Education FAQs and Recommendations

• Review our Fancy Food Show education programs which generally start two days prior to the trade show floor opening. We have focused programs on Friday and Saturday aimed specifically at start up companies.
• “Getting Started in the Specialty Food Business” contains summary level material on starting a company and is a good jumping off point if you have an idea for a product you’d like to bring to market but haven’t made the leap into starting your own business yet.
• “The Basics – The Business of Specialty Food” is an essential work for those starting out. Please note that this course book is available for instant download here but is also available in hard copy to those who sign up for the class on-site at the Fancy Food Shows.
• Check our webinars@work® schedule for programs on demand with emphasis on distributors, brokers, and branding that can make a difference as you build your business.
• Brush up on pricing theories. Many established companies feel that pricing is an area that they should have studied harder at the onset to make sure that appropriate margins were built in. “The Basics” covers this but you can find more information in our archived webinar on this topic “Understanding Pricing for a Beginning Manufacturer.”
• Keep an eye on the trends for the industry and specialty food consumers by attending the webinars on “State of the Industry”, “Today’s Specialty Food Consumer" or opting to purchase the downloadable summary report on the latest research.
• Additional free and discounted education opportunities exist for our Specialty Food Association Members and Member Candidates (entry level producers not ready for full membership) that are not listed here. Find out more about joining this vibrant group.

As an established specialty food producer, you should focus on specific issues facing your business, many times, established producers ask Specialty Food Association for assistance with:

• Promotions: There is plenty to study on this topic with downloadable resources like “The Specialty Food Association Guide to Successful Demos” and “A Guide to Understanding and Managing Trade Promotions.”
• Finance: Check out “Best Financial Practices for Specialty Food Association Members” as well as our archived webinars and Fancy Food Show programming to find additional guidance.
• Distributors & Brokers: We’ve got webinars on working with brokers as well as a Specialty Food Association Broker Contact Template these topics as well as both a downloadable resource and a webinar on our research titled “Roadmap to Retail: Developing a Winning Distribution Strategy.”
• Selling to Supermarkets: Try our popular on-demand webinars covering this all important topic.
  
• Keep an eye on the trends for the industry and specialty food consumers by attending the webinars on “State of the Industry”, “Today’s Specialty Food Consumer" or opting to purchase the downloadable summary report on the latest research.
• Read up on food safety in Specialty Food Association's latest: The Specialty Food Association Recall Manual. Learn how to manage a recall wisely

For Retailers, our Fancy Food Show live education sessions often offer the most in depth trend analysis and training they receive all year. Couple that with some of our other resources to flesh out your education experience with Specialty Food Association.

• The Kosher Food Holiday Guide is the perfect tool for educating staff and aiding in the sales of Kosher Foods central to the holiday season.  
• Keep an eye on the trends for the industry and specialty food consumers by attending the webinars on “State of the Industry”, "Today’s Specialty Food Consumer" or opting to purchase the downloadable summary report on the latest  research.  
• Sensational Customer Service helps you take your customer service to the next level.

Contact for assistance: Laura Lozada education@specialtyfood.com

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You should have received a confirmation email when you made your purchase. That will serve as a receipt. If you need further assistance, please contact education@specialtyfood.com.

We recommend purchasing over our secure website. We can not take credit card numbers over the phone. If you prefer, we can fax you a credit card authorization form and you will be emailed the PDFs for the resources purchased. Please contact education@specialtyfood.com for more information.

We welcome your input. Please send all suggestions to education@specialtyfood.com.

Learn more at the Education Programs page. Sessions are generally available for registration four months in advance of the session and start on the Friday before the trade show floor opens.

Please send in your proposal and general information at the Education Proposals page.

The research is updated and reported on each Spring with new reports summarized and available for Specialty Food Association Members via "Specialty Food Magazine" and to others via this website in late Spring, generally May.

The research is updated and reported in each Spring with new reports summarized and available for Specialty Food Association Members via "Specialty Food Magazine" and to others via this website in late Fall, generally October.

The webinars are produced and purchased on a separate website and must be purchased separately from our other site.

Visit the Education Proposal page to send in your proposal and general information.

If you purchased an archived webinar, you will be able to begin viewing it instantly, so you should plan accordingly and be prepared to spend and hour watching the recording. If your require additional views of the recording, please contact education@specialtyfood.com for assistance.