Jump to content

  • Announcements

    Arielle Feger
    SFA’s Maker Prep series is an online educational program designed for new startups to provide them with the building blocks and knowledge base they need to do business in the specialty food industry.
    The third and final webinar in this series will take place Thursday, September 16 at 1 p.m. ET.
    In this webinar, hear from a veteran specialty food maker who has worked with a variety of distributors. You’ll learn about how to set your pricing to ensure profitability, contracts and negotiation strategies, how to handle disagreements, and how to keep maker-distributor relationships strong. Register now.
    This is the third webinar of a three webinar series. All webinars are free for SFA members. If you’re a non-member, you can purchase the 3-webinar series for $50 here, or buy a la carte for $19 each.
    Arielle Feger
    Join the SFA for a webinar on Thursday, September 9 at 1 p.m. ET.
    As you progress toward your business goals, you may be considering taking on some debt in order to take the next steps toward success. In the third webinar of our Funding Your Business series, we’ll cover opportunities and best practices for SBA loans, grants, bank loans, lines of credit, and asset-based and accounts receivable financing. Bring your questions!
    This is the third webinar of the series. All webinars are free for SFA members. If you’re a non-member, you can purchase the 3-webinar series for $50 here or buy a la carte for $19 each. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA is hosting another In the Know webinar on Monday, August 30 at 1 p.m. ET
    As you prepare to exhibit at the 2022 Fancy Food Shows, consider this: eligible members can alleviate some of the costs of international marketing with a tailored program from FoodExport USA. In this informational webinar, you’ll learn from Warren Stoll, Kontos Foods and Molly Burns, Food Export Association of the Midwest USA about how you can double your budget with 50% cost reimbursement on:
    International web site development Foreign market-compliant packaging and labels Advertising and public relations In-store promotions and product demonstrations Fees for exhibiting at select overseas and domestic trade shows Marketing and point-of-sale materials Freight costs for product samples Bring your questions!
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA is hosting a Regulatory Update webinar on Thursday, August 26 at 1 p.m. ET.
    It’s a scary time when a brand is presented with a decision about whether to recall a product. Recalls can arise from many issues, including consumer complaints, foodborne illness outbreaks, supplier-related issues, or a combination of the above. Join attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers as she provides an overview of recalls, and how to manage regulatory and business risks.
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    SFA’s Maker Prep series is an online educational program designed for new startups to provide them with the building blocks and knowledge base they need to do business in the specialty food industry.
    The second webinar in this series will take place Thursday, August 19 at 1 p.m. ET. 
    In this webinar, you’ll learn from three distributors from a variety of sizes and specialties. Each will provide perspective on how makers can be effective and what they can expect from the relationship. You’ll learn about sales, marketing and merchandising; category management, contracts, supply chain, and more. Register now.
    This is the second webinar of a three webinar series. All webinars are free for SFA members. If you’re a non-member, you can purchase the 3-webinar series for $50 here, or buy a la carte for $19 each.
    Julie Gallagher
    The Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Show 2021, the in-person component of the planned dual Fancy Food Show 2021 and Fancy Food 24/7, has been canceled. Fancy Food 24/7, the digital component of the show, will run as planned from September 27 through October 8.
    With the increasing concerns about the Delta variant, it was decided that the in-person component of the show should be canceled for the health and safety of all show participants.
    “The Specialty Food Association has been steadfast in creatively supporting our members and our $170.4 billion industry during this incredibly challenging time, and we remain committed to providing opportunities in the safest way possible,” said Bill Lynch, president of the SFA. “While we will miss that special feeling of in-person connections with our industry colleagues, safety remains our number-one priority.”
    Exhibitors have the option of a full refund, or a credit for the Winter Fancy Food Show 2022 or the Summer Fancy Food Show 2022. All pre-registered attendees will receive a full refund and retain access to Fancy Food 24/7, which will feature domestic and international specialty food and beverage exhibitors and educational programming.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA is hosting a webinar on Thursday, August 12 at 1 p.m. ET.   When you are ready to start thinking about launching and scaling your business, you’re likely going to need money from outside sources. In this webinar, we’ll cover some of the sources to consider as you get started, including friends and family, crowdfunding, and state and government funds. We’ll also delve into best practices for considering angel investors and institutional investors and investigate some sample deal structures, including convertible debt, equity, and preferences. Bring your questions!   This is the second webinar of the series. All webinars are free for SFA members. If you’re a non-member, you can purchase the 3-webinar series for $50 here or buy a la carte for $19 each. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA is hosting a webinar on Thursday, August 5 at 1 p.m. ET.
    Join Jessica Cohen, as she provides the inside track to landing organic placements onscreen, behind-the-scenes and on social media in today's top movies and television shows. Jessica will reveal who's who in film and television production and share tips and secrets of how to get ongoing placements for your brand.
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    SFA’s Maker Prep series is an online educational program designed for new startups to provide them with the building blocks and knowledge base they need to do business in the specialty food industry.
    The first webinar of the series will take place Thursday, July 29 at 1 p.m.
    Join specialty food veteran Ian Kelleher as he takes you through the initial information you’ll need to decide on and form relationships with distributors. We’ll cover what distributors do, ways of finding a distributor, managing a distributor, expectations on both sides of the relationship, and the distributor life cycle. We’ll also answer your questions. Register now.
    This is the first webinar of a three webinar series. All webinars are free for SFA members. If you’re a non-member, you can purchase the 3-webinar series for $50 here, or buy a la carte for $19 each.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA is hosting an In the Know Webinar on Thursday, July 22 at 1 p.m. ET.
    Is your website accessible to individuals with visual or hearing impairments? This is a critical question for any business operating an e-commerce website. Many courts across the country have broadly interpreted Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act to require that websites meet minimum accessibility standards. Join attorney Sara T. Schneider as she provides guidance on best practices for bringing your website into compliance and mitigating ADA liability. 
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA is hosting a webinar on Thursday, July 15 at 1 p.m. ET.
    Promoting specialty food products on Instagram, Tik Tok, Pinterest, and Facebook has become one of the most effective ways to expand market reach. Reviews from influencers that reflect the values and views of a brand’s target market can be highly persuasive and effective in growing product sales, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expects influencer marketing to be a 15 billion dollar industry by 2022. Join attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers as she discusses recent Federal Trade Commission enforcement actions, the kinds of relationships that require disclosure, and how to ensure that you are giving proper guidance to social media influencers to reduce your risk of FTC enforcement.
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    The newly released summer edition of Specialty Food magazine features findings from the Specialty Food Association’s State of the Specialty Food Industry research, the 2021 sofi Award-winning specialty food products, and a Q&A with retailers who are fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

