Keynote Address by Chef Marcus Samuelsson Headlines an Insight-Packed Educational Program at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show

NEW YORK (May 15, 2026) – The Specialty Food Association (SFA) today unveiled its full 2026 Summer Fancy Food programming lineup, including celebrity chefs, insider industry storytelling, and a special announcement from a key retailer.

The keynote address will be delivered by Chef Marcus Samuelsson on Monday, June 29 at 9 a.m. Drawing on his culinary background anchored in Swedish and Ethiopian cuisine, Chef Samuelsson will speak to the Fancy Food Show audience about culture, identity, and storytelling, and how all three enrich the experience of food, whether CPG products or restaurant dishes. His address comes at a time when fans from across the world are flocking to New York City for the World Cup. As the first-ever Chief Culinary Coach for the New York City Football Club (NYCFC) team, Chef Samuelsson has a compelling perspective on the intersection of culinary authenticity with health and nutrition.

Following up on data and insights presented at Winter FancyFaire* 2026, Brian Choi of Food Institute, Sunny Khamkar of MenuData, and Leana Salamah of SFA will present a mid-year reflection on trends and projections first identified in January, Monday, June 29 at 11 a.m. Using proprietary data and real-world case studies, they will unpack how successful companies are turning macro trends into real revenue growth, even in a challenging operating environment.

Furthermore, as specialty food brands consider investment and sales against the brand they have built, SFA presents a panel of the team that first sold and then re-acquired Justin’s. Original founder Justin Gold, returning CEO Peter Burns, and investment partner Matt Leeds of Forward Consumer Partners will reveal insights and lessons learned from first selling a beloved specialty brand and then subsequently deciding to re-acquire it through private equity.

“SFA seeks to present a blend of inspirational and tactical, how-to content through our Summer Fancy Food Show programming,” said Mary Beth Vultee, SVP of Membership at SFA. “This year’s lineup of speakers and topics is exceptionally timely and intriguing as the specialty food category continues to grow in impact and influence within both the B2B and B2C spaces.”

Additional sessions and topics include:

• Inside the Luxury Grocery Renaissance, with Sara McMonigle (Director of Purchasing, Butterfield Market), Elizabeth Chubbuck (Chief Strategy Officer, Murray’s Cheese), and Erin Cabrey (Senior Reporter, Morning Brew). Sunday, June 28 at 12 p.m.

• Beyond Viral: Building Conversion-Driven Strategies on TikTok Shop, with JT Sarafa (Founder, JTS Growth) and Francine Voit (Co-Founder, Pistakio). Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m.

• Present and Future Foodservice Opportunities for Emerging Makers, with Evan Rosenthal (F&B Concept Development Manager, Disney Parks) and Victoria Ho (Founder, Sherpa CPG). Monday, June 29 at 12 p.m.

• The Values-Driven Advantage: Sourcing for the Conscious Consumer, with Matt Landi (VP of Industry Relations, Organic Trade Association), Nora Weiser (Former Executive Director, Good Food), Summer Thompson (Senior Buyer, Market Hall Foods), Holly Ong (Chief Maker & Co-Founder, Sibeiho), and James Ren (VP of Revenue & Growth, GoodSAM). Monday, June 29 at 1 p.m.

• Cracking the Code: Bringing Specialty Food to America’s Convenience Stores, with Matthew High (Senior Category Sales Manager, Sheetz), Nick Triantafellou (Director of Merchandising and Marketing, Weigel’s), Jac Moskalik (VP, Head of Food, Innovation, and Strategy, Global Partners), and Frank Beard (Columnist, C-Store Drive). Tuesday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m.

For full details, speaker profiles, and more information, visit the Summer Fancy Food Show event site.

Registration for the 2026 Summer Show is open now for qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates, and journalists. Explore the show and register to attend at specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-shows/summer/.

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $219-billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 4,200 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by producing events, programs, and year-round resources and education. SFA owns and operates the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire*, and the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. Find out more at Specialtyfood.com, and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.