Fancy Food Show Moves to Fully Virtual Format; New Hope Adds New Protocols
Rapidly changing public health guidance related to rising COVID rates are impacting what was supposed to be a return to in-person conventions and expos this fall for the food and beverage industry.
Earlier today, The Specialty Food Association (SFA) cancelled the in-person trade show portion of the Fancy Food Show 2021. Slated to run September 27 through 29 in New York City, the event will now move to a fully virtual format. Meanwhile, New Hope, and its parent company Informa, announced new Covid-19 related protocols for Natural Products Expo East in response to feedback from attendees and to comply with new health department regulations.
The SFA had previously cancelled the 2020 Summer Fancy Food Show and 2021 Winter Fancy Food Show and pushed back its Summer 2021 Fancy Food show to September. In a press release, SFA president Bill Lynch attributed the most recent cancellation to the rise of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
“While we will miss that special feeling of in-person connections with our industry colleagues, safety remains our number one priority,” Lynch said in a release. “The Specialty Food Association has been steadfast in creatively supporting our members and our $170.4 billion industry during this incredibly challenging time, and we remain committed to providing opportunities in the safest way possible.”
The organization will continue with an already planned virtual component of the event, called Fancy Food 24/7, which will include video educational sessions and “digital showrooms” for brands. Exhibitors who had already purchased booth space at the New York event have the option for a full refund or a credit to exhibit at one of the two scheduled 2022 trade shows. All pre-registered attendees will automatically receive a full refund and will be registered to also attend Fancy Food 24/7.
The announcements come as surging infection rates continue to upend a convention industry still reeling from the pandemic. Last week, The New York International Auto Show announced the cancellation of its annual event slated to be held in the Javits Center in August. Elsewhere, The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers cancelled its August trade show in Florida, and July’s Seafood Expo North America was also called off.
Originally the SFA had hoped that requiring attendees to either show proof of vaccination or a negative covid test in the last 72 hours, coupled with a mask mandate would offer enough protection from Covid-19 to attendees.
Media and trade show producer New Hope also today sent an email regarding its own trade show, Expo East, which will run Sept 22 to 25 in Philadelphia.
Under new guidelines, all attendees will either be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test, and must wear a face covering when indoors.
However, sampling will still be allowed on the show floor. The change in mask policy comes after the city of Philadelphia announced this morning that all businesses must require masks to be worn indoors unless the business also requires all attendees to be vaccinated. Outdoor events with over 1,000 attendees without seating must also require masks.
In a social media post, New Hope reported that it currently had 1,100 registered exhibitors, many of which are classified as “first-time.” That is roughly one-third fewer exhibitors than the organization reported in 2019 and 2018.
