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    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, July 13 @ 1pm ET
    In May 2023, the FDA published a Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Food Traceability Rule to assist small businesses in complying with the applicable recordkeeping requirements. Join attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers to explore this new resource and better understand how traceability regulations affect how you do business.
    Christy Schmitt
    June 15 @ 1pm EST 
    FDA has been increasing its enforcement against importers for violations of the FSVP rule, which requires importers to verify that foreign suppliers of human and animal food meet appliable FDA safety standards.  This webinar will help you understand who is covered by the rule, what you need to do to comply, and the consequences for failure to comply. 
     
    George Hajjar
    Marisol Villalobos grew up on a coffee farm and she is an expert in agriculture, microbiology, and delicious specialty food. Her one-ingredient product was the first sofi award winner from Puerto Rico! On this episode of Spill & Dish, host Gretchen VanEsselstyn talks with Marisol about the triumphs and challenges of creating and selling her plant-based, gluten-free, sustainable, and eco-friendly product. Listen now.
    George Hajjar
    In this episode of SFA's Spill & Dish podcast, Megan Rooney, program development manager, chats with David Schmunk of African Dream Foods, about delivering authentic flavors while promoting wildlife conservation through their hot sauces and spices. The 2023 SFA Leadership Award–Emerging Leader recipient discusses the curiosity that drives his career, packaging pains, and his love of trade shows. Listen now.
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, May 4th at 1pm ET
    Third-party audits are an increasingly common way to demonstrate safe food production and gain access to new markets. However, audits require careful planning and preparation to ensure success. This webinar will discuss essential trainings, topics, and tools you need to know about before scheduling an audit, as well as what to expect during the process. 
     
     
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, May 11 @ 1pm ET
    Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming an effective tool to enhance sales and marketing strategies, from the automation of repetitive tasks, to writing ad copy, to quickly visualizing creative ideas. In this presentation, Aaron Feiger and Felice Thorpe will discuss easy, low-cost ways that AI can be used to step up your strategy and your creativity.  You’ll learn about the benefits of AI, the ethical considerations to keep in mind, and the steps you can take to implement these practices in your own company.
    https://community.specialtyfood.com/store/product/299-using-ai-to-benefit-your-sales-branding-and-marketing/
    George Hajjar
    In this episode of SFA's Spill & Dish podcast, Megan Rooney, program development manager, chats with Luke Schneider of Fire Department Coffee, a veteran-owned business dedicated to providing great-tasting coffee to people everywhere. The 2023 SFA Leadership Award–Citizenship recipient discusses his Navy and firefighting background, roasting coffee between shifts, and building good teams. Listen now.
    Christy Schmitt
    Tuesday April 25th @ 1PM ET 
    Convenience is an incredibly important channel for specialty food makers. Michael Sears has vast experience working with convenience buyers, and he’ll share his insights and tips on what convenience buyers are looking for in a product, how to decide if the channel is a good fit for your product type, and how to take the first steps. 
     
    George Hajjar
    Sisters Jessica Amel and Angela Kmeck co-lead Janet’s Finest, a specialty food brand started by their mother that incorporates spicy jalapeños into sweet fruity compotes. In this episode of Spill & Dish, George Hajjar, associate editor of the Specialty Food Association, speaks with the sisters about driving success on social media and the importance of family and community in their brand.
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday April 13th @ 1pm ET
    Supplier diversity is an important strategy for retailers and distributors, focusing on the inclusion of small businesses and businesses owned by minority and underrepresented groups in their buying plans. Join us for this informative panel featuring retail and distribution perspectives on how diversity buying works and how it can work for your business.
     
     
    George Hajjar
    Dani Zuchovicki, member and community manager at The Hatchery, began observing and later assisting her grandmother in the kitchen from an early age. Her culinary curiosity continued during her teen years when she tested out recipes by hosting supper clubs with high school friends. These days she assists early-stage food entrepreneurs at the Chicago incubator in getting their businesses off the ground. In this episode of Spill & Dish, Julie Gallagher, content director for the Specialty Food Association, speaks with SFA’s Emerging Leader Award winner about her work with women from underserved communities, the common hurdles they face, and the ways she’s assisted hundreds of food makers.
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, April 20th @ 1pm ET
    As a specialty food company, you’ll likely have opportunities to work with partners, and a license agreement or a strategic partnership agreement is crucial. Before you jump in, you need to understand your rights and be prepared to face potential legal pitfalls. This presentation will shine light on important elements including intellectual property, quality control, and royalties. Bring your questions!
     
