Heading into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, specialty comfort foods and beverages is an overriding theme. Here are SFA's 2022 Trendspotter Panel Trend Predictions.

By the time I finish writing this sentence, I imagine another industry trade show will have been cancelled. In my 20 years of covering the food and beverage industry, I have never witnessed such widespread disruption to business. I don’t believe any among us have been left unaffected by the current crisis.

“As the specialty food industry hits a record year of growth with $148.7 billion in sales, we’re seeing that health benefits and sustainability concerns will continue to drive more food and beverage trends in 2020,” said Denise Purcell, head of content for the SFA.

The newly redesigned SFA logo, an imperfect circle, captures the constantly shifting and evolving industry and the limitless effects that food and drink have on our culture and everyday lives.

The Hatchery Chicago, a nonprofit incubator dedicated to helping Chicago entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses, introduced six new and innovative CPG startups at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show.

Building on previous findings and predictions, the panelists tasted their way through the show, identifying products currently attaining prominence in the specialty food industry.

The winners' achievements range from spearheading the organic milk movement in the US to supporting sustainable rice farming around the globe.

The Board of Directors of the Specialty Food Association announced that it has named Phillip M. Kafarakis as President of the not-for-profit trade association.

Men are stepping up purchases, less affluent shoppers are buying a wide variety of products like artisanal cheese and single-origin chocolate, and millennials are showing their age at the store.

The Specialty Food Association announced the election of four board officers and its new slate of directors.