Winter FancyFaire San Diego

The Winter FancyFaire is more than a traditional trade show. It serves as a vibrant meeting point for the North American specialty food scene, bringing together thought leaders, producers, retailers, and trendsetters from across the industry. Organized by the renowned Specialty Food Association, Inc. (SFA), the event takes place annually in winter, rotating between various cities across the United States.

At its core, the Winter FancyFaire showcases the defining developments shaping the future of specialty foods – from sustainable product concepts and innovative preparation methods to strategic brand building. Curated selections highlight products across fine foods, beverages, functional nutrition, plant-based innovations, clean-label solutions, and other culinary trends. Innovation, taste, and craftsmanship are seamlessly interwoven throughout the exhibition. Signature formats such as the First Taste Table offer buyers focused tasting experiences, while the interactive Discovery Kitchen features top chefs from the U.S. West Coast demonstrating real-world applications of new products.

Positioned as a discovery platform for industry professionals, the Winter FancyFaire offers targeted opportunities to explore emerging brands in the Debut District, engage with category-specific themes in dedicated pavilions, or experience exceptional packaging design in the curated Spotlight Shoppe. The event is tailored to a specialized audience: retail buyers, culinary professionals, distributors, foodservice experts, trend scouts, and media representatives – all looking for the next big ideas in the specialty food market.

A highlight of the event is the presentation of the prestigious sofi Awards, honoring outstanding product quality and innovation. In addition to Gold Awards and the coveted Product of the Year title, the recently introduced Timeless Taste Award celebrates products with lasting appeal and flavor excellence. These accolades are considered a benchmark in the U.S. specialty food industry and provide recipients with significant market visibility.

As part of the year-round FancyFaire series – which also includes a summer edition – the Winter FancyFaire has become a key fixture in the industry calendar. It is more than a showcase of products; it is a catalyst for ideas and innovation that drive the entire world of gourmet and specialty foods forward – year after year.

The Winter FancyFaire will take place on 3 days from Sunday, 11. January to Tuesday, 13. January 2026 in San Diego.