Christy Schmitt

Thursday, March 1 @ 1PM ET Each year, FDA only inspects about 1-2 percent of all food imported into the United States. However, physical inspection is only one of the ways that imported foods are monitored for safety. Import alerts, which trigger Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE) for certain shipments, are an important tool that the FDA uses to screen foods entering the US. Most recently, FDA issued a broad import alert for economically motivated adulteration. Join attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers as she discusses Import Alerts, how to read them, and how you should consider them as part of your food safety plan and strategy for importing foods.

Thursday, February 15 @ 1PM ET Snack Influencer and Food Digital Strategist, Dre Pao (@DrePaoOfficial), will be sharing strategies and proven tactics to help specialty food businesses thrive on TikTok. From creating engaging content to leveraging trends, you will learn how to build a captivating brand presence on TikTok for your product.

Thursday, February 1st @ 1pm ET More than ever before, specialty foods have become strategically important in driving retailer profitability and shopper loyalty. However, there has been little past research validating and quantifying these beliefs. This new research from the Specialty Food Association--Understanding the Real Value of Specialty Foods—dives into exactly how and to what extent specialty foods are critical to driving retailer success. This presentation will explore and quantify the role of specialty foods in driving customer trips and building retailer profits. In addition, it will explore the growth of private-label specialty foods and their impact on retailer success and manufacturer opportunity.

Thursday, January 25 @ 1pm ET More than ever before, specialty foods have become strategically important in driving retailer profitability and shopper loyalty. However, there has been little past research validating and quantifying these beliefs. This new research from the Specialty Food Association--Understanding the Real Value of Specialty Foods—dives into exactly how and to what extent specialty foods are critical to driving retailer success. This presentation will explore and quantify the role of specialty foods in driving customer trips and building retailer profits. In addition, it will explore the growth of private-label specialty foods and their impact on retailer success and manufacturer opportunity.

Thursday, January 11 @ 1pm ET Head into the Winter Fancy Food Show prepared with a preview of what trends and product innovations you’ll find. Based on the SFA Trendspotter Panel’s ongoing work, category forecasts and consumer preferences in our own annual research, and exhibitors’ reports of what’s new, SFA’s Denise Purcell, VP of Resource Development, and Jen Cohan, PR consultant, will share what categories, flavors, and ingredients are on the radar at the Show and help you get a head start on what you need to incorporate into your shelves and menus.

Thursday, December 14th @ 1pm ET Each month SFA releases a trend report focused on a specific category. Join us for this first in a series of webinars in which a member of the SFA Trendspotter panel dives into recently reported categories, providing a deeper look into the retail and foodservice trends that are impacting the food world.

Thursday, December 7th @ 1pm ET As 2023 draws to a close, Congress has yet to pass a new Farm Bill. Come learn the latest of what interim solutions are being proposed, the prospects for the farm bill in the 2024 election year, and impacts and issues to watch for Specialty Food Makers.

Thursday, November 16th @ 1pm ET SFA’s Trendspotter panel of buyers, writers, researchers, and industry watchers have declared their picks for the trends of 2024. In this session, representatives from the panel will go deeper into each of these emerging and continuing trends to discuss what’s driving them and what we can expect to see on retail shelves and on menus in the coming year.

Thursday, Nov 9th @ 1pm ET Learn about how buyers make product selections, work with makers and distributors, and perform category reviews.

Thursday, October 26th @ 1pm ET Learn how to seal the deal and wow the press. In this webinar, you will learn how to deliver your pitch to buyers and how to use press to help broaden your brand's audience.

Wednesday, October 18th @ 1pm ET In this series, our host, Dave Hirschkop, founder of Dave's Gourmet, talks with powerhouses of the specialty food industry about the qualities that set great leaders apart. This week's featured guest is Madeline Haydon, Founder and CEO of nutpods. You will take away tangible ideas that you can apply to your business and help you grow as a leader.

Thursday, October 19th @ 1pm ET Learn about how buyers make product selections, work with makers and distributors, and perform category reviews.

Thursday, October 12th @ 1pm ET In September, the California Senate passed the California Food Safety Act, which bans four food additives currently permitted in foods by the FDA. Governor Newsom has until October 14 to sign the bill. If it becomes law, the ban would go into effect on January 1, 2027. New York has also proposed a similar bill. Come join attorney Jeni Lamb Rogers as she discusses the bill and current regulation around the ingredients.

Thursday, October 26th @ 1pm ET Learn how to seal the deal and wow the press. In this webinar, you will learn how to deliver your pitch to buyers and how to use press to help broaden your brand's audience.

Thursday, October 5th @ 1pm ET In this series, our host, Dave Hirschkop, founder of Dave's Gourmet, talks with powerhouses of the specialty food industry about the qualities that set great leaders apart. This week's featured guest is John Foraker, Co-Founder and CEO of Once Upon A Farm. You will take away tangible ideas that you can apply to your business and help you grow as a leader.