TheChocolateLifeLIVE | FCIA / FFS Summer 2023 Roundup w/ Keith Ayoob

By TheChocolateWire | a year ago | 4 min read

Original background photo Product School / Unsplash

Episode 119 of #TheChocolateLifeLIVE is LIVE from 9:00 AM PDT / 12:00 PM EDT on Fri, June 30th.

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Note the early start time for this episode.

Watch on my LinkedIn profile
Watch on TheChocolateLife page on Facebook (live event)

Overview

This is the first time in quite a long time (about a decade) that I have not attended in person either or both the Summer Fancy Food Show or the semi-annual meeting of the FCIA.

Which felt kind of weird, I have to admit, looking through my social media feeds and seeing posts from colleagues who were converging on NYC for the weekend of June 24th.

Fortunately, ChocolateLife contributor Keith Ayoob was going to be attending both events and so we’ll get a chance to vicariously participate in the activities of them both.

This is the page on TheChocolateLife where you can see all of Keith’s posts.

Resources

Fine Chocolate Industry Association

The schedule/agenda for the meeting.

Home

Specialty Food Association

Summer SFA Fancy Food Show Chocolate News

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Congratulations to Shawn Askinosie for being inducted into the Specialty Food Association’s 2023 Hall of Fame!

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Congratulations are also due to Bixby & Co (Maine) for sweeping the Dark and Milk & White chocolate categories in this year’s SOFI Awards, taking Golds for their 70% Dark Organic Haiti bar and Maine Grains Organic Milk bar – which was also awarded Best New Product in the category. Bixby also took home the Gold in the non-chocolate confectionery category for their Spicy Chili Beer Brittle.

The Gold in the Chocolate Candy category went to CocoTutti Chocolates for their LaKama Moroccan Spice with Lime filled bar, with St Croix Chocolate Company taking Best New Product for their Bourbon Pecan Toffee.

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According to the SFA, the Chocolate and Confectionery category ranked 7th out of the Top 10 Categories (of 63 SFA recognizes) in terms of dollar sales in 2022. Chips, Pretzels, and Snacks topped the list, with Coffee and Hot Cocoa (not ready-to-drink) coming in at number five. Chocolate and Confectionery placed 6th (of 10) Fastest Growing Categories 2020-2022.

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