NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES SPECIALTY FOOD ASSOCIATIONS SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW BACK TO NEW YORK CITY
NYC & COMPANY WELCOMES SPECIALTY FOOD ASSOCIATION’S SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW BACK TO NEW YORK CITY
FOR ITS 59TH YEAR
—Specialty Food Trade Show Generates Nearly
17,000 Room-Nights and $34.2 Million in Direct
Spending to NYC’s Economy—
—35,000 Visitors Expected During Three-Day Business-to-Business Show at Javits Center—
New York City (June 26, 2013) — NYC & Company, the City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, and the Specialty Food Association today announced the kickoff of the 59th Summer Fancy Food Show while highlighting the trade show’s much-anticipated return to New York City. This year’s event is the largest ever, filling more than 354,400 square feet at the newly renovated Jacob K. Javits Convention Center with exhibitors from 80 countries and regions, more than 180,000 products and an expected 24,000 buyers from top names in the retail, dining and food service industries. The 59th Summer Fancy Food Show, which runs June 30 to July 2, is expected to bring 35,000 total visitors (including attendees and exhibitors) to the City, generating an estimated 17,000 total hotel room-nights and providing $34.2 million in direct spending to New York City’s economy, according to the Specialty Food Association (formerly known as the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade). This year marks the trade show’s return to New York City after spending two years in Washington, DC, while Javits Center was undergoing renovations.
“New York City is the food capital of the world and the stage where new trends take off,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. “The Summer Fancy Food Show was born here, and we are proud to welcome it back home. We welcome the Fancy Food Show and all trade shows and conventions to New York so they and their guests can experience the world-class hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions that make New York City the leading destination for leisure travel and the center of the business world.”
The Summer Fancy Food Show shapes the hottest trends in specialty foods and beverages from the United States and around the globe. In addition to 1,500 US exhibitors selling the finest food products, from blue cheese from Oregon to spicy chocolate from Tennessee, there will be 34 international pavilions, including first-time pavilions from Bulgaria, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Switzerland. US exhibitors will have new opportunities to connect with buyers from countries like China, Mexico, Canada and Brazil, which are participating in a special international buyers program.
The show has a strong New York City presence, with 140 exhibitors representing all five boroughs. These include the four winners of the second annual Fancy Food Show contest sponsored by the NYC Economic Development Corporation designed to help city-based food manufacturers reach a wider market. The winners are Goodie Girl, Liddabit Sweets, Wholesome Kitchen and Hella Bitters.
“The specialty food industry is thriving, and our return to New York is adding to the enthusiasm we see from exhibitors and buyers alike,” says Ann Daw, President of the Specialty Food Association. “Our exhibit space sold out months in advance, and the show will be filled with countless new specialty foods from passionate entrepreneurs.”
Winners of the 41st annual sofi™ Awards for the outstanding specialty foods of 2013 will also be announced at a red-carpet ceremony at the trade show by internationally acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson, who will also deliver a keynote address. Samuelsson is the chef behind Red Rooster Harlem, Ginny’s Supper Club and American Table Cafe and Bar. He is a committed philanthropist and The New York Times best-selling author of Yes, Chef.
Samuelsson is donating his speaking fee to City Harvest, the Summer Fancy Food Show’s longtime charity of choice, one of New York’s leading anti-hunger organizations and a pioneer in food rescue. At the end of the show, exhibitors will donate more than 150,000 pounds of chocolate, cheese, produce and more to City Harvest to help feed New Yorkers in need. The donations will be gathered by 250 volunteers and distributed to several hundred community food programs across New York City’s five boroughs.
“City Harvest is excited to welcome the Fancy Food Show back to New York City this year and to partner again on a significant food rescue opportunity,” said Jilly Stephens, executive director of City Harvest. “Since 1997, City Harvest has rescued over 1.5 million pounds of food from the show and delivered it to hungry New Yorkers. This year, we are very grateful for the dedicated support of chef Marcus Samuelsson, who we are proud to count as a member of City Harvest’s Board of Directors.”
NYC & Company coordinated with its members to provide discounts on parking, restaurants, entertainment and tours for Fancy Food attendees. In addition, the organization will provide copies of the NYC Official Visitor Guide to all exhibitors and manage a welcome desk for delegates at Javits Center.
The Summer Fancy Food Show is open to members of the specialty food trade and journalists covering the event, but is not open to the general public. The Specialty Food Association provides complimentary press badges to qualified media. For more information, visit specialtyfood.com/summernews
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.
About the Specialty Food Association:
The Specialty Food Association celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012. It is a not-for-profit trade association for food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs established in 1952 in New York City to foster commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 3,000 members in the United States and abroad. The Specialty Food Association operates the Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows and presents the sofi™ Awards honoring excellence in specialty food. For more information on the association, go to specialtyfood.com.
About the Javits Center:
The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York opened in 1986 as the successor to the NY Coliseum. Javits is New York City’s largest venue for conventions, trade shows and special events. Home to many of the top 200 trade shows, Javits hosts about 150 events with an average attendance of 3.5 million per year. These events contribute to the city and state economies by stimulating direct and indirect employment, economic activity and tax revenues, and by supporting the city’s hotel, restaurant, tourism and entertainment industries. For more information, visit javitscenter.com.
About City Harvest:
Now serving New York City for more than 30 years, City Harvest is the world’s first food-rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the City’s hungry men, women and children. This year, City Harvest will collect more than 42 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to some 600 community-food programs throughout New York City by a fleet of trucks and bikes. City Harvest helps feed the more than 1 million New Yorkers that face hunger each year.
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Contact: NYC & Company/Kimberly Spell 212-484-1270
NYC & Company/Christopher Heywood 212-484-1270