From June 29 to July 1, 2025, the Javits Center in NYC turned into Disneyland for food nerds, aka the Summer Fancy Food Show. Imagine over 30,000 people roaming aisles upon aisles of snacks, drinks, sauces, and sweets from around the world.
Italy brought the cheese (obviously), France brought the decadence, Brazil brought the spice, and yes, even Saudi Arabia brought flavors I couldn’t stop nibbling on. Toss in state aisles (hello, New Jersey, Connecticut, and friends), and it was basically a global food crawl–no plane ticket required.
And let me tell you: I ate. A lot. For the sake of journalism, of course. Here’s what stood out for me, beyond the fact that I may never look at regular popcorn the same way again.
Summer Fancy Food Show: Big Foodie Trends
- Wellness is the new flavor. Everything is “functional” now — seltzers that relax you, snacks that sneak in probiotics, and chocolate that claims it’s good for your gut. Do I believe it? Maybe. Did I eat it anyway? Definitely.
- Global food is going hyper-local. Sure, there were authentic imports, but brands are also remixing global flavors for the U.S. pantry. Think kimchi-inspired sauces and Italian-style cured meats you can grab for a Tuesday-night charcuterie board.
- Snacking is serious business. Popcorn’s out, puffcorn’s in. Bars aren’t just bars, they’re wellness bombs. And don’t even get me started on mushroom chips.
- Sustainability isn’t optional anymore. Eco-friendly packaging and upcycled ingredients were everywhere. Because it turns out snacks can save the planet (while tasting awesome).
- Indulgence still rules. For all the “functional” talk, there were plenty of buttery, chocolatey, cheesy bites that said, You deserve this. And honestly? They’re right.
The Bites & Sips I’m Still Dreaming About
- Flow’s Tasty Treats – Corn nuts + peanuts + spicy chili flavor = snack math I can get behind, and it brings me back to my college days. Crunchy, salty perfection.
- Petit Pot – Their chocolate pudding is basically happiness in a jar. Already at Wegmans. Dangerous. I’ve already used my manufacturer coupons to re-up on my Petit Pot.
- Toasty Polvo – A Jersey-based snack company doing bold flavors right with their signature Filipino Brown Butter Polvoron. Shoutout to the hometown heroes.
- Golfetta by Golfera – Salami meets prosciutto. I didn’t know I needed this thin-sliced hybrid, but now I can’t stop thinking about it.
- Pricklee Cactus Water – Refreshing, funky, and antioxidant-packed. Basically, cactus juice, but make it chic.
- Smeraldina Water – Fancy artesian water from Sardinia. Made me feel way cooler than I actually am.
- Brez Functional Seltzer – A calming seltzer for when you want to “drink” without drinking. Spoiler: I want more.
- Primal Kitchen Sauces – Clean, tasty sauces that make me look like I actually know how to cook.
- Smash Kitchen Sauces – Sauces that say “I’m not boring” without me lifting a finger.
- Pilsudski Mustard – Dill pickle mustard and other flavors that will turn you into a mustard lover if you were previously a mustard hater.
- Montes Sauce – Weeknight savior. Just pour, heat, and boom — dinner. The pasta they sell is also pretty high quality and holds the sauce well.
- Carmine’s Pasta Sauce – Tastes like you smuggled a jar out of Carmine’s kitchen. Which, honestly, I would if they let me back there.
Shining a Spotlight on New Jersey (a.k.a. My Stomping Grounds)
Now, let’s talk about Jersey pride. The NJ Pavilion was the largest state pavilion, with 28 local businesses showing the world that the Garden State is more than just bagels and boardwalk pizza (though, let’s be real, those are great too). View the full list here: New Jersey Business Action Center at Summer Fancy Food Show 2025.
My personal top 5 Jersey bites:
- Eden’s Sweets: Date-based wellness bars that are actually delicious. No fake sugars, no weird aftertaste — just good, chewy energy. Perfect hiking snack.
- 3BR Distillery: A Soviet-punk-inspired distillery. Their cocktails? Wild. Their vibe? Even wilder. Add this spot to your must-visit list immediately.
- DEFI Snacks: Female-led, family-run, and delicious. Plus, they give back to women-run businesses. Snack with a cause.
- Like Air: Puffcorn that melts in your mouth — like popcorn but without the dental drama. My new movie-night staple.
- High Ground Elixer: Organic mushroom-powered drinks crafted to support mood, energy, immunity, stress relief, and digestion with Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Turkey Tail.
The Summer Fancy Food Show is basically the Met Gala of snacks–part spectacle, part sneak peek into what’s hitting shelves next. From functional drinks to indulgent sweets, and from Sardinian water to Jersey-made puffcorn, the future of food is looking delicious.
If you need me, I’ll be on my couch with a bag of Puffcorn in one hand and a jar of Petit Pot pudding in the other, waiting for a lot of these great new snacks to be available online or in stores near me.
