Fancy Food Show in NYC
In our biz, the preeminent trade show is the Fancy Food Show, put on by the folks at the NASFT (the National Association of Specialty Food Trade). We just got back from the show last week and it was–once again–a kick ass show, with tons of great new products and amazing “regular” products that have been around for years. It’s an absolute mob scene with folks from all over the world stuffed into the Javits Center in NYC for three long days.
One of coolest parts of the show is the showcasing of the silver SOFI finalists and the choosing of the SOFI gold winners. SOFI stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation. When you win, you get a big statue that rivals an Oscar; in fact we always call them food Oscars. We got one last year ’cause we were chosen by the NASFT as one of the top 5 Retailers of the Year! The NASFT puts on a red carpet ceremony to showcase the gold winners. This year’s keynote speaker was Dan Barber, noted Chef and food writer from upstate New York.
Don’t know much about the show or the awards? Check out this great video done after last year’s Fancy Food Show.
We had a slightly new twist this year: the Woodstock Farmers’ Market was chosen to be a product judge by the folks at the NASFT. So for 3 days in April and 2 days in June, we were locked up from 9 AM till 5 PM tasting away like banshees—gobbling down thousands of items from dessert sauces, hot sauces, food service items and frozen entrees– 33 different categories in all.
For us, it was quite an honor to be on the inside of this great annual judging. We tasted over 2,200 products from a record number of entries. The judges—there were nine of us from all over the country—buyers, chefs, food magazine writers—were charged with narrowing the field from 2,200 to about 150. A pretty big task. Those silver finalists then got the chance to win gold at the Fancy Food Show where 300 members, buyers and retailers choose from the group of silver winners. What’s most amazing about the SOFI’s is the weight it carries: winning a SOFI can rocket a relatively unknown regional product to the heights of the national stage. It truly is the highest honor that the industry can bestow upon a product. And retailers love trying to carry as many SOFI winners as possible.
For instance, we always place signage on the the shelves for the silver or gold winner. It’s a huge honor when we carry something that the rest of the food world thinks is really good too. Like Effy’s Oatcakes. These guys finally won a Silver and a Gold for Outstanding Cookie. And Vermont Smoke Cure—they just came out with a cool line of little “jerky” style snack sticks and won a silver for Outstanding Snack. La Salamandra Chocolate Dulce De Leche won a silver for Outstanding Dessert. It’s one of those incredible treats that’s well worth the price.
A few other award winners we offer online… Edmond Fallot Walnut Dijon Mustard & Lark Cha-Chas.
Once again, there are some fantastic Gold SOFI winners this year too…and we carry several at the Market.
–The Ginger People won Outstanding Product Line…these guys rock and we sell a ton of the marinades and their great candy.
–Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce won for Outstanding Classic. I remember when this first came out 15 years ago…remember the huge chunks of garlic and tons of full leaf basil? Still there and still just as good as it was years ago.
–Way to go Vermont Butter and Cheese! They won a gold for outstanding Perishable Food Product for their Bijou–a triple cream, very buttery and spreadable cheese that’s absolutely wonderful.
–Nutorious Cranberry Orange Tango–an amazing concoction of candied nuts and dried fruit–won gold for best Snack Food.
–And finally, Nueskes Applewood Smoked Bacon, perhaps the world’s finest bacon, won a gold for Best Meat, Pate or Seafood.
Patrick