerardo L?pez Cruz, president of the organization, was on hand to explain its culture and goals. The consortium is dedicated to the commercialization and distribution of fresh vegetables and fruits in the global market.
"Expansion and consolidation in the new markets set the basis for the Growers Union, said Mr. L?pez Cruz. "It was formed as a solution to improve quality in service and logistics, and has established a very efficient channel of distributions in the United States and Canada.
Celso Paganini, president of Paganini Foods, which imports and distributes fresh Italian produce under the "BellaVita label, also exhibited at the Fancy Food Show. Mr. Paganini said that it is an important event because it helps produce companies such as his to stay abreast of trends in the industry. "It is also a good venue for interacting and networking, said Mr. Paganini. "Attending and having a presence at trade shows such as this one is always time and energy well spent.
"BellaVita products were being presented in partnership venues with other product lines, as well as the European Unions EAT exhibition booth.
The Gourmet Gala was held in conjunction with the Fancy Food Show. The July 10 event took place at the Marriott Marquis, and benefited the SOS Share Our Strength organization that combats hunger. Chefs from more than 40 top restaurants, many located in cities far from New York, prepared small plates of their favorite recipes. The fare included rack of lamb with beef risotto and lavender sauce by Paul Nelson of Thalia, Taylor Bay scallops, curry-celery root pur?e and marinated salmon roe by Nils Nor? of Aquavit and cheesecake lollipops by David Burke of David Burke & Donatella. Since 1984, SOS has distributed more than $80 million to more than 1,000 anti-hunger, anti-poverty programs worldwide.