     
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, March 23 @ 1pm 
    The food industry, along with society at large, suffers from widespread employee abuses, including sexual harassment and discrimination. Recently, food and agriculture company Bolthouse Farms took a stand, announcing changes to its NDA policy to allow employees the freedom to report on potential wrongdoing they experience at the company. This move comes as part of a wave of policy changes, both at the legislative and corporate levels to protect workers’ voices. Join us for this dynamic and informative panel discussion with four top experts on these issues. You will learn about: the latest federal, state, and company policies that are shifting the way we think about NDAs and forced arbitration and protecting employees; why Bolthouse Farms decided to make the changes they did and how your company can do the same; the personal toll silencing mechanisms can take and why it’s important to address workplace abuses.
    Participants:
    Michele Simon, Moderator
    Sarvenaz Bakhtiar, Lift Our Voices
    Matthew Ayres, Bolthouse Farms
     
    George Hajjar
    Michele Freeman, CEO and co-founder of Venice Beach Beverage, always had a love for tea. Growing up in Ohio, all her mealtime memories included her family's iced tea recipe. Today, she has taken that recipe and evolved it into the first plant-based, shelf-stable tea with 100% daily vitamins in the United States.
    On this episode of Spill & Dish, guest host and Cuisine Noir Magazine editor Sheree Williams speaks with Freeman about becoming a small business owner at the age of 57 and how it is never too late to follow your dreams and do what you love. Michele also shares how she took a recipe passed down from generation to generation to create a beverage that not only tastes good but is good for you too.
    George Hajjar
    Director of center store for Town & Country Markets and winner of the 2023 SFA Leadership Award for Outstanding Buyer, Dwight Richmond has helped bring prominent specialty food brands to retail, including Xinca Foods, Lotus Foods, and Siete Family Foods. 
    In this episode, George Hajjar, associate editor at SFA speaks with Richmond about enabling makers to self-mentor, understanding the spark that makes a good business, and the familial element that’s inherent in the specialty food industry.
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, March 16 at 1pm ET
    DTC and grocery can live together in perfect harmony – in this webinar, you’ll learn how! We’ll explore the best uses and practices for each channel, expand into creative ways to build your direct-to-consumer following through product offerings and programs, and show how to make both channels complement one another. Bring your questions! 
    George Hajjar
    After leading a platoon of 45 marines in combat at the age of 23, David Kemp was looking to leverage his Harvard Business School degree. He became partner in Les Trois Petits Cochons in 2015 and has increased sales by 25 percent per year since 2017.
    In this Spill & Dish episode, Julie Gallagher, director of content development for SFA, talks with Kemp, SFA’s 2023 Leadership Award Winner for Vision, about his road to success, the impact of inflation, and what’s next for Village Gourmet.
    Christy Schmitt
    Thursday, Feb 9, 1pm ET
    Costco has become a popular option for consumers who are looking for quality products at a discount. Jeremy Smith, the President and Founder of LaunchPad and expert in all things Costco, is here to help you figure out if the club channel is a good fit for your business! He will provide guidance on how to work with Costco, as well as winning strategies to get your product in the customer’s cart.  
     
    George Hajjar
    The Winter Fancy Food Show edition of Specialty Food features “Top Food Trends for 2023” and profiles the winners of SFA’s Leadership Awards for Citizenship, Vision, Sustainability, Emerging Leader, and Outstanding Buyer.
    It also includes news related to the Winter Fancy Food Show, taking place January 15-17 in Las Vegas, and “Sin City Specialties,” which highlights new food destinations in the Show’s host city. 
    As part of Buyers’ Picks, a trio of retail buyers share recommendations for foods supporting resolutions in the new year. In addition, members of SFA’s 12 Under 35: Breakout Talent to Watch list weigh in on their biggest concerns in 2023. Read now.
    Megan Rooney
    Thursday, January 5 at 1pm ET
    On November 21, 2022, FDA published its long-anticipated final rule on food traceability. The rule covers many key areas of interest to SFA members situated throughout the supply chain, from makers, to distributors, to retailers and in key areas such as seafood, cheeses, and nut butters. Join attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers as she provides a summary of key provisions of the rule, critical aspects for your business, and when you need to comply. Please bring your questions for a great discussion!
     
    Megan Rooney
    Thursday, January 26 at 1pm ET
    Are you a maker brand with limited time, resources, and money? This webinar is for you. You’ll learn how to segment your audience and personalize communication via better Customer Relationship Management to organize and engage via helpful, human, and holistic online marketing. You’ll also learn how to improve online sales and audience reach with nano- and micro-influencers. 
     
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