The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) has announced that it will discontinue its Spring Fancy Food Show in Chicago. At a recent meeting, the board of directors voted unanimously to cease operations of the show, which had been scheduled for April 5-7, 2009, at McCormick Place.

"After the 2008 show, the NASFT conducted extensive research among exhibitors and buyers," said Ann Daw, NASFT president. "We have come to the conclusion that the Spring Fancy Food Show at McCormick Place is no longer providing the majority of our members with the most effective means by which to grow their businesses in the Midwest. We have therefore decided to cancel the show in Chicago, beginning in 2009."

The NASFT debuted the Spring Fancy Food Show in Chicago in 1999. In 2008, the Association partnered with ATO and the U.S. Food Export Showcase produced by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to present the Global Food & Style Expo (GFSE).

"We have had a very positive experience working with ATO and NASDA," continued Daw. "They did a fantastic job of bringing natural, organic and international buyers to the GFSE. We have especially appreciated NASDA's strong relationship with the network of trade professionals at USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the international strength they have brought to the event and to the organic community at ATO which contributed significantly to the GFSE."

"The NASFT believes there is an opportunity to connect its members with Midwestern buyers and is investigating alternative means to bring these buyers and sellers together," Daw concluded.

The NASFT will continue to produce the highly successful Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows, both of which had record exhibit sales and exceptional attendance in 2008. The next Summer Show is scheduled for June 29-July 1, 2008, at the Javits Center in New York City; and the next Winter Show will take place from January 18-20, 2009, at Moscone Center in San Francisco.