Featuring more than 1,100 companies and thousands of products from around the world, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) Winter Fancy Food Show ran from January 15-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. At the end of the Show, exhibitors donated their surplus specialty food (approximately 32,831 lbs) to Three Square Food Bank, Southern Nevada's only food bank, and largest hunger relief organization, serving four counties (Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Nye). The donations of specialty foods and beverages included plant-based, meat, and cheese products, confections, breads, coffee, tea, oils, vinegars, pasta, snacks, and more.  

"It's a tradition for the Specialty Food Association to end its Fancy Food Shows with food rescue," said Jennifer Carney, Director, Tradeshow Operations, for the SFA. "Our members looked forward to sharing their bounty with Three Square, an organization that works tirelessly to support people in their community." 

These exhibitors came from all walks of life and they all had the vision and passion to create something new to better our lives and the planet. From plant-based items that will certainly upgrade your pantry to decadent snacks with a healthy twist to an exploration through ethnic food and non-alcoholic beverages that will elevate tastebuds. These brands reached far and wide. It’s not only about being transparent with what goes into the product, but also with what goes into the brand operation. These entrepreneurs are continuing the conversation about good ethical practices and sustainably sourced materials. 

Just a few of the amazing specialty food brands shaping our future:

Pure, Premium Protein 

Out of their commitment to causes like the American Heart Association and a heart-healthy lifestyle, Health Bear Food was born. It’s a brand that kick starts your nutrition with on-the-go protein oatmeal cups. These oatmeal recipes have nutrient-packed grains, nuts, and seeds, combining gluten-free, plant-based proteins with rich antioxidants and disease-fighting omegas. Their goal is to fuel your day with fun flavors and fit ingredients, giving you the sustainable energy you need to live your best life.

World Select Cuts Aussie Select delivers hand-crafted, modern charcuterie meats featuring premium, pasture-raised Australian lamb. Their products have an all-natural advantage, blended with the finest spices, creating bold flavors to take you on a DELIcious journey through your taste buds. They prioritize transparency and natural and minimally processed products. This deli meat is also organic, non-GMO and contains 13 essential nutrients, including Iron, Zinc, Omega-3 and B vitamins. It’s a delicious and healthy choice for raking up your high-quality protein needs.

Upgrade to a Plant-Based Kitchen

Discover plant-based seafood that delights with Konscious Foods. Based in Vancouver, this culinary team has more than 30 years of global experience crafting tempting plant-based dishes. Their chefs create plant-based seafood that people choose over the traditional options. All of their dishes are non-GMO, clean labels and full of delicious ingredients. 

GrownA*s Foods has the version of mac & cheese you’ve been craving. Cheesy, creamy, delicious, and entirely plant-based. Feed your inner child or your actual child. Say ‘"goodbye" to filmy, goopy cheese packets and "hello again" to the classic mac & cheese you love. Entirely non-GMO and with no nuts. 

Functional Snacking

Power Up Foods is your new daily energy boost with their delicious, caffeinated cookies and brownies. PUF’s have as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and are crafted with green tea caffeine for focus, sustained energy without jitters or a crash. Green tea provides the benefits of l-theanine when combined with caffeine. These snacks are also gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan and don’t have any refined sugar.

Tastelli is wellness with a squeeze. The creators strive to make food that tastes amazing, yet promotes wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Tastelli is not a meal replacement nor a diet supplement. Tastelli is a snack in the morning, at night, in between meals, or whenever you want. Everyone should indulge in snacks throughout the day, but there is no reason why snacks can’t be good for you. Tastelli is made with sugar-free, low calorie, plant-based, and better-for-you ingredients so that you can feel good when you treat yourself to a snack.

Healthier Cravings 

Wonder Monday is the snack for people who love cheesecake. Snack lovers Candance and Jonathan are known to go on dates to their favorite supermarkets to browse the latest products. They were on the hunt for something delicious and nutritious, but when they couldn’t find any cheesecake without sugar, carbs and junk, they decided to create their own. Their cheesecake snacks are made with real ingredients, low in carbs and high in protein. They’re an independent, self-funded company and take pride in delivering the extraordinary. They continue their mission to challenge the status quo with healthy snacks that taste impossibly delicious. 

Haig’s Delicacies crafts honest and delicious Mediterranean food. Every ingredient is real and every recipe is authentic. Their mezes, or ‘small plates’, are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine and they have traditional versions of all your favorites: tzatziki, hummus and baba ghanoush. 

Sober-Curious Lifestyle 

Hibisbloom was created to share traditional West African food culture with the rest of the world for a blissful traditional experience with a glass hibiscus flower sip commonly known as Bissap. In Ivory Coast, like in most West African countries, it is the must-have drink refresher after a long day of work, with a meal, at special occasions, happy-hours or for kid’s snack time popsicle. Their line of products is made with ethically sourced wholesome and highest quality ingredients from trusted suppliers.

Convenient and Sustainable Packaging 

Elevate your loose-leaf tea experience with iLOLA. This brand has innovated the tea industry with the first tea disc, a patented individual serving of loose-leaf tea compounded into a simple disc that makes navigating loose tea easy and drinking bag-free tea better for the environment. In a tea market that lacked innovation for decades, iLOLA was co-founded by husband-and-wife team and tea shop owners Tim and Su-Mari Hill, experts in curating tea experiences at work and parenting five young children at home. They have revolutionized tea with exceptional quality, making it simple, luxurious and fast, so you’re left with more moments to sip well and breathe deep.

Authentic Flavors

Modenaceti combines incredible flavor and quality into a balsamic vinegar and glaze for the modern kitchen. One of the first Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) Balsamic Vinegars of Modena to become available in the U.S, the vinegar producer focuses on three batches of its product to truly refine its flavor profiles in ways that mirror the past and present.

The Fancy Food Show is always a great place to discover the latest and greatest within the specialty foods industry. We can’t wait to see what else is new at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, being held June 25-27, 2023.

For more trends, read the latest from trendspotter Nancy Trent.