New Board of Directors Elected by Specialty Food Association

Published July 15, 2020

Specialty Food Association (SFA) members voted in record numbers for their 2020 Board of Directors. The election results were announced at the association’s annual membership meeting. For the first time, due to pandemic-driven cancellation, that meeting was held virtually rather than in conjunction with the Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show.

“It was wonderful to see how engaged SFA members are, even in these turbulent times,” said Bill Lynch, SFA Interim President. “We had more members than ever cast ballots compared to prior elections. We are especially gratified that the increased diversity of our new board better reflects the ever-changing demographics of our membership.”

The newly elected Officers of the Association are:

Chairman – Charlie Apt, Sarabeth’s Kitchen

President and Chief Operating Officer of Sarabeth’s Kitchen, a company composed of a bakery and café in Chelsea Market, New York City; a specialty food manufacturing and distribution facility in the Bronx, New York; and the licensing entity of the Sarabeth’s brand to restaurants in the U.S., Asia and UAE. Prior to Sarabeth’s, Apt was President and Chief Operating Officer of Ciao Bella Gelato Company.

Vice Chair – Emilio Mignucci, Di Bruno Brothers

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Third-generation Owner and Vice President of Culinary Pioneering at Di Bruno Bros., a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based company with five gourmet retail stores; a craft producer wine and beer shop; an import, distribution, and manufacturing business; and a catering and events operation. Mignucci helped to grow the family business from one small store to what it is today.

Financial Officer – William “Pete” Booker, III, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen

Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at Savannah’s Candy Kitchen in Savannah, Georgia. For 40 years, the company has offered an array of Southern confections. There are seven retail locations in the Southeast and several franchise locations nationwide. Prior to joining Savannah’s, Booker was Vice President & General Manager of Smithfield Specialty Foods Group.

Secretary – Julie Busha, The Busha Group, LLC

President and Chief Executive Officer of The Busha Group, the North Carolina company that created and launched its unique relish, Slawsa, to the market in 2011. Prior to founding the company, Busha had a very successful career in marketing.

Immediate Past Chair – Becky Renfro Borbolla, Renfro Foods

Vice President and co-Owner of Renfro Foods, Inc., a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of specialty foods based in Fort Worth, Texas. Among its products, Renfro Foods produces a line of gourmet salsas under the Mrs. Renfro’s name.

“I look forward to the work ahead,” Chairman Charlie Apt said, “We are a resilient, innovative industry, and the SFA board is dedicated to supporting programs, services, and events that strengthen specialty food businesses. We know that the SFA is more important than ever as we work to recover from the impact COVID-19 has had on food manufacturers, buyers, distributors and brokers.”

SFA board officers serve one-year terms. The directors serve for three years with staggered terms. Those serving one and two years are fulfilling their tenures:

For one-year terms (2020-2021):

Beth Haley (Distributor, DPI Specialty Foods – serving on the SFA Board as elected Distributor Committee Chair)

Lee Zalben (Maker, Peanut Butter & Co.)

For Two-Year Terms (2020-2022):

Jill Giacomini Basch (Maker, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.)

Julie Busha (Maker, Slawsa)

Mark Kroencke (Distributor, KeHE Distributors LLC)

Nona Lim (Maker, Nona Lim)

Jon Pruden (Buyer, TASTE)

The board directors starting three-year terms (2020-2023) are new to the SFA board:

Pierre Abushacra (Maker, Firehook Bakery)

Sana Javeri Kadri (Maker, Diaspora Co.)

Tyler Lowell (Broker, CA Fortune)

Sarah Masoni (Affiliate, Oregon State University Food Innovation Center)

Sarah Wallace (Maker, The Good Bean, Inc.)

In addition to electing the slate of board directors, SFA members voted on and passed a ballot initiative to maintain the association’s not-for-profit status.