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Summer Show News - 7/10/2011

Summer Fancy Food Show Starts Today; Vote for the sofi Gold; New Products Featured; Create Loyal Cus

It's Show time! The Summer Fancy Food Show starts today at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. It is the largest markeplace for specialty foods and beverages in North America. More than 18,000 buyers from top names in retailing and restaurants are expected to source new products, new ideas and spot the latest trends in specialty food from 2,400 exhibitors representing 80 countries and regions.?Amid strong sales for specialty food ?there was brisk business conducted yesterday in a customized match-making program called Business Builders 1-to-1. Exhibitors took time away from setting up their booths to present their products in pre-arranged meetings with 100 leading buyers. More than 1,275 10-minute meeting were conducted in six hours. The Show runs through Tuesday, July 12. Learn more and register.

Your vote counts today! Retailers and foodservice buyers at the Summer Fancy Food Show are invited to sample the 125 sofi Silver Finalists and vote for your top picks. The votes at the Show will determine which great products will take home the coveted sofi Gold in 33 categories from Outstanding Appetizer, Antipasto, Salsa or Dip to Outstanding Vinegar..? Voting is today, Sunday, and Monday until 12:30 p.m., Street Level: Room 147 B. Winners will be announced Monday evening at a red-carpet ceremony hosted by celebrity chef Cat Cora. Event tickets are available at the on-site Education Registration desks.

New products. The Summer Show is all about what's new. See the latest offerings from 26 emerging food entrepeneurs?in a special section of table-top displays?called, "New Brands on the Shelf,"?located?on the Lower Level behind the 100 aisle. Items include thousand-layer cake from Kartika's Kitchen, "sweet tater bread" from Cotton Gin Gourmet and Peruvian Sacha Inchi Oil from Healthy Lovin'. These food makers are part of the Member Candidate program offered by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), the Show's owner.

EXHIBITOR NEWS...Muirhead of Ringoes is introducing Apple Jack Mincemeat, made with a base of apples and raisins and topped off with local apple jack (aka Jersey lightning), which has been produced in New Jersey since Colonial times. The product is sold in 16-ounce jars for customers to use as a pie filling for holiday baking and other baking projects. Read more. Booth 1828

EXHIBITOR NEWS...Tillen Farms is rolling out Bada Bing Cherries, which will be available starting in July. Pitted bing cherries grown in the Pacific Northwest are packed in jars with juice and contain no preservatives, dyes or corn syrup. Read more. Booth 717

EXHIBITOR NEWS...The Republic of Tea is introducing Naturally Sweet Tea, a black tea with no sugar, no calories and no artificial sweeteners, available in 36-count unbleached tea bags. The tea is made from a rare variety of mountain-grown Korean hydrangea. Suggested retail price is $17. Read more. Booth 5115

Create loyal customers. In one of a full menu of Show seminars, learn how to build a devoted following from owners of The Curious Kumquat, a specialty food store in Silver City, N.M., that has enjoyed great business success despite is location in a remote community of 10,000. Speaker Rob Connoley (pictured, left) attributes the success to strategic development of a savvy, motivated and hungry clientele. Learn how the store uses Facebook, word-of-mouth marketing and more in this seminar, "Building a Powerhouse Clientele," Monday, July 11, 9 - 9:45 a.m. before the exhibit halls open. Learn more and register.

EXHIBITOR NEWS...First-time exhibitor Dolci Gelati?is?showcasing its line of?gelato, which includes 200 flavors including new?varieties Raspberry Lemonade and Key Lime Pie, created by Chef Gianluigi Dellaccio. The gelato is available in pints, half-pints, 5-liter and 1-gallon containers. Read more. Booth 1115?

EXHIBITOR NEWS...Sweet Mavens is launching a 24-piece shipper?containing six?canisters of four?different varieties--Nonna's Anise Almond, Cranberry Ginger, Divine Indulgence Chocolate and seasonal varieties (Positively Pumpkin, Maple Praline or Pina Colada).?The company has also?moved to a six-piece case pack for?its 9-ounce canisters, both for its regular line and its Biscotti Rustica line of 100 percent?whole grain biscotti. Read more. Booth 3428

EXHIBITOR NEWS...Walkers Shortbread introduces two new cookie varieties, Quadruple Chocolate Chunk Cookies and Milk Chocolate Oatflake & Fruit Cookies, as well as two new Grab & Go products, Mini Shortbread Fingers and Mini Festive Stars, available in 4.4.-ounce bags packed 12 bags per display case. Walkers also unveils an update to its Flora MacDonald gift tin,?and introduces a?specialty pack of Walkers Shortbread Scottie Dog-shaped shortbread cookies in?3.9-ounce cartons. Booth 4900

EXHIBITOR NEWS...The winning recipes have been announced in Barhyte Specialty Foods? Saucy Mama Five-Ingredient Challenge, with $1,000 going to the Grand Prize winner, who created an original recipe using a Saucy Mama product. Read more. Booth 3307

EXHIBITOR NEWS...Polka Dot Bake Shop, makers of gourmet sweet potato crackers, is unveiling new packaging and pricing--a reduction from previous pricing. Co-owner Michelle Miller credits the change to customer feedback and more efficient and cost-effective production. Read more. Booth 2622