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Food Association The Snack Food Association (SFA) is the international trade association of the snack food industry representing snack manufacturers and suppliers. SFA represents over 400 companies worldwide. SFA business membership includes, but is not limited to, manufacturers of potato chips, tortilla chips, cereal snacks, pretzels, popcorn, cheese snacks, snack crackers, meat snacks, pork rinds,snack nuts,party mix, corn snacks, pellet snacks, fruit snacks, snack bars, granola, snack cakes, cookies and various other snacks. SFA Seeks Action on Commodity PricesSFA Chairman Daryl Thomas and President & CEO Jim McCarthy went to Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 12 to urge Congressional action that could help to alleviate the skyrocketing commodity prices that are affecting snack food companies across the nation. McCarthy and Thomas, senior vice president, sales and marketing at Herr’s Foods Inc., Nottingham, PA, met with Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senator's key staff and members of the Bush Administration to express SFA’s concerns about increasing prices of corn, wheat and soybeans among other commodities.
They also urged Congress to carefully consider the needs of the domestic food industry when supplies of wheat and other commodities drop to dangerously low levels. “Low commodity stocks in the U.S. leave too much to chance, as even a slight weather or transportation problem could lead to possible serious global food shortages,” the two SFA leaders said. SNAXPO 2008 Draws Industry Execs WorldwideSNAXPO 2008, the annual convention and exposition by the Snack Food Association (SFA) was held March 1-4, 2008 in San Antonio, TX, with industry executives from across the nation and 35 countries participating in the largest trade show created specifically for the snack food industry. Held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, SNAXPO opened with an all-day Latin American Educational Program presented in Spanish, featuring discussions of industry trends, developments and issues of concern. The day concluded with a lively Western Party at the famed Buckhorn Museum & Saloon, where a country-western band entertained as armadillos raced and a Texas cowboy lassoed guests. Keynote speaker on Sunday, March 2 was former Rep. J.C. Watts, now a business consultant, who discussed the ongoing presidential election campaigns and key issues involved. He urged SFA members to involve themselves in the association’s government relations efforts, including SnackPAC, the political action committee. The SNAXPO exhibit floor, featuring the leading suppliers in the snack food industry opened Sunday afternoon, as industry executives searched for new ideas and services to help their businesses grow. There were also two concurrent educational sessions that focused on managing the cost of commodities and innovations in snack food ingredients. Monday featured an address by incoming chairman Daryl Thomas, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Herr Foods Inc., the annual State of the Industry report from Information Resources, Inc. and more trade show activity in the Exhibit Hall. Educational sessions featured discussions on new product development and on the important issue of sustainability. Heather Mayo, vice president-merchandising at Sam ‘s Club, discussed her company’s overall strategy as well as specific issues affecting snack company suppliers, on Tuesday morning before the exhibit hall opened for its final session. There was a golf tournament Tuesday afternoon, and the convention concluded Tuesday evening with 2nd Annual Tribute to Sponsors & Exhibitors Reception and Gala, which featured “1964 The Tribute,” a nostalgic Beatles show that was then followed by dancing to a local band. “We had an absolutely outstanding SNAXPO,” reported SFA President & CEO Jim McCarthy, who said members found real value in the presentations and educational programs that were offered and benefited from being able to meet with top suppliers in one place within a three-day period. “Many exhibitors told us they were able to speak with decision-makers who were there to do business,” he said. SFA Installs New Chairman at SNAXPODaryl Thomas, senior vice president for sales and marketing, at Herr’s Foods Inc., was installed as the 2008 SFA Chairman Monday, March 3 during SNAXPO 2008 in San Antonio, TX. Thomas succeeds Tom Dempsey, president, Utz Quality Foods, the 2007 chairman. Thomas pointed out that the snack food industry generates $26 billion in annual sales and is growing at an average rate of 4.5% every year. While some of the industry’s products date back to the 17th century, he noted that 1,100 new products were introduced last year with 79% bearing “some type” of health benefit claim. “Our industry represents 70,000 jobs,” he noted. “We pay $1.4 billion in taxes. We contribute heartily to helping the poor and needy, and when disaster strikes, our members respond.” SFA’s more than 400 member companies donate $68 million to charities each year, he said, and are the “backbone” of many local economies. He urged active member involvement in the association, and said he hopes to build upon the work of Dempsey and other previous chairpersons who helped launch new education initiatives, worked to strengthen the organization’s financial position, and strengthen SFA’s government affairs initiatives. This year, Thomas said he hopes to help broaden SFA’s membership base and increase partnerships with allied organizations. “Let’s join forces through our association and search out those areas of common need and benefit,” he said. “We’ll all be stronger and better off by working together.” SFA TO LAUNCH SNACK WORLD, A NEW QUARTERLY MAGAZINEARLINGTON, VA, January 23, 2008 – The Snack Food Association (SFA), an international association representing the snack and convenience foods industry, today announced it will begin publishing a new quarterly magazine, Snack World, in partnership with Sosland Publishing Company, Kansas City, MO. The new magazine will reprise the association’s previous monthly magazine by the same name that had been published for many years, but was replaced in 1999 with a special section in Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery magazine. In a letter to members, SFA officials said the new stand-alone publication “will include news and in-depth articles about the key issues affecting the snack food industry and important SFA programs and member services.” “Publishing a quarterly, stand-alone SFA magazine will better enable SFA to address the major issues affecting the industry, and it will allow SFA to better promote association programs and services as well as those of our members,” explained the letter signed by SFA President & CEO James A. McCarthy; SFA Chairman Tom Dempsey, President, Utz Quality Foods, Inc.; and Past SFA Chairman Rich Rudolph, President, Rudolph’s Foods Co., Inc. As the official magazine of SFA, Snack World will be available to SFA members and associate members, both domestic and international, including any member company personnel who wish to subscribe. “We’re confident that this in-depth, stand alone Snack World will be the perfect complement to our continuing weekly ‘must read’ electronic Snack Report,” the letter said. The inaugural issue of Snack World will feature a complete report on SNAXPO 2008, to be held March 1-4 in San Antonio, TX, as well as a special profile of a prominent SFA member company, an update on important governmental developments, and other news and features. To learn more about advertising opportunities in Snack World, please click HERE. New Online Member Education Programs From SJU & OSU AvailableThe Snack Food Association, in conjunction with Ohio State University (OSU) and St Joseph’s University (SJU), is now offering on-line courses in food science and food marketing for SFA member company associates. The program was developed in conjunction with the two universities to provide SFA member company personnel easy access to continuing education at a reduced cost for tuition for SFA members. The program offers courses in key disciplines requested by SFA members. A series of new SJU marketing courses will be available early in 2008, and for a limited time all SJU courses will be offered to SFA members tuition-free. To learn more, click HERE. Past News Headlines
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