2020 Winter Fancy Food Show Recap

Last week, the Fuchs team headed to San Francisco for the Winter Fancy Food Show. From the cheese section to the chocolate pavilion, this show is a place to indulge. And indulge we did! Our team spent three days walking the show, eating all sorts of yummy things, and tracking overall show trends. Check out our recap below!

What Surprised Us
CBD was noticeably absent. At the Summer Fancy Food Show and Expo West in 2019, CBD was everywhere. It was inescapable; from CBD gummies to pet food featuring CBD, it was incredibly prevalent. So, we were expecting it to be equally, if not more, prevalent at the Winter Fancy Food Show. That was most certainly not the case. Our team only spotted one booth that featured CBD products. This may be due to the lack of regulations surrounding CBD, as well as the FDA’s recent warning to 15 CBD companies. Read more about that here. Nonetheless, given the rising demand for CBD products – which consumers have been using as a pain reliever and sleep aid, and to also treat anxiety – their lack of presence was surprising.

What Didn’t Surprise Us
Plant-based foods were seemingly everywhere you turned. This was not really a shocker. Consumers have expressed increased interest in plant-based foods and vegan diets for both health reasons and environmental concerns. From plant-based ice creams to jerky made from fruit, the vegan products at the Winter Fancy Food Show covered a wide variety of categories. We’ve been tracking the plant-based food trend for years, which is why we fully expected to taste a bunch of vegan snacks, plant-based meat substitutes, and dairy-free yogurt at the show. It’s also why we’re launching our Next Level Vegan Collection later this month – contact [email protected] to preorder samples!

Other Notable Mentions
Gourmet cotton candy caught our interest at the show, as did edible cookie dough. Functional beverages touting potential cognitive benefits were also prevalent. Floral-infused flavors, primarily in beverages and desserts, were featured heavily at the show. Innovative better-for-you snack options were also widespread at the show, showcasing popped and puffed bases made with chickpeas, lotus seeds, and more.