Specialty Food Association: Top 5 New Trends in Foods
By Mae Marie, Close-Up Media Staff Writer
What's hot in the specialty food market? For starters, beets are popping up in hummus and salsa and gazpacho is the trendy beverage for those on the go.
That's the message from the Specialty Food Association, whose panel members recently made their way through thousands of products to check out the newest trends in specialty food at the Summer Fancy Food Show.
Held recently at Javits Center in New York, the trade show featured the latest of beverages and sauces, chocolates and cheeses, cocktail mixers and condiments from 2,600 specialty food companies representing 50 countries. Celebrating its 61st year, the show hosted more than 22,000 attendees.
The trend-spotters include individuals who follow and write about food trends for leading media outlets and consulting firms. And while kale and quinoa may maintain their popularity, the panel's top five trends from this year's show include:
Gazpacho to Go
Tio Gazpacho — Gazpacho de Sol
Gina Cucina — Watermelon Habanero Gazpacho
Bodega & Co. Mucho Gazpacho — Green Gazpacho
The Splendid Spoon — Market Gazpacho
Can't Beat Beets
Love Beets — Beet-Blueberry Bar
Health-Ade — Beet Kombucha
Eat Well Embrace Life — Beet Hummus
Gringo Jack's — Beet, Orange & Quinoa Salsa
Flower Power
Belvoir Fruit Farms — Elderflower & Rose Lemonade
Masala Pop — Saffron Rose Popcorn
Rogue Creamery — La-Di-Da Lavender Cheese
Vosges Haut-Chocolat — Blood Orange Hibiscus Caramel Marshmallows
Cocktail Culture
Bissell Maple Farm — Pappy & Company Bourbon Barrel-Aged Syrup
Colonel Pabst — All Malt Amber-Lager Worcestershire Sauce
Brooklyn Brine Co. — Hop-Pickles
Nancy Silverton's Nancy's Fancy Gelato — The Manhattan
The Maize Craze
Kiddylicious — Sweetcorn Rice Rounds
Off the Cob — Sweet Corn Tortilla Chips
Pop Art Snacks — Tandoori Yogurt Popcorn
Pipsnacks — Pipcorn
"The Specialty Food Association is in a perfect position to spot trends before they happen," said Ann Daw, president of the Association, the Summer Fancy Food show's owner and producer. "Our show celebrates what's next in specialty food as our exhibitors present the latest in specialty food to buyers eager to find new products and new twists on classics."
Other trends spotted include condiments with Asian flavors, intensely flavored ice creams and frozen desserts, new flavors and forms of jerky and compound butters. Trends with staying power from past Fancy Food Shows include coconut in even more forms, artisanal sodas, ginger beverages and sweets, complexly flavored cocktail mixers, vegetables in everything from chips to pops to yogurt, and continued expansion in gluten-free items.
The 2015 Specialty Food Association trend-spotters included Suzy Badaracco, Owner, Culinary Tides; Pat Cobe, Senior Editor, Restaurant Business Magazine; Faith Durand, Executive Editor, TheKitchn; Cecily McAndrews, Food Editor, Every Day with Rachael Ray; Nancy Hopkins, Senior Deputy Editor, Food and Entertainment, Better Homes & Gardens; Ariel Knutson, Engagement Editor, TheKitchn; Greg Morago, Food Editor, Houston Chronicle; Kara Nielsen, Culinary Director, Sterling-Rice Group; Charles Passy, reporter, MarketWatch/Wall Street Journal; and, Denise Purcell, Editor, Specialty Food Media.
The Specialty Food Association is a community of food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs.
More information:
www.specialtyfood.com
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
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Alexandra Scarborough
Gilt and Sarah Jessica Parker Unveil SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Bridal Collection for SpringSarah Jessica Parker, in partnership with Gilt, kicked off the exclusive launch of SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Bridal, Gilt’s first foray into bridal ready-to-wear that would have Carrie Bradshaw swooning.
The collection includes dresses, skirts, bodysuits and other pieces, ranging in price from $295 to $2,395 and from sizes 0 to 14.
"Collaborating with Gilt on my first bridal ready-to-wear collection was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," said Sarah Jessica Parker. "The team there is brilliant and allowed me to be imaginative and take risks as I was designing for the non-traditional bride. It has been quite fun to play around with colors, fabrics and details to create unique pieces for all kinds of brides." The collection, comprised of ten styles, is inspired by Parker's vision of a modern, non-traditional bride, and is designed to dress a woman for a variety of wedding milestone moments; from her bridal shower through her wedding reception. Styles offered are a unique mix of classic dresses and gowns, modern bodysuits, full skirts, and a jumpsuit. The color palette includes traditional bridal white, sleek black, plus pops of blush, poppy, light gray and blue.
Designed in collaboration with Gilt, the collection was produced in New York City utilizing fabrics like cashmere and stretch crepe sourced from Spain, Italy and France.
The pieces all feature carefully curated details like elegant bows, sophisticated cutouts, feathers, intricate embroidery and beautiful hand-stitched beading.
The actress and style icon is no stranger to chic bridal wear. Carrie Badshaw, famously played by Parker, took part in an elaborate bridal photo shoot in Sex and the City: The Movie. The shoot featured gowns from designers like Christian Lacroix and Lanvin. Parker famously wore a black wedding gown for her own wedding to Matthew Broderick in 1997.
"Not only is Sarah Jessica Parker's style known around the world, her point of view is one-of-a-kind," says Tom Ott, Chief Merchant of Gilt. "Sarah Jessica brings her impeccable taste and fashion sensibility to life in this collection. We think our customers will be delighted with the offering which is stylish and well-priced in the bridal category."
As part of the bridal launch, Gilt will also offer 15 exclusive styles from the SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker footwear line, each of which are complementary to the bridal collection.
To correspond with the bridal collection launch, Gilt City will present offers from some of Sarah Jessica Parker's favorite places in New York City.
The offers were each chosen as a way to help brides plan for and celebrate the big day with highlights including, Leather Spa, Lars Nord Studio Tailoring, Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery, among others.
More Information:
http://www.Gilt.com/SJP -
Alexandra Scarborough
Tea Forté Introduces ‘Matcha’ CollectionConvenience meets tradition in Tea Forté’s new Ceremonial Matcha Bowl Set and the Matcha Single Steeps.
The company said its spring harvested, shade grown, stone ground, organic matcha tea is best served in a centuries-old Japanese tea ceremony called chanoyu: a preparation technique known for its centering meditative qualities.
"The launch of Tea Forté's Matcha collection represents our continued commitment to wellness and cultivating all the potential mental and physical health benefits of tea," says Tea Forté CEO Michael Gebrael. "In addition to our high quality Pure Matcha, we've also blended four distinct flavored Matcha varieties. Prepackaged in pouches measured out for a single serving, our Single Steeps Matcha is ideal for the office, travel, or to keep with you for a boost anytime."
Tea Forté noted its handcrafted ceremonial tea bowl, handmade bamboo whisk and measuring ladle “encourages serene enjoyment of our premium Kosher, gluten-free and vegan matcha blends.” These include: Pure Matcha, Chocolate Matcha, Coconut Matcha, Ginger Matcha, and Chai Matcha.
According to a release, in addition to its distinctive taste, matcha is prized for its health benefits. Steeped green tea contains only the antioxidants that can be extracted in water, while with matcha, the whole leaf is consumed.
Available now in select stores and online at teaforte.com.
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