The burgeoning food trends sound like a return to the caveman diet: Fish is the hottest protein, honey is the flavor of the day, and game meat is an upgrade on charcuterie boards.
That’s evident from the hundreds of items on display at the Summer Fancy Food Show, a trade show hosted by the Specialty Food Association that has earned a reputation for discovering the next big flavors, foods and drinks that will set menus and Grocery stores will dominate shelves. The annual show returned to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York this week and ran Sunday through Tuesday.
More than 2,400 companies exhibited their food and beverages for visitors, including restaurant operators, food retailers and trendspotters. Trends from past shows making their way into mainstream consumer palettes include yuzu, mushrooms and refined alcohol substitutes.
Previous trade shows have also been a springboard for small brands wanting to reach a wider audience. Honest Tea, Ben & Jerry’s and Tate’s Bake Shop are among the companies that attended the show in its early days and grew into well-known consumer brands that are now owned by the industry’s biggest players.
Here are some highlights from this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show:
Honey – as a flavoring agent
Owl Creek Organics & Natural Products’ honey spread offering at the Summer Fancy Foods Show
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
People have been eating honey for thousands of years, but some food and drink manufacturers are taking center stage as a flavoring agent. In the SFA’s preliminary report on the show, the trendspotters highlighted honey and pointed to its health benefits.
Honey was the star of both the food and drinks throughout the show. Green Bee presented its honey lemonade with the flavor of Honeycomb Cider. Owl Creek Organics & Natural Flavors showcased honey spreads with flavors ranging from Caffe Mocha to Lemon Poppyseed. And the Dutch company Klepper & Klepper used honey as a flavoring for its licorice.
Canned fish
Krill The canned krill meat from Arctic Foods
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
In recent years, canned fish has mainly been available at the stalls in the Spanish and Portuguese pavilions. But this year, exhibitors showcased their canned fish across the entire exhibition floor.
TikTok helped drive the canned fish trend last year and boost sales of canned sardines. Now specialty food companies are reacting.
This isn’t the canned tuna it used to be. There are more flavors, different types of seafood and trendier packaging. Wildfish Cannery, an Alaska-based company founded in 1987, unveiled a new retro design for its sockeye salmon, giving it a more upscale look. Krill Arctic Foods showcased its canned krill meat, which doesn’t have the same appeal on the packaging but does brag about the food’s nutritional profile.
Takeaway fish
Acme Smoked Fish’s Lox in a Box kits will be on display at the company’s booth
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
Exhibitors also showcased new ways to eat fish on the go, hoping to meet consumers’ desire for convenience and more protein in their diet. The association named “filling snacks” as one of the trends observed.
Acme Smoked Fish introduced its new Lox in a Box snack kits, available with cream cheese or avocado. Legend of Master International, an Asian food supplier, sampled its Kani fish cake sticks, prepared for eating like cheese spread or cooking.
Improved sausages
Fossil Farms’ selection of salami flavors including lamb and bison
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
Like canned fish, the popularity of charcuterie boards owes much to social media, where users can delight their followers with elaborate displays of preserved meats, cheeses, and fruits.
At the Summer Fancy Food Show, companies introduced some new options to elevate charcuterie, especially salami. Tempesta Artisan Salumi offered black truffle-flavored salami, while Salt & Twine’s selection included a mezcal and salted lime flavor.
But the exhibitors didn’t just have fun with the flavors. Some are looking beyond pork when it comes to making sausages. In addition to pork, Driftless Provisions’ salami also uses elk, venison and bison. Fossil Farms’ salami lineup included lamb and Wagyu beef.
Suitable snacks
Wine Chips’ Sel Gris flavored chips are designed to be paired with sparkling wines
Amelia Lucas | CNBC
What would a cocktail or a glass of wine be without a snack? Targeting consumers who need help finding the perfect pairing, both Wine Chips and The Drinks Bakery showcased their snacks specifically designed to be consumed with certain alcoholic beverages.
The Drinks Bakery, a Scottish company, sells “drink biscuits”. Its parmesan, toasted pine nut and basil biscuits (called crackers in the US) can be eaten with about 20 drinks, from a non-alcoholic lager to a whiskey highball.
Wine Chips, on the other hand, sells thick-cut potato chunks made specifically for snacking on while drinking wine. For example, the Sel Gris flavor, named after the French sea salt, is suitable for pairing with any sparkling wine, such as Champagne.
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2024-06-29 12:00:01
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