Trend Spotting at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2017
What trends sizzled at the Summer Fancy Food Show? We rounded up some of our top picks and featured the brands. You can watch our #SSFS17 video to see the top trends.
ALTERNATIVE OILS & FLOURS
Alternative oils and flours are making big headlines as consumers look for creative solutions in their kitchens.
Top trending brands in Alternative Oils & Flours: Lesley Elizabeth Inc., Hammons, Primal Kitchen, NUCO, Chosen Foods, Hudson Valley, The Truffleist, Otto’s, Bob’s Red Mill, and Wrapioca.
GINGER & TREE-SOURCED WATERS
Ginger continues to make a splash as more companies find unique ways to use this versatile root. This Summer Fancy Food Show also featured a large variety of water sourced from trees. Move over Maple Water…here comes Birch Water.
Brands Bringing Beverages to a Whole New Level: Asarasi, Treo, Alo, Sap!, Sapp, The Hudson Standard, The Great Jamaican, GUS, Tippleman’s, and Bantam Bevy.
SNACK PACKS
There is no doubt that we are a snacking nation. Further proof of consumer’s interest in quick and healthy snacks lies in the increase in small-sized snack-packs throughout today’s specialty food market.
Best Brands Fueling Snack Time: JC’s Pie Bites, Skinny Dipped, TK, Busseto Foods, Peanut Butter & Co., and My/Mo.
STREET FOOD
The authentic flavors of street food are marketing their way to more mainstream consumers as food lovers continue to swap their classic at-home recipes for more eclectic meal options in an effort to satisfy diverse tastebuds.
Brands Full of Flavor: Frontera, Cafe Spice, and Tiger Tiger.
VEGAN FOODS
Vegan foods continue to capture the attention of consumers as more products are appealing to a broader market in the most versatile ways. Fish-free filet, anyone?
Leading the Pack in the Vegan Trend: Good Catch Foods, Vegan Rob’s, Jica Chips, Maya Kaimal, and Nature’s All.
What topped our trends at SFFS16? Check out our video from the 2016 Summer Fancy Food Show.
Custom Illustrations Across a Variety of Applications
At Skillet Creative, we love taking a deep dive into the creative process whether it is to develop a new brand and identity or evolve a brand that is ready to take the next step. Sometimes, we also stretch our creative muscles for design pieces to promote Skillet. As we prepared for another Summer Fancy Food Show, we brainstormed how we could demonstrate our unique design and illustration talents in a take-away piece that would be well received by busy Fancy Food exhibitors. Take a look at our how our creative process can benefit you at your next trade show.
What can we do for you today?
Telling Your Brand Story – The Right Way (J.K. Adams)
If you were to record a 15 video on why someone should buy your product right now – what would you say? It’s a modern-day elevator pitch asking one of the most important questions for today’s specialty food businesses – and most don’t have a quick answer.
The one thing we’ve seen proven time and time again in the marketing world of today’s specialty foods industry is this: you have to clearly develop your brand. Consumers not only appreciate it, but they expect it now more than ever. Whether it’s designing a Fancy Food Show booth that attracts buyers / delights eyes, developing a tagline that effectively communicates your mission or crafting a video as to what makes your product special – the list goes on. The truth is this: people make assumptions – it’s human nature. If you don’t work intentionally and proactively to craft your own story, potential customers will make one up – whether you like it or not.
That’s where our team at Skillet Design & Marketing often partners with clients to help. In this day and age, there is no excuse to be unclear about your brand. With modern technology and a multitude of physical and digital platforms to express your story – the possibilities are endless. Remember: the WHAT is important (i.e. your product) but the WHY is the reason people buy. Take initiative to set yourself apart, leave a memorable impression and break away from the noise on product shelves. How? Here are a few of our favorites in each realm of marketing for our client J.K. Adams., the preeminent American manufacturer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home – crafted in Vermont for over 65 years.
Need support? Our talented team of graphic designers, videographers and content marketing professionals would be happy to help. Let’s connect – here.
Making an Impact on the Shelves of Costco
Here’s a scenario that we see quite often with our clients: they land a new account at a national retailer but don’t have the right shipping or point-of-purchase (POP) display box to be competitive on the shelf. Sometimes our clients’ strategy is to get the product into the store first and figure out the product display–later. While plan may work for a while, it isn’t a true test of how well the product will sell through since the display may not be eye catching or well executed. It’s pretty likely that the product isn’t being presented as well as it could be. Enter in Skillet’s design team to develop a solution.
This type of challenge was recently presented to us by our wonderful client, Jasper Hill Farm—the makers of the world’s most awarded and ridiculously delicious blue cheese, Bayley Hazen Blue. Jasper’s popular Harbison cheese was currently selling at Costco but the way the cheese was stacked on the shelf was probably hindering a higher sales volume. The product didn’t have a point of purchase display, making it difficult for Jasper Hill Farm to attract customers at the retail shelf.
We worked closely with Jasper Hill Farm to understand how the Harbison’s primary product attributes combined with the company brand and mission. Through research and creative concepting, we developed several design options that would position them stronger on the shelf. The die-line of the shipping and POP box allowed us to think about creative solutions for the outside, inside and even bottom panels. The design concept chosen by Jasper Hill Farm included bold graphics to show product uses, flavor, and even awards. On the inside panels, we incorporated beautiful landscape images from the farm to provide a sense of place related to where the products are made. On the bottom (floor) of the box, bold colors were used to contrast the light colors of the cheese packaging, but also included fun, playful copy that was readable once a cheese wheel was taken out.
Keep an eye out for this new Jasper Hill Farm cheese box at Costco and grab one—or even two Haribson’s—while you are there!
Skillet’s Social Media Manager Tackles Thailand on TV Show
Being a small team at Skillet, we often become each other’s sounding boards, creative brainstorming partners, reality-checkers, and cheerleaders for work well-done. Right now, we are cheering on our Social Media Manager Deniz Sehovic as she tries her hand at a reality TV show, ESCAPE: A Digital Detox in Thailand on Outside Television.
Deniz’s video application was chosen out of hundreds who applied to unplug from all digital devices and go off-the-grid in Thailand. Outdoor Television is filming how these millennials react and survive without their trusty devices and constant connection.
We can’t wait for Deniz to return and share her experience with us… and you. Look for her blog series once she’s back at Skillet—assuming we can tear her away from the beaches of Thailand! #GoDeniz #Dreamjobbers #ThailandEscape