    More highlights from the summer issue: 
    Specialty Food Maker: This section, that includes topics and business news to help producers and suppliers build their operations and stay prepared for challenges, features “5 Steps to Enacting a Recall,” “Maker Q&A: Industry Irritations,” and “Regulatory Update: FDA’s Food Traceability Rule and its Effect on Specialty Food.” Category Spotlight: “A Mixed Bag” Chips, pretzels, and snacks with interesting ingredients, unconventional bases, and bold flavors are standing out among a crowded field. Buyers’ Picks: “Diverse Food Brands” Specialty Food asked retailers for their picks of popular products from women-, veteran-, and/or BIPOC-owned businesses.  Cheese Focus: “What’s New in European Cheeses” Leading importers share which cheeses they are most excited about.  Start reading now.
    Arielle Feger
    The SFA has released its State of the Specialty Food Industry, 2021-2022 Edition report. This annual research helps you make data-driven decisions for your business with insights on:
    Specialty sales in brick-and-mortar retail, online, and foodservice Dollar and unit retail sales data of where the market is today—and opportunities and challenges it faces Top-selling and fastest-growing categories NEW: sales data by subcategories Supply chain insights on how the industry is evolving COVID-19’s impact on category sales Tracking and forecasts in 37 key categories Which categories are expected to slow down and ramp up by 2025 Strengths, weaknesses, and innovations for each category Purchase this comprehensive research that explores where the market is today and the opportunities and challenges it faces. The full report is available for purchase in the SFA online Learning Center. SFA members receive a discount. Purchase now.
    Arielle Feger
    Join the SFA for a webinar on Thursday, July 8 at 1 p.m. ET.
    While some businesses have “bootstrapped” their way to success, the other 99 percent have had to learn how to get investors or loans to work toward realizing their dream. 
     
    This webinar will introduce founders and their teams to the basics of financing a business. You’ll hear from an experienced food investor who will share what she looks for when investing in early stage companies. 
     
    We’ll touch on clarifying objectives and timeline, determining how much do you need, appropriate funding options at each stage of your business, connecting with and telling your story to investors and banks, and basic ways to think about valuation and deal structure. You’ll also receive a list of useful resources so you can continue learning on your own. 
    This is the first webinar of the series. All webinars are free for SFA members. If you’re a non-member, you can purchase the 3-webinar series for $50 here or buy a la carte for $19 each. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    Join the team behind our annual research as they explore the retail and foodservice sales data of specialty foods and sales forecasts, including analysis and commentary on the continuing impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Bring your questions and engage with this live update on where the specialty food industry is headed.
    Thursday, June 24
    1 p.m. ET
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    In the past two years, consumer class action filings related to Vanilla flavor have increased dramatically. Nationwide litigation has resulted in case law all over the map, with courts taking different positions on the use of vanilla imagery, ingredient declarations, and the application of FDA’s complex flavor and standard of identity regulations. Come learn from attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers about the trends, why large and small companies are at risk, and ways to label your products to reduce your likelihood of receiving a consumer fraud demand letter.
    Thursday, June 17
    1 p.m. ET
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    Retailers and manufacturers alike are under intense pressure to keep up with changing consumer behavior, growing competition, and preparing for unplanned volume surges. The need to stay relevant and indispensable to consumers couldn't be greater. Join Stefan Kalb, CEO and founder of Shelf Engine and Sam Mogannam, founder of Bi-Rite Market to learn about innovative partnerships that increase profits and free up cash to allow for greater customer-centric service.
    Tuesday, June 15
    3 p.m. ET
    This webinar is free for SFA members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    At every event, SFA’s Trendspotter panel of industry experts explore the aisles, seeking out patterns and predicting shifts in food and beverage categories. Join SFA Trendspotter Panel members V. Sheree Williams, Publisher, Cuisine Noir, and Kara Nielsen, Director of Food and Drink, WGSN, as they discuss the reverberations of these changes and the trends that will dominate 2021 and beyond. You’ll have the chance to chat with the trendspotters and ask your questions. 
    Thursday, June 10
    1 p.m. ET
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
    Arielle Feger
    Join attorney Sophia Castillo, Downey Brand LLP, as she explains the current status of Prop. 65 law as it relates to metals, specifically lead. Learn why fruits, vegetables, seafood, and seaweed are being targeted, how to screen, and strategies to implement upon receiving a Notice. Bring your questions, so Sophia can help you embark on your path forward.
    Thursday, June 3
    1 p.m. ET
    This webinar is free for members and $19 for non-members. Register now.
×
×
  • Create New...