SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW TAKEAWAYS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS 

7 Ways to Help Your Brand Stand Out 

1. Food trends that are standing out in 2025 include tropical fruits like yuzu, flavored sparkling water (spy Spindrift with their Yuzu Mandarin sparkling water, combining the trends), non-alcoholic, health-forward cocktails, and international foods. Celebrity-backed frozen meals are back in style thanks to higher-quality and easier access. Gluten-free options that are Celiac safe are in style. But the top trend of 2025? Protein! 

2. With all of the incredible innovations around health-conscious foods, protein is one of the top focuses for consumers and companies this year. According to a July 2025 article from The New York Times,  “For overstretched mothers and their swole sons, for aging men and women fretting about bone loss, protein has become an obsession. The size of the whey protein market alone is now estimated at around $5 billion to $10 billion.”

3. One protein-rich food that has made a big comeback? Cottage cheese.  Google “cottage cheese recipes” and the top results will showcase “easy high protein cottage cheese” “cottage cheese protein bagels” and  a Reddit forum called “Hit me with every cottage cheese recipe you have.” Will it last longer than the great cottage cheese spike of the ’70s? Only time will tell. 

4. To help stand out in a crowded market, keep your packaging simple and don’t overcrowd your message. What is your core message that your audience really cares about and finds valuable? Figure out what it is, and focus on that key message. Why is it special? 

5. Don’t be afraid to get your product out in front of as many people (including the press and influencers) as possible. This may take some research and legwork (or working with a great PR agency). Figure out where you want to be seen, and go for it. Email and DM as many people as you can at a company, send sample products, and make the effort.  

According to Joanna Saltz, editorial director at Delish and House Beautiful, when a product gets sent to their test kitchen, it will get eaten! 

6. People want to know who you are and know your story. Think of content as another word for connection. Keep the 3 Cs in mind: Clear, concise, compelling. Create authentic video that you can use on your social media channels and website, and be consistent. Even one post a week is better than none. If you can get your founder in front of the camera to help tell the brand’s story, that is what buyers (and consumers) want to see to get to know the “why” behind the brand. Why should they connect? Why should they buy? Why should they care? Share your story with the world, and you will find your tribe.  

7. Don’t forget about SEO. Finding ways of ranking on Google and on social channels is still very relevant. “You want to make sure that when someone searches for you, they are finding you,” Saltz said.  This is vital when someone is searching for your specific brand. Make sure you have carved out your space on SEO, and create a storyline on your social media feeds that tells who you are. People do use search on TikTok and Instagram. People don’t follow brands anymore, but they will see your content. It can be simple imagery, quick videos, don’t overthink it. People connect with authenticity because they want it to feel real.