The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., (NASFT) will discontinue its Spring Fancy Food Show in Chicago

NEW YORK, NY: The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., will discontinue its Spring Fancy Food Show in Chicago. At a recent meeting, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to cease operations of the Show, which had been scheduled for April 5 – 7, 2009, at McCormick Place.
Ann Daw, NASFT president, said, “After the 2008 Show, the NASFT conducted extensive research among exhibitors and buyers. We have come to the conclusion that the Spring Fancy Food Show at McCormick Place is no longer providing the majority of our Members with the most effective means by which to grow their businesses in the Midwest. We have therefore decided to cancel the Show in Chicago, beginning in 2009.”
The NASFT debuted the Spring Fancy Food Show in Chicago in 1999. In 2008, the Association partnered with ATO and the U.S. Food Export Showcase produced by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to present the Global Food & Style Expo (GFSE).
“We have had a very positive experience working with ATO and NASDA,” continued Daw. “They did a fantastic job of bringing natural, organic and international buyers to the GFSE. We have especially appreciated NASDA's strong relationship with the network of trade professionals at USDAs Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the international strength they have brought to the event and to the organic community at ATO which contributed significantly to the GFSE.”
“The NASFT believes there is an opportunity to connect its members with Midwestern buyers and is investigating alternative means to bring these buyers and sellers together,” Daw concluded.
The NASFT continues to produce the highly successful Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows, both of which had record exhibit sales and exceptional attendance in 2008. The next Summer Show is scheduled for June 29 – July 1, 2008, at Javits Center in New York City and the next Winter Show will take place from January 18 – 20, 2009, at Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today, there are more than 2,800 member companies throughout the U.S. and abroad. For further information on the NASFT and its Fancy Food Shows, go to www.specialtyfood.com.
NASFT MEDIA CONTACTS
RON TANNER, VP, COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRY RELATIONS; 646.878.0115, rtanner@nasft.org