2014 Winter Fancy Food Show Monday stroll

Can't remember how many years I have been going to the Fancy Food Show in SF. My first big food packaging and branding project was Beckmann's Bakery. I interviewed for work with Newman's Own but didn't get the work because I had no food projects in my portfolio. Richard Novak recommended me to Peter Beckmann and I had to compete against 50 other artists until the final round of 3 and then 2 designers and then me. I love seeing the trucks and buy the bread and pastries at the Cabrillo Farmers Market in Aptos.

This show was busier than last year. Aisle were crowded. Lots of chocolate, flavored popcorn, sauces, jam, names with Family, mom, sister, brothers popular. Not as much beer as seen in years past maybe I missed that section. Walked the show with Gail owner of the Saucy Wench BBQ sauce from Aptos and graphic designer and model Katie Steidl.

Some favorites.

Brad's Raw Foods

Sencha Naturals Poco Dolce Chocolates

Found a local Aptos company La Selva Beach Spice Company

Horny Corn I liked the packaging and logo. Eye catching and the popcorn is actually very good.

The Winter Fancy Food Show is the West Coast's largest specialty food and beverage event. Exhibit with over 1,300 exhibitors and put your products in front of over 18,000+ quality buyers.

January 19 - January 21, 2014.

Discover 80,000 on-trend and best-in-class products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural, organic and more. 1,300 exhibitors representing the latest in specialty foods and beverages from across the U.S. and 35 countries and regions.

Fancy Food Show 2013 from a designers view

One of my favorite trade shows next to going to Action Sports or Outdoor shows. Designing labels, packaging and photo shoots related to foods is always a nice change. Love that I get to mix up my work from outdoor, socks, retail and food. Great take aways are printing label and box sources. Looking at trends, colors and flavors. Last year it seemed Popcorn and hot sauce were all the rage. This year I was seeing a ton of salts, chocolate, fresh foods, herbs, drinks with less sugar, less packaging, environmentally fresh packaging ideas and materials. (Micro greens are edible plants that originate from the seeds of herbs, vegetables and other plants.) Picked up a few ideas to share with some of my clients in regards to bottle labels, baking containers and to go items. I hope to share some new brands with friends that have specialty markets in town and some foodies.

My favorties Sir Kensington Ketchup gourmet scooping, Secret Squirrel Cold Brew Coffee, and a special thanks for Kokuho Rose for the brown rice sample. I don't know if it a Japanese thing but I wanted to ask so which camp were your parents in. Katie who was with me's grandfather a 442nd soldier and my uncle. We will never forget. It is so great to see a Japanese American brand grow from a simple heirloom California Grown Rice.

Went by the MOMA always have to look at design stuff and books. Also picked up a few Cream Puffs at Beard Papa.

The Fancy Food Show in SF inspiring and fun

Went to the show yesterday in the rain. Was worth the drive in the storm. Went to Chris Cornyn, seminar 10 Do's and Don'ts seminar focusing on positioning and packaging products for success... Worked with him years ago when I was the art director of Rockshox. Super talented guy who changed his focus to food. His agency is Dine Marketing in SF. Years ago I wanted to work with Newman's Own and met with Peter the marketing head back in the early 90's. He liked my work but didn't see any food packaging in my portfolio. I was disappointed not to get the work but knew he was right. Richard Novak of NHS helped put me in line with Peter Beckmann of Beckmann's Bakery. He had 50 people interested in designing there logo, branding and packaging. All of us submitted one round of designs. He then narrowed it to a smaller group of 5 and paid us for another round. Then down to 3 people, to two and then one. We would meet at Shoppers Corner in Santa Cruz at 5:30 am and put our mocked up bags on the shelves. He met with each of us individually on different days. Ever since that project, I wake up early and get tons of work done. Long story short I got the project to design the branding, packaging, vehicle graphics and more. Love seeing the breads everywhere and the trucks on the road. I have a few food labeling projects lined up and hope to keep branching into this industry again along with the actions sports my two favorite interests. I am a foodie fan, buy local, buy organic, worm farmer and gardener.

The Top 5 trends have been been picked by a panel of food experts at the 35th Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco
The top trends identified are:

• Good-for-you foods
• Coconut
• Gluten-free
• Exotic citrus
• Nostalgic foods

Spicy was not mentioned but was huge as well as sea salt. My
Favorite chocolate at the Fancy Food Show was the poco dolce sooo good. The tiles with salt rule!


Most interesting thing at the show for me was the Paul Frank pancake mix. I saw PF start with wallets in the surf industry. He grew and grew and then somehow got pushed out of his own business. PF is in Target, doing bikes, helmets, and now food. I've always had bitter sweet thoughts to this but love PF stuff. What if you started something you loved and then got pushed out and then saw it go big without you. I hope he is happy and doing something fun.