Chef Scott Conant to Give Keynote at Winter Fancy Food
As the 49th Winter Fancy Food Show approaches this month, the Specialty Food Association has announced a second keynote speaker: Scott Conant, a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality, will speak to the Fancy Food Show audience on the first day of the event. Conant joins previously announced keynote speaker Molly Baz.
“Scott Conant on Simplicity and Success, from the James Beard Awards to the Chopped Kitchen” will offer insights into Conant’s storied career in the kitchen and in front of the camera, beginning at 11 am PT on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Structured as a conversation with journalist Patranya Bhoolsuwan, the keynote will also explore foodservice success, how trends flow from restaurants to CPG, and Conant’s philosophy about the beauty of simplicity.
“I’m thrilled to share my passion and industry insights with some of the most innovative food entrepreneurs in the country,” Conant said. “I remember attending the Fancy Food Show for years as a young chef, and it still impresses and continues to evolve all these years later. Las Vegas is one of the world’s premier hospitality hubs, and I’m honored to be a small part of it.”
Known to many in the United States and beyond as a recurring judge on Food Network’s Chopped and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay, Conant has been an influential presence in the foodservice industry for decades. He’s won two James Beard Awards for Best New Restaurant, as well as a Food & Wine Award for Best New Chef. In this moment of burgeoning specialty food sales in the foodservice channel, Conant’s perspectives, experience, and vision for the future couldn’t be more relevant to the Fancy Food Show audience.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scott Conant, a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, as a keynote speaker for this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show,” said SFA president Bill Lynch. “Scott’s journey embodies the passion and innovation that define the specialty food industry. His insights will inspire attendees to think creatively about food and its evolving role in today’s marketplace. Buyers attending the show will gain a unique perspective on emerging trends, flavor innovation, and what’s next in specialty food from one of the industry’s most respected voices. It’s a keynote you won’t want to miss!”
Programming will run on all three days of the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show and will cover topics from funding to innovation, trends to tariffs, and buying to marketing. New Show features include First Taste Experience, the Winter Show’s very own food hall, located on the Show Floor and featuring only the newest products in the market; Spark Showcase, a dynamic area offering all-day programming that will spark new ideas, new connections, and new discoveries; Ask the Experts, an interactive space dedicated to 1:1 and small-group sessions; Debut District section of the Show Floor, featuring first-time exhibitors, new products, startups, and incubators; Tastemaker Conference Co-location, an annual gathering of food bloggers and content creators; and Maker Prep Course Graduation, a celebration of the first class of manufacturers to complete the reimagined six-month Maker Prep Course.
The Show is open only to qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates, and journalists. To learn more and register for the Show, visit the SFA website.
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Potandon’s CEO Retires, Fresh Direct Ex-CEO Steps In
Potandon Produce, one of the largest providers of fresh potatoes in North America and global leader within the world’s top three food crops, has announced that Mel Davenport, the company’s chief executive pfficer, will retire after 30+ years of service marked by the launch of Klondike Goldust and Klondike Rose potatoes and the CarbSmart line. Succeeding him as CEO will be David Lawrence, former CEO of Fresh Direct, effective immediately.
Over the past nearly three decades, Davenport has helped guide the company through significant growth and innovation in the fresh produce market. Under his leadership, Potandon strengthened its market position, continued the expansion of its Green Giant Fresh products, expanded its product offerings, and fostered a culture of excellence and sustainability.
“Mel’s well-deserved retirement marks the culmination of a career,” said Jeff Sholl, founder and managing member of Potandon. “As a key member of Potandon’s senior management team, Mel has been a cornerstone of our business since its inception and his leadership has been pivotal to the company’s position today. As we celebrate Mel’s contributions, we also look forward to an exciting new chapter under the leadership of David Lawrence, whose vision and expertise will guide Potandon toward continued growth and success.”
Lawrence brings a wealth of experience and proven leadership in the fresh food and logistics industries. During his tenure at Fresh Direct, Lawrence spearheaded initiatives that enhanced customer experience, streamlined operations, and drove significant business growth. His deep understanding of consumer needs and his commitment to innovation align seamlessly with Potandon’s vision for the future. Prior to that, Lawrence served as the President of Taylor Farms Northwest, LLC, CEO of National Pecan, LLC, and President of C.M. Holtzinger Fruit Company. With a track record of driving growth, operational excellence, and innovation, Lawrence is well-positioned to lead Potandon Produce into its next chapter.
“I am looking forward to joining Potandon Produce and building upon the strong foundation established by Mel and the team,” said Lawrence. “At a time when consumers are more focused on functional foods, health and nutrition than ever, I’m proud to join a company that understands these evolving needs and is committed to delivering unique varieties and such a huge consumer footprint for providing nutritious, high-quality produce to meet them.”
Potandon Produce is an ag-tech and food-tech leader, and one of the largest providers of fresh table stock potatoes in the nation and also a leading provider of fresh onions. Its product line includes Minute Mashers™, ONE STEP… DONE!, and classic russet, yellow, red, and white potatoes. The company’s unique vertical integration has led to a state-of-the-art variety development program for unique potato varieties, conventional and sweet onions, and many others within the world’s top 3 food crops, and that looks ten years down the road to develop potatoes for future shoppers based on extensive consumer research.
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eGrowcery, Forage Team to Enable EBT SNAP Payments for Grocery Retailers
eGrowcery, developer of the leading retail food industry white-label eCommerce platform, and Forage, the mission-driven SNAP EBT payments company for grocers of all sizes, are partnering to provide supermarket operators with a comprehensive payment solution for digital orders. The companies will collaborate on systems integration and business development.
“Forage is known as a company that helps democratize the payment ecosystem in retail while offering merchants greater EBT SNAP flexibility. The combination of our solutions will help address a growing need for digital commerce flexibility,” said Patrick Hughes, CEO of eGrowcery.
eGrowcery, which operates in the United States and abroad, provides independent operators and retail groups a white-label eCommerce platform that will seamlessly integrate Forage’s solution into the overall technology offering. Further, Forage’s automated onboarding solution will further allow grocery retailers to rapidly secure USDA certification and begin accepting EBT payments, both in-store and online.
“We are thrilled to work with the eGrowcery team to make it easier for low-income families to access the food they need, when and where they need it,” said Ofek Lavian, co-founder and CEO of Forage. “Together, this partnership will empower more retailers with the technology to make healthy foods more accessible and convenient for millions of Americans relying on SNAP benefits.”
Retailers interested in learning more about the eGrowcery and Forage solutions can contact eGrowcery here.
Forage builds payments infrastructure that processes government benefits, starting with enabling merchants to accept EBT SNAP payments. 42 million Americans receive government assistance to afford groceries, and Forage powers payments to serve communities in need. Forage is the only USDA-approved third-party payment processor (TPP) that offers retailers best-in-class software combined with dedicated service, enabling complex government payments online and guiding retailers through USDA authorization. For more information visit www.joinforage.com.
eGrowcery is the market-leading, white-label, SaaS based eCommerce solution designed to service grocery retailers. The eGrowcery platform is a true end-to-end, omnichannel solution that integrates with back-office/point of sale systems while enabling retailers to personalize their own shopper experience. Serving companies in the US and abroad, eGrowcery empowers retailers with the ability to personalize their shopping experience while providing the most efficient in-store fulfillment solution in the industry.
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