Specialty Food Association Announces San Diego Operators Participating in Winter FancyFaire* Campus Tasting Trail
First-of-its-kind offsite event to feature 13 local restaurants and six retailers paired with member products for bespoke dishes and giveaways
NEW YORK, NY (September 22, 2025) – The Specialty Food Association (SFA) today announced the list of San Diego restaurants and retailers that will participate in the Winter FancyFaire* 2026 Campus Tasting Trail in January 2026.
The first-of-its-kind sampling program invites several local restaurants to develop appetizer flights utilizing SFA member products, which will be offered to Winter FancyFaire* participants at no charge between Saturday, January 10 and Monday, January 12, while the event is in town. These appetizer flights will also be available to the general public as a special menu item for purchase. Campus Tasting Trail attendees can expect stand-out dishes from some of their favorite local San Diego restaurants, crafted with unique, on-trend ingredients.
Retailers participating in the program will be giving away non-perishable SFA member product samples in a “gift with purchase” promotion during the same time frame, allowing consumers to get a taste of some of the phenomenal products featured at Winter FancyFaire*.
Each restaurant and retail location will feature custom menus and signage to promote participating SFA brands and products, along with information about event booth numbers and direct purchase options for buyers and consumers. Beyond increased exposure for those taking part, the Campus Tasting Trail provides an opportunity to connect more closely with event attendees outside of the Exhibit Hall and demonstrate how their products can be incorporated into restaurant dishes.
Campus Tasting Trail restaurants and retailers are located in three San Diego neighborhoods, each with their own vibrant history and culture.
Gaslamp Quarter
- Restaurants
- Retailers
Little Italy
- Restaurants
- Retailers
Barrio Logan
- Restaurants
- Retailers
“One of the core tenets of Winter FancyFaire* is how we’re intentionally extending beyond the show floor to both infuse and be inspired by the local community that is hosting us,” said Leana Salamah, SVP of Marketing and Communications at SFA. “While Winter FancyFaire* is bringing thousands of specialty food products to the San Diego Convention Center in January, our new Campus Tasting Trail enables anyone in San Diego to get a taste of the hottest new products, flavors, and culinary trends in a delicious and tangible way. San Diego has a vibrant and eclectic culinary community, and we’re thrilled to partner with the city’s best in class operators to see their unique interpretations and applications of those products in their menus and in-store promotions.”
SFA is accepting product applications through November 5, 2025 for inclusion in the Campus Tasting Trail – more information and the submission form is live on the Winter FancyFaire* website. Applicants will be matched with participating restaurants and retailers based on compatibility with the brand and cuisine of each operation.
Reservations can be made directly through participating restaurants by calling or booking individually online. Details on participating products, dishes being offered, and how to identify as a Winter FancyFaire* attendee at each location will be available in the coming months.
About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $207-billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 3,800 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by developing resources, information, education, and events that celebrate innovation and inclusivity. SFA owns and operates the Fancy Food Shows as well as the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. The SFA also produces the e-newsletter SFA News Daily, the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions and Fancy Food Show reports, the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, Today’s Specialty Food Consumer research, and the Spill & Dish podcast. Find out more online and connect with SFA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
Press Contact: press@specialtyfood.com
