MDR® goes Fancy! Announced partnership with the Specialty Food Association

The Mediterranean Diet Roundtable® to provide Educational Content during the Exciting 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas

Boston, MA – The Mediterranean Diet Roundtable® (MDR®) is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with the Specialty Food Association (SFA), the nation’s most esteemed and iconic food organization celebrating its 48th edition of the Winter Fancy Food Show. (January 21-23, 2024) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall (300 Convention Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109). The Fancy Food Show is the premier event for the specialty food industry, bringing makers, retailers, distributors, foodservice professionals and thought-leaders together around innovation, community and commerce. providing unparalleled commercial and educational opportunities, as well as networking with thousands of trade associates from all over the world.

The experience will start with a tour of the show floor on Sunday, January 21 highlighting producers and international pavilions connected with the Mediterranean culinary traditions. The educational portion will kick off with opening remarks provided by Bill Lynch, President of the Specialty Food Association, followed by a set of educational programs curated by the MDR® and hosted on the BIG IDEA Stage with the following program:

1:30 pm – Unlocking the Power of Mediterranean Super Foods – Join Paula Montagna, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC, Director of Clinical Nutrition at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, on a culinary nutrition journey exploring the vitality of Mediterranean superfoods.

2:00 pm – Fueling a Healthier America: The Role of Olive Oil in U.S. Food Policy – Joseph R. Profaci, Executive Director of the North American Olive Oil Association.

2:30 pm – Breaking Ground: Navigating Alternative Business Channels – Arn Grashoff, Vice President of Marketing & Merchandising at Innovative Food Holdings, Inc..

3:00 pm – 2024 Trends: A Culinary Exploration – Mike Kostyo, trendologist.

The seminars will also continue on January 23, beginning with Culinary Science 101- A Sensory Experience by MDR(r), hosted by Mary Angela Miller, MS, RDN, LD. The final portion of the program will return to the BIG IDEA Stage:

12-noon – Culinary Excellence Meets Academic Palates: A Yale University Perspective – James Benson, Director of Culinary Excellence at Yale University.

12:30 pm – Savoring the Golden Years: Culinary Innovation in Senior Living – Matt Tremblay, Director of Procurement & Culinary Operations at Northbridge Companies.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to attend those signature seminars, guided pavilions visits, and tastings through the lens of the Mediterranean Diet, and experience its scientific insights, cultural significance, and fabulous taste for themselves. Famous for its nutrient-dense ingredients, plant-forward menus, and portion harmony, the Mediterranean Diet is not only one of the most healthy and inclusive dietary lifestyles in the world but the most delicious as well!

“We are excited to collaborate with MDR to highlight the principles of the Mediterranean Diet and the many specialty foods on exhibit at the Winter Show that fit in with its health benefits,” said Denise Purcell, Specialty Food Association’s VP, of Resource Development.

“We will delve into an experiential event while understanding the distinction between price and value, and the transformative appeal that the Mediterranean eating pattern can confer in the marketplace, adding a significant and strategic competitive edge,” said Daniela Puglielli, founder of the MDR®.

The delectable flavors of the Mediterranean Diet are enough reason to make the switch but are the health advantages that really set it apart from other eating patterns. One 2018 study found that those who followed the Mediterranean diet most closely for up to 12 years had about a 25 percent reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and research has shown that it can also protect against ailments such as oxidative stress and Type 2 diabetes. The evidence is abundant and there is no time like the present to make the switch to a healthier and more holistic eating pattern, so head to the Winter Fancy Food Show to find out just what the Mediterranean Diet can do for you!

The MDR® line-up promises to offer an immersive journey into the world of flavor profiles and food science, all while providing a one-of-a-kind tour of the show that reveals the art of discovering the finest products and mastering their use during the world-class showcase offered by the Winter Fancy Food Show. Tickets for this memorable experience can be found at www.MDRproject.com

About the Mediterranean Diet Roundtable:

The Mediterranean Diet Roundtable® (MDR), founded by Daniela Puglielli is a think-tank designed to inform, inspire, and promote the appreciation of ingredients and cuisines distinctive to the Mediterranean region, and to translate the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet into commercial opportunities within the United States.. The Mediterranean Diet has been recognized by UNESCO as a Global Intangible Cultural Heritage (2010), a symbol of a unique synergy between nature and the culinary culture distinctive of the Mediterranean countries.

About the Specialty Food Association:

The not-for-profit Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading membership trade association and source of information about the $194 billion specialty food industry. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA prides itself on being an organization by the members and for the members, representing thousands of specialty food makers and manufacturers, importers, retailers, buyers, distributors, brokers, and others in the trade. The SFA owns and operates the Fancy Food Shows—which are the largest specialty food industry events in North America—as well as the sofi™ Awards—which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. The SFA produces e-newsletter SFA News Daily, the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions, the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, Today’s Specialty Food Consumer research, the Spill & Dish podcast, year-round educational programming for professionals at every stage in their business journey. Find out more online and connect with SFA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.