National Association for the Specialty Food Trade
Encyclopedia
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) is a not-for-profit business trade association
established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry in the USA. NASFT currently is composed of more than 2,100 member-companies internationally.
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry in the USA. NASFT currently is composed of more than 2,100 member-companies internationally.
Activities
The NASFT's activities and programs include:- International Fancy Food & Confection Shows
- The NASFT founded and has sponsored these well-attended, well-regarded shows since 1954. They are considered to be the premiere marketplace for reaching the specialty food trade.
- The shows attract from 15,000 to 30,000 attendees from specialty food, wine, gift and department storeDepartment storeA department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s, supermarketSupermarketA supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, restaurants, mail order and other related businesses.
- The Summer NASFT Fancy Food Shows are held annually at the Jacob K. Javits Convention CenterJacob K. Javits Convention CenterJacob K. Javits Convention Center is a large convention center located on Eleventh Avenue, between 34th and 38th streets, on the West side of Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by architects I. M. Pei and partners. The revolutionary space frame structure was undertaken in 1979 and...
in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - The Winter NASFT Fancy Food Shows are held annually at the Moscone CenterMoscone CenterMoscone Center is the largest convention and exhibition complex in San Francisco, California. It comprises three main halls: Two underground halls underneath Yerba Buena Gardens, known as Moscone North and Moscone South, and a three-level Moscone West exhibition hall across 4th Street...
in San Francisco.
- The sofi (Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation) Awards, a yearly series of prizes granted to the best foods and beverages of the year.
- Publishing the trade periodical, Specialty Food Magazine.
- Selling membership, which is required in order to participate in the annual Fancy Food Shows or be considered for the sofi Awards.