Italy and its rich culinary tradition are the protagonists of the Winter Edition of the Fancy Food Show 2025 in Las Vegas, an event that brings together the best talent and brands in the food industry and within which Italy is Country Partner, having the most important pavilion of the event. Here we had the privilege of interviewing Phil Robinson, Vice President of the Specialty Food Association (SFA), who shared with us valuable insights into business opportunities for Italian companies in the North American market, illustrating SFA’s crucial role in networking among manufacturers, distributors and vendors. And the challenges and opportunities companies are facing, from innovations in packaging to market access strategies.
What is the role of the Specialty Food Association in promoting products of artisanal and high-quality foods?
The Specialty Food Association, founded in 1952 and headquartered in New York City, has 4,000 members from the specialty food community, including manufacturers, distributors, and vendors. We offer industry education and information, with events such as the Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas and the next one in New York, as well as webinars and research on industry trends. And we connect our members with each other, working on their own communities and looking for opportunities in areas where they are not yet operating.
How does the SFA cooperate with Italy?
Thanks to our partnership with Universal Marketing, we have a three-decade relationship with food shows like this one. This year, Italy is the partner country for the fourth time. We are working on a one-year program with the Italian Trade Agency to create opportunities for Italian companies in the North American market.
What is the main challenge for specialty food producers in the North American market?
Small and medium-sized companies certainly face economies of scale once they enter the market: they get an order from a supermarket, but how do they handle it? Where do they get the financial resources? And then they also have to deal with packaging issues and regulations to get their products into the market.
How does SFA support companies in innovating and investing in advanced technologies?
We invest time in research, collaborating with food science institutes to present trends from year to year, as we have also done for 2025. We also do research based on specific categories, providing useful information for companies on how to adapt to market changes.
What is your conclusion on the importance of Italy in the context of food conventions?
It is a huge honor for Italy to be a partner in such important events for the food industry, this one is definitely the most important in the world. But let’s wait until this summer to tell!
Many thanks to the Italian Trade Agency, the Specialty Food Association and Universal Marketing for hosting us at this prestigious event.
The article Fancy Food Show 2025: Phil Robinson of Specialty Food Association and the key role of networking comes from TheNewyorker.
