Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1194330
WINTER MESSAGE FROM PHIL KAFARAKIS, PRESIDENT We are very excited that you and the rest of the food industry have had the time to notice our new "look" here at the Specialty Food Association—all our properties are now wrapped in this master brand with its corresponding logo system. Check out our rationale on the brand redesign on page 26. We want you to know that the changes we're making are all about you! The growth in our industry also requires us to update and amend our membership policies. We have recommitted to our role as your trade association and will be bringing all the segments of the industry into SFA membership roles. We've even simplified our membership definitions; going forward, there are two categories of membership: • General Members are businesses that sell or plan to sell specialty food products. Examples include but are not limited to manufacturers, buyers, distributors, and importers. We anticipate a very active slate of buyers and distributors to join our robust roster of specialty food producers. • Alliance Members are businesses that advance and/or support the specialty food industry. Most companies that were formerly in our Representative or Affiliate classes will now fall into this category. In order for us to achieve our vision to Shape the Future of Food, we're proud to invite in, for the first time, those producers still in the earliest stages of development. As we Champion, Nurture, and Connect our members (that's from our mission statement) we're going to offer everyone more opportunities to access our services in preparation for further success, perhaps choose to serve as a mentor, learn from one another, and help those starting out. We want to be the place where everyone in the specialty food industry is welcome. This year's Winter Fancy Food Show brings our new branding to life! The show is SFA's second-largest event annually, the largest specialty food show on the West Coast, and the place where our new branding will launch in a big way. If you're at the show in San Francisco, please stop into the SFA Hub at Moscone Center and meet your Member Care & Success Team. We look forward to seeing many of you there. From everyone at the Specialty Food Association, have a wonderful and successful 2020 and thanks for being with us! Phil Kafarakis President, Specialty Food Association Follow me @PresidentSFA