Food and Beverage Trends Unveiled at Summer Fancy Foods Show

The Summer Fancy Foods Show, hosted by the Specialty Foods Association, made a vibrant return to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, spotlighting the next big flavors and trends that are set to take over menus and grocery shelves. Held from Sunday through Tuesday, the annual trade show featured over 2,400 exhibitors showcasing their innovative products to restaurant operators, specialty food retailers, and trendspotters.

The Rise of Tinned Fish

The convenience of portable fish snacks was another prominent trend, aligning with consumers’ growing demand for protein-rich, on-the-go options. Acme Smoked Fish introduced its Lox in a Box snack kits, available with either cream cheese or avocado. Legend of Master International offered Kani fish cake sticks, designed to be eaten like string cheese or used in cooking, catering to the busy lifestyles of modern consumers.

Portable Fish Snacks

Tinned fish, once confined to specific regional booths, has now gained widespread attention across the show floor. This trend, partly fueled by social media platforms like TikTok, has led to an increase in sales and interest in canned seafood. Companies are now offering more diverse flavors and varieties. Wildfish Cannery, for example, presented its sockeye salmon in stylish retro packaging, while Krill Arctic Foods highlighted the nutritional benefits of its canned krill meat.

Perfect Pairings With Drinks

Pairing snacks with alcoholic beverages also garnered attention. Wine Chips and The Drinks Bakery introduced snacks specifically crafted to complement certain drinks. The Drinks Bakery’s “drinks biscuits,” such as their parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and basil variety, are designed to pair with a wide range of beverages, from nonalcoholic lager to whisky highballs. Wine Chips offered thick-cut potato chips, like their Sel Gris flavor, intended to enhance the experience of drinking sparkling wines, including Champagne.

Charcuterie Boards Get an Upgrade

Charcuterie boards, a social media favorite, saw an infusion of new flavors and meats. Tempesta Artisan Salumi presented black truffle-flavored salami, while Salt & Twine offered a mezcal and salted lime variety. Companies like Driftless Provisions and Fossil Farms expanded beyond traditional pork, incorporating elk, venison, bison, lamb, and wagyu beef into their salami selections, elevating the charcuterie experience to new heights.

Honey Takes the Spotlight

Honey, a staple in human diets for thousands of years, emerged as a dominant flavor in both foods and beverages. Known for its health benefits, honey was featured in various creative forms. Green Bee showcased its honey soda with flavors like Honeycomb Cider, while Owl Creek Organics & Natural Flavors displayed a diverse range of honey spreads, including caffe mocha and lemon poppyseed. Additionally, Dutch company Klepper & Klepper introduced honey-flavored licorice, further demonstrating honey’s versatility.

As these trends indicate, the future of food and beverage is poised to be flavorful, convenient, and innovative, with a return to natural ingredients and sophisticated pairings leading the way. The Summer Fancy Foods Show continues to be a crucial platform for discovering and launching the next big culinary sensations.