Summer Fancy Food Show: Global Trends

Trendspotting at the Summer Fancy Food show has been a regular gig for me and it was a thrill attend the New York show this year. As always, the rise of more authentic and global flavors was in plain view. The diverse array of products points to a food future where flavor-loving American audiences can enjoy more styles, ingredients, and regional recipes from Korea, Japan, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Many also meet the demands for plant-based ingredients and more healthful labels, ensuring a fit with today’s dietary lifestyles.

Playful Asian Frozen Delights: We Just Love booth wowed us with durian crepe cakes and ice cream bars from Malaysia. Korean Melona Ice Cream drew big crowds with its Melon, Ube, and Banana bars, and New York’s Mochidoki impressed with its colorful Lychee, Vegan Passion Fruit, and Black Sesame mochi ice creams.

Beverage Innovations: We saw more canned and bottled bubble teas than we could count, like Twrl plant-based milk teas and low-sugar BUBLUV. Refreshing Caribbean hibiscus beverages and elderflower drinks from South Africa also made a splash.

Indian-American Fusion: Authentic products like Stone-ground Dosa Batter from Dosa Kitchen and award-winning Arya Roti in flavors like Cumin Spinach showcased a perfect blend of traditional and modern eating styles. Doosra’s Indian-inspired snacks, with crunchy spiced chickpea puffs and caramelized white chocolate chips, added a sweet-savory twist.

Convenience with Authenticity: Banyan Thai’s Sofi 2024 Gold prize-winning all-natural curry sauces and Myojo’s Yuzu Shio Ramen frozen kits brought gourmet international flavors to the convenience meal category.

Eye-Catching Packaging: The bright, cheerful, and elegantly styled packaging of these global products highlights a maturing market ready to attract flavor-loving consumers.

Plentiful Global Condiments: Exciting new condiments like Tari Peruvian Amariillo and Rocoto chile sauces, Tierra Negra Premium Mexican Dark Salsa, and Sprinkle Sprinkle Kimchi seasoning are adding exotic zest to our kitchens.

With interest in global travel peaking post-pandemic and younger audiences exploring authentic cuisines via Tik-Tok and YouTube, it’s no surprise that foreign brands, importers, and American entrepreneurs are enriching the specialty food market with these vibrant global offerings.