Colleagues Ritz Guggiana (RG Consultants) and David Viviani (www.vivianimarketing.com)
Ten years ago, I went to the Summer Fancy Foods Show in New York City. It was an incredible experience. I tried all kinds of new foods, including my first Greek style yogurt. It is the largest specialty food show in North America. I went because, at the time, we (cheesemaking.com) were thinking about a new cheese kit and I wanted to get ideas for packaging.
The Specialty Food Association produces 2 Fancy Foods Shows every year- summer in NYC and winter in Las Vegas. (The winter show used to be in San Francisco, but last year it moved to Las Vegas.) The next show will be at the Javits Center in NYC – June 25-27, 2023.
The show is designed to be a “business-to-business” venue. You can attend if you are affiliated with a business that buys, sells or provides services to the food industry. There are a LOT of major retailers attending.
David Viviani attended the winter show, a few weeks ago. We interviewed David last month (click here). The CMAB is one of Viviani Marketing‘s clients
He told us, “The show felt fresh – good energy and space, handsome booths and in harmony. Attendees were glad to see one another, reconnect and share product knowledge. It was a winner for real dairy foods.”
The Las Vegas Convention Hall provided ample space with wide isles.
David’s Pictures
The California Milk Advisory Board had tasting stations for many of the smaller companies so they could have a presence at the event.
The popular and active California Milk Advisory Board’s booth
The CMAB booth with its many tasting stations.
Rick Lafranchi at his tasting station, trying to sell more cheese than his brother Scott can make – (www.lafranchicheese.com)
Rick Blakeney, president of The Latest Scoop at the CMAB booth
Ritz Guggiana with RG Consultants and Mike Levy with the CMAB
Independent Booths:
Patrick Bleck of Face Rock Creamery was deep in thought.
Peterson – Major northwest & beyond distributor
From left: Diana & Liam Callahan with key associates – (www.bellwetherfarms.com)
Very fine Wisconsin cheese company – (www.belgioioso.com)
Italian Cheeses – (www.montitrentini.com)
Artikaas: The Art of Gouda – (www.artikaas.com)
Forever Cheese, importer of cheese & foods from the Mediterranean – (www.forevercheese.com)
San Francisco Bay Area Italian Specialty Food Distributor – (www.Italfoodsinc.com)
Old Croc (Australian Cheese) & British Organic Dairy represented by Trugman-Nash.com
Laura Fiscalini Genasci and Paulina Macias of Fiscalini, a California cheese favorite
Point Reyes Cheese’s handsome booth – (www.pointreyescheese.com)
The three Giacomini sisters, Diana, Jill & Lynn, owners of Point Reyes Cheese Company
The team from the family owned Rumiano Cheese Company since 1919. www.rumianocheese.com
Sierra Nevada Cheese team including co-owner Ben Gregersen – (www.sierranevadacheese.com)
Laura Chenel Goat Cheese – An industry leader – (www.laurachenel.com)
Their blue cheese was one of USA three to be served at the recent White House State Dinner – (www.roguecreamery.com)
David Gremmels’s blue cheeses
The International Pavillion:
The Italia section in the International Pavilion
David Viviani, (Viviani Marketing) and fellow Italian friend, John Dammacco with www.Ambriola.com
President & CEO of Ambriola Cheese, Phil Marfuggi and their National Sales Manager, John Dammacco.
And it’s in Las Vegas!
Art at the Hilton Hotel Mall
David and The Big Cheese Chance
