Join NASFT and Mintel International as they report on this exciting research on how the specialty food industry performed in 2011. This presentation, presented by NASFT's Ron Tanner and Mintel International's David Browne, is filled with just-released industry statistics and insights to help you understand the potential for growth and the dynamics of change in this market. Topics include sales growth and declines within specialty food categories and comparisons of specialty food categories vs. mainstream foods. A Q & A session will tackle any questions you might have about the current state of the specialty food industry.

The NASFT State of the Specialty Food Industry is a joint research project prepared by Mintel International and SPINS. The project encompasses three years of sales data (2009-2011) for 51 specialty food segments, pulled from the SPINS database of mainstream and natural food stores. In addition, Mintel surveyed specialty food manufacturers, importers, distributors, brokers and retailers to develop the statistics presented in this report.

Here is some of the information to be presented:

• Sales growth and declines within 51 specialty food categories
• Sales comparisons of specialty food categories vs. mainstream foods, showing where specialty foods are gaining market share
• Where specialty foods are selling - in supermarkets, natural food stores and specialty food stores, and the growth within each channel
• Penetration levels of specialty food categories, where they are strong and where there is still opportunity
• Trends in new product introductions and the claims that are important when introducing a new product
• The issues confronting specialty food manufacturers, importers, brokers, distributors and retailers
• How specialty food manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers are confronting the challenges of the economy
Who Should Attend: Professionals in all sectors of the food and beverage industry, their partner organizations and consultants to the industry
 
SPEAKER BIOS:

RON TANNER
Ron Tanner is Vice President, Communications, Education, Government & Industry Relations for the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., (NASFT®), owner of the Fancy Food Shows®, and the publisher of Specialty Food Magazine. Ron has worked for the NASFT, and its 2,850 members, since 1987. Prior to joining the NASFT, Ron worked for 10 years as an editor with Progressive Grocer Magazine.

The NASFT presents 55 educational programs each year. Ron has appeared on The Today Show, CNN and Food Network, and has been quoted in Newsweek, The New York Times, and Parade Magazine. He serves as the NASFT liaison with many associations and government organizations, including the National Grocers Association, the Organic Trade Association, the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ron has an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University in New York City, and a B.A. in English and Communications Studies from Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. He resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

DAVID BROWNE
Senior Analyst, Syndicated Reports Team, Mintel International

As a Senior Analyst with the Syndicated Reports team, David writes and edits reports on the consumer packaged goods industry including retailers, foodservice operators and manufacturers of foods, beverages and household and personal care products. With over 15 years in the natural products industry, his work is primarily focused on the fast-growing natural and organic food market, identifying trends and leveraging them to foster innovation and new product development. David also specializes in defining and reporting on niche markets that are new or that defy industry-wide definition.

Through his work as an analyst, David conducts interviews with consumer and trade publications including the Wall Street Journal, Mergermarket, and Food Navigator. He also works directly with Mintel clients, and presents at industry conferences, highlighting key findings and trends relevant to attendees.

Prior to Mintel, David was a Vice President at SPINS, the Chicago-based provider of insights into the natural products industry. He oversaw SPINS' proprietary product library and industry-leading product classification system that allows clients to segment retailer data, and worked directly with retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. Before SPINS, he was a buyer and department head for a leading natural products e-commerce web site, and several Whole Foods Markets.