Show Report - Fancy Food Show

International Fancy Food Show
New York, NY

NOTE: Company names are in bold.

Bountiful Pantry sells trail mixes they call Fruit & Nut Munchies in 4 oz. ($1.95) and 8 oz. sizes ($2.95). Each clear bag comes in 3 flavors (tropical, cranberry, and lots of nuts) packaged under five different labels:

Fruit & Nut
Nautical Nibbles
Snack
Harvest Trail
Patriot's Passion

They have a private label program where they'll send you label-free mixes to add your own label, or send them the label for them to add. Bountiful Pantry also sells teas, cookies (shortbread with a hint of coconut was my favorite), soups, granola and breakfast items.

Supreme Housewares & Gifts is a favorite of west coast gift basket designers, and with good reason. They sell good looking, unique items at low prices.

I love their plate wedges. Here you see one with a pizza theme. There's also watermelon, cheese, and party plates. The wedges are great as an alternative container but also works in the back of a basket as a decorative "wall." The cost is 6 for $10.

Also in their booth was a miniature red barbecue grill, another perfect container ($12.50). The inside is as wide as an outspread hand. It also comes with mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper holders.

Their colanders ($12.00) make a beautiful presentation. Each is stainless steel and is etched with cherry, tomato, ladybug, grape, snowflake or leaf cutouts.

This company has too many products to mention, but I'll name a few -- wine charms, spreaders, ice cream scoopers, utensils galore, and holiday merchandise.

Wildly Delicious sells wonderfully decadent foods and condiments, but most gift basket designers hold two things against them: they're located in Canada, and their minimum is $200 (reorders are $100).

This company has enough all-occasion products to satisfy the minimum, such as the Glass Rimmers (3.9 oz., $2.75) that spice up any party (there are also Rimmers for children).

The recipient wets a drinking glass rim and dips it in one of several sugared concoctions. Each is packaged in a short, round silver container. Flavors include Tropical Daiquiri, Pina Colada, Margarita Lime Salt, Cosmopolitan, and one for hot coffee and cocoa.

Bread dippers, vinegars, rubs and seasoned salts, coated fruits and coffee beans (cocktail candies), and cocoa mixes are other delightful offerings.

Move over, Lays and Ritz. Chips were well represented by three companies, two which were new to me.

I've known about Madhouse Munchies kettle cooked potato chips for years, and the flavor is still tops on my list. Light, crunchy, and flavorful all around in four flavors - Sea Salted, Mesquite BBQ, Sea Salted & Vinegar, and French Onion.

Three sizes are available, and the 1.5 oz. bag is a gift basket favorite. There's also a 5.5 oz. bag that's great at the back of a basket.

I was surprised to see that the updated costs weren't available in the literature. Check out their Web site.

Kettle Classics are another potato chip brand with great potential. The Tomato Basil flavor was yummy, and so was the Mesquite Barbeque. There's also Natural, Jalapeno, and Salt & Vinegar. A new flavor is Dill Pickle, which starts off as sour but then goes mild, leaving your face without the sourpuss look. Very nice.

Each 1.75 oz. bag is 50 cents (a case of 24 is $12).

What was the woman in the Regenie's booth wearing as she offered me a sample of the company's Crunchy Pita bites? A genie outfit, of course. Actually, I didn't notice her attire, as it wasn't revealing and was worn tastefully (excuse the pun).

I tried the Tomato Basil & Parmesan Crunchy Pita. Light, crispy and delightful. There are 11 flavors, including Garlic & Parmesan, Cinnamon Maple Sugar, Sour Cream & Onion, and Bacon & Cheddar. Each 2 oz. bag is 69 cents. It's all-natural, cholesterol free and is made with no preservatives. Six-month shelf life. Two thumbs up from me.

Good Fortunes is fabulous as a gift basket product or as a marketing product for you or your customers.

They sell giant, personalized fortune cookies wrapped in cellophane bags and topped with an elegant bow ($13.25). Each fortune cookie is drizzled or dipped in one of a gazillion toppings, and is delivered to you or drop shipped to your customer.

The company also sells dipped pretzel rods, three-ring pretzels, regular sized fortune cookies with toppings and packaged in tins or takeout pails (8 cookies in a pail for $6.40), chocolate dipped and decorated Oreo cookies, and cookies personalized with faces or corporate logos.

Many options, many prices, all worth your consideration.

NOTE:
Information in each Show Report provides details on products displayed at trade shows. It does not constitute 1) company or product endorsements or 2) prevailing products or prices.

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