2025 Summer Fancy Food Show

 Posted by Nathan Book

From June 29 to July 1, the Javits Center in New York City hosted the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show, one of the largest trade shows in the specialty food industry. Organized annually by the Specialty Food Association, the event offers producers and brands a valuable platform to showcase their products, connect with buyers, distributors, and other key stakeholders in the industry, and gain vital exposure needed to grow their businesses. In doing so, the Summer Fancy Food Show provides insight into both consumer values and preferences and emerging trends in the food industry, as evidenced by the wide variety of products showcased at the event. 

The 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show brought together nearly 2,500 exhibitors and over 30,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, contributing to a dynamic, vibrant, and energetic atmosphere. From the moment the doors opened at the Javits Center, the show buzzed with activity, with prospective buyers sampling new products, sellers sharing their stories, and companies making valuable connections that could shape their future business growth. The sheer scale of the event made it an epicenter for innovation, conversation, and opportunity across the global specialty food industry.

Beyond its scope, the event showcased a diverse assortment of specialty foods and beverages from across the United States and around the world. Exhibitors ranged from well-established companies to smaller-scale businesses, each bringing unique flavors, stories, and products to the show floor. Many of these innovative products aligned with leading and emerging trends shaping the food industry, including:

• The rise of “flexible snacking” products, representing higher-quality foods with nuanced flavors that consumers can enjoy as either meals or snacks

• Increased globalization of foods resulting from rising consumer demand for new tastes and authentic, regional foods from non-native areas

• Interest in restaurant-quality home cooking, fueled by gourmet foods, ingredients, and convenient meal kits readily available for at-home chefs

• The growth of personalized nutrition products that support wellness, namely customizable product lines and functional foods with tangible health benefits

• Continued expansion of diet-specific food offerings, such as plant-based and vegan, reflecting both dietary shifts and an increased focus on sustainability

Pennsylvania made a strong impression at this year’s show, with over 60 companies participating, 14 of which were featured in the Pennsylvania pavilion. These companies represented a broad array of product categories, ranging from meat to snacks to condiments, showcasing Pennsylvania’s tremendous diversity in food production and underscoring the state’s growing influence in domestic and international food markets. The Pennsylvania pavilion created a unified presence that made it easy for attendees to engage with multiple local producers in one space, with the centralized location elevating the state’s visibility at the event and prompting a great deal of foot traffic and interest.

The World Trade Center Harrisburg was also present at the Summer Fancy Food Show, maintaining a booth within the Pennsylvania pavilion to assist participating exhibitors and provide information to those present regarding available services and opportunities related to international trade. Several companies from the southcentral PA region covered by the World Trade Center Harrisburg participated in the show, including these exhibitors present in the Pennsylvania pavilion:

• Dilly Artisan Foods (Lancaster): offers handcrafted, locally sourced cup cheese made with a deep commitment to supporting local farmers and artisans

• Painterland Sisters (Lititz): produces high-protein, probiotic-rich, Icelandic-style skyr yogurt on their fourth-generation PA dairy farm

• Taylor Chip (Gordonville): a family-owned cookie company providing a wide range of cookie flavors made with simple, wholesome ingredients

As an intern, participating in the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show gave me a firsthand look at how trade shows help companies of all sizes expand their reach, especially internationally. I gained insight into the logistics of show preparation, exhibitor support, and the importance of networking and building relationships face-to-face. The experience also reiterated to me how global the food industry truly is, representing a significant opportunity for Pennsylvania companies seeking to expand the scope and reach of their products. I was inspired by the dedication of our state’s companies to quality and innovation and was struck by how many of them are family-run or smaller in size but yet are stepping confidently onto the global stage. As such, seeing companies in our state connect with prospective domestic and international buyers gave me additional appreciation for the value of export readiness and the role organizations like the World Trade Center Harrisburg play in supporting these efforts.

Opportunities such as the Summer Fancy Food Show are invaluable in elevating local companies on the international stage and connecting them with the support, resources, and partnerships necessary to grow their businesses. The World Trade Center Harrisburg is available to assist companies in the southcentral PA region with their international trade endeavors, offering services such as market research, trade show support, educational programs, and connections to global partners and government programs that help businesses succeed in international markets. For more information about these services and offerings, including next year’s Summer Fancy Food Show, visit the World Trade Center Harrisburg’s website here or contact a member of our staff.