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T
he Summer Fancy Food Show is upon us!
I'm Julie Gallagher, Specialty Food
Association's director of content development
and new editor of
Specialty Food magazine.
This issue is full of inspiration to help you
better support and grow your business.
It comes at a time when specialty food sales
across retail, foodservice, and ecommerce grew
6.5 percent to a record-breaking $206.8 billion last
year, according to the findings of SFA's soon-to-
be-released State of the Specialty Food Industry
research, the highlights of which begin on p. 41.
SFA's research partner David Lockwood will take a
deeper dive into the findings on Sunday, June 23 at
12:30 p.m. on the Big Idea Stage at the Show.
Sales of specialty foods are projected to
grow an additional 6.1 percent this year and will
undoubtedly be spurred by business dealings at the
Show, but growth comes as a result of inflation.
While dollar sales are burgeoning, unit volume has
been challenged. For the second consecutive year,
unit sales of specialty food in retail grocery fell
slightly in 2023.
Inflation has caused consumers to up their
at-home eating game. Nearly 20 food categories
fared very well on a combined basis of dollar and
unit sales growth. The cover of this issue features
a handful of top performers. Specialty pasta sauces,
seasonings, oil & vinegar, and baking mixes posted
double-digit dollar sales growth and positive unit
gains.
Americans are also treating themselves to
indulgent foods. About half of the top 10 specialty
categories, ranked by dollar sales, include snacks or
treats. For the second year, Chips, pretzels, snacks,
lead the list that also features Cheese and plant-
based cheese (#2); Entrées, snacks & sides (#3);
Chocolate and other confectionery (#7); and Ice
cream & novelties (#8).
Specialty grocers also hold their own by
offering value that doesn't hinge on the lowest
price. Experiential retail stores, says Show speaker
and retail architect Kevin Kelley, are providing
memorable experiences that consumers crave. He
expounds on the topic on p. 58 and will share a trio
of success stories on Monday, June 24 at 1 p.m. on
the Big Idea Stage at the Show.
Specialty Food also checked in with Whole
Foods CEO Jason Buechel, who discusses the
retailer's support of emerging brands and climate-
friendly initiatives on p. 57. He will deliver the
keynote "Savoring the Future: A Fireside Chat
with Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel" on
Monday, June 24 at 11 a.m. on the Main Stage at
the Show.
Innovative offerings that surprise and delight
also continue to inspire. SFA will host its inaugural
Debut District at the Show. The can't-miss area
will encompass makers with new products and
specialty startups, including those working with
incubators, and first-time Fancy Food Show
exhibitors. Located on Level 1, in Halls D and E,
Show attendees may access the area at 9:30 a.m.,
which is earlier than the rest of the Show floor
attractions which open at 10 a.m.
Be sure to download the new 2024 Fancy
Food Show app for the most up-to-date schedule of
events. See you on the Show floor.
SUMMER 2024 1
editor's letter
SPECIALTY SALES EXCEED $200 BILLION
Julie Gallagher
Editor, SFA Specialty Food
jgallagher@specialtyfood.com
