![SFA Winter Fancy Food Show Opens this weekend in Las Vegas](https://news.italianfood.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/WFFS24_1600x500.jpg)
The Specialty Food Association’s 48th annual Winter Fancy Food Show will take place in Las Vegas for three days (January 21-23), exhibiting thousands of domestic and global specialty food products. This is the year’s first event, where producers unveil their latest products, making it a must-attend trade show for buyers.
“The 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show marks the beginning of the food industry’s annual cycle—a pivotal gathering where innovation meets opportunity,” said SFA President Bill Lynch. “This show is not just an event; it’s the epicenter of culinary creativity and business acumen where makers launch and buyers discover the latest products and trends that will shape the new year.“
Italy will have a pavilion at the trade show. Other countries will also participate in pavilions, including Canada, China, France, Greece, Morocco, and Spain. This year, the partner country is Japan.
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Show attendees can visit over 1,200 exhibitors of artisanal food and beverage products. Product pavilions will be dedicated to the hottest categories: plant-based, Deli, Bakery/Confectionery/Snacks & Sweets, and Beverages.
SPECIALTY FOOD INDUSTRY BY THE NUMBERS
The 2023-2024 State of the Specialty Food Industry report was recently published. Here are some of the research highlights:
- Specialty food market will top $207 billion in 2023
- Inflation in 2022 lifted the specialty retail and food service segments In retail, specialty foods represent 22% of all food sales
- Specialty e-commerce is seeking a rapid slowdown
- Plant-based food and beverage segment has cooled down since 2020, but in ’22, specialty plant-based grew 6%, nearly three percentage points slower than the total market (8.8%)
- The snacking surge continued in early 2023, showcasing consumers’ desire to indulge and treat themselves on their own and as part of celebrations with friends and families
- Plant-based meat alternatives aren’t doing well
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the non-profit trade association of the $194 billion specialty food industry.