Specialty Food Association Presents Lifetime Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame Class; Bill Lynch Discusses

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) is applauding a group of industry trailblazers as it reveals its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients and Hall of Fame Class ahead of the Summer Fancy Food Show, set to take place on June 24 in New York City.

"I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the Hall of Fame inductees and Lifetime Achievement Award winners for their years of service, vision, and contribution to the specialty food industry," said Bill Lynch, SFA President. "These outstanding leaders have helped advance not just our industry, but also SFA and all of its members. Congratulations to all of the honorees on well-deserved recognition."

This year’s winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award include:

• Michael Barefoot and Tim Manale, A Southern Season
• Dennis Deschaine, Al Dente Pasta Company
• George G. Gellert, Atalanta Corporation
• Allison Hooper and Bob Reese, Vermont Creamery
• Paula Lambert, The Mozzarella Company

The organization also spotlighted the 2024 Hall of Fame Class:

• Jack Acree, Saffron Road Foods
• Bob Bruno, R.J. BRUNO INTERNATIONAL
• Gary Chandler, Chandler Foods Sales
• Cristiano Creminelli, Charcuterie Artisans/Creminelli
• Maha Freij, Village Gourmet
• Phil Gatto, True Story Foods
• Ron Tanner, Specialty Food Association/Tanner Food Group

Each of these talented industry players are being honored for their contributions to the $207-billion specialty food industry.

As a press release details, the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and Lifetime Achievement Award winners will be recognized alongside the 2024 winners of the sofi^™ and SFA Leadership Awards at the inaugural sofi Awards Gala. The gala will take place on June 24, at Lavan Midtown in New York City.

Cheers to each of these leaders on their recent recognition!