Specialty Food Association, Food Marketing Institute announce alliance
This relationship will bring together SFA and FMI members to strengthen the growing specialty food industry.
The Specialty Food Association (SFA), New York, and Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Arlington, Va., launched a strategic partnership focused on the $127 billion specialty food category.
This relationship will bring together SFA and FMI members to strengthen business development, engage in food safety training and increase understanding of the growing specialty food industry.
"Specialty foods outpace their non-specialty counterparts in nearly every category, presenting a unique opportunity for a wide variety of retailers and foodservice operators to increase sales," says Phil Kafarakis, SFA president. "SFA looks forward to partnering with FMI in business-building programs with our respective members. We believe this strategic partnership will have a positive impact throughout the industry."
"Consumer trends point to continued specialty and organic growth, so it's imperative that the food retail industry meet this consumer need, while making the necessary investment to secure the food supply by building trusting relationships with specialty product trading partners," adds Leslie Sarasin, FMI president and CEO.
Another critical tier for this relationship is awareness building for FMI's Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Institute Certification programs for manufacturers and the FMI SafeMark for retailers.
"Food retailers are well positioned within their customers' circle of trust when it comes to food safety and supporting shoppers' health and wellness goals, so our partnership with SFA is supported by a responsible commitment to evolve and explore new territory that keeps the shopper's confidence top of mind," says Sarasin.
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