By Mark Seavy  

Ingredients licensing, restaurant brands, and hot sauces were at the top of the menu at the recent Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. 

The show covered a larger portion of the Javits Center compared to previous iterations and attracted 29,000 attendees over its three-day run. And while licensing had a smaller presence at the event than in recent years, it served a starting point for many new and smaller brands.  

SaladSprinkles, for example, was founded a year ago and made its debut at the Fancy Food Show with Classic Herb, Chile Crisp, and Maple Sea Salt seasonings. Pistachio spread supplier Pistakio took sponsored booth space via Oregon State University’s Food Innovation Center. Stuffed frozen pasta brand Ripi, which launched in February, also debuted at the show after having secured distribution through 100 stores, including the likes of New York area-based Fairway Market (four stores) and Morton Williams (16 stores). It is launching a direct-to-consumer business this month.  

“It’s very rare to get in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of potential partners,” Ripi CEO Ian Tecklin told Modern Retail.  

In addition to the startups, there were also more established suppliers from across the specialty food business. Longtime purveyor of licensed foods McSteven’s launched Peanuts-branded Snoopy and Woodstock “dog nog” to go along with its own brand, which is sold in three-ounce tins both online and through its factory store in Vancouver, WA. Both contain whey and vanilla flavor that is mixed with two cups of water. Republic of Tea, meanwhile, continued to expand its licensed assortment with Downtown Abbey-themed black tea as it continues to develop a Bridgerton version.   

And BonBon Swedish Candy Co. introduced pineapple and peach-apricot flavored “gold coins” under the Astrid Lindgren Co.’s Pippi Longstocking brand in April at the same time as it debuted a charms, sandals, and handbag collaboration with fashion brand Tory Burch. Yellowstone Spice Co. used the show to debut its Yellowstone line of French fry, steak, and fish seasonings as well as hot sauce. While the marks are different than those deployed by the Paramount streaming series, the film studio has licensed FoodStory Brands for Yellowstone marinades, seasonings, and rubs along with barbecue sauce.  

Among the ingredients licensees, Mike’s Hot Honey flavor was being deployed by artisanal cracker supplier Firehook.  

In addition to a focus on licensing deals, there were trademark issues that stretched across several panels. Central to them was Mondelēz International’s recent lawsuit against retailer Aldi. The suit, which accused Aldi’s store brands of being “blatant copies” of the packaging for Chips Ahoy, Wheat Thins, and Oreos, is expected to be an important legal battle as the fine line between “inspired by” and infringement is debated. 

Additionally, several restaurants used the show to promote their own food brands, most of them internally developed and sourced. Alicart Restaurant Group’s six-restaurant chain Carmine’s promoted its pasta sauce, while RBM Restaurant Group’s four-location Sarabeth’s Café highlighted both its own products and licensee Stone County Specialties’ blood orange marmalade and blueberry cherry preserves. Three-restaurant chain Momofuku, meanwhile, displayed five flavors of instant noodles as well as its chili crunch