NEW YORK, NY – The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has launched Infinite Aisle, a new transactional marketplace connecting SFA maker members with distributors and retail buyers. A collaboration with Specialty Food Partners, which facilitates the platform, the member benefit is one of several initiatives launched by the SFA to support members and nurture the growth of the $158.4 billion specialty food industry.
Infinite Aisle is an online platform where retailers order products. Makers receive the orders, print prepaid labels supplied to them, and ship the product directly to stores. Partner distributors facilitate and guarantee the orders without having to take possession of or warehouse the products. The exciting effect is that distributors can now effectively offer an unlimited number of items to their retailer customers.
Makers can promote their products and assign attributes, while retail buyers and distributors can search the platform by product category, subcategory, attributes such as fair trade or gluten-free, or business distinctions such as B Corp, women- or veteran-owned. Buyers seeking local products can also sort makers based on their distance from the store. Post-transaction, products are shipped directly to the retailer at no cost to the maker. Distributors will not have to warehouse products, which allows them to offer an unlimited amount of SFA maker member products to their retail customers. The program has no fees for SFA maker members.
“The Specialty Food Association has been focused on responding creatively and effectively to these historically challenging times,” said Bill Lynch, SFA President. “Infinite Aisle is another example of how we’re responding to member needs with digital initiatives that generate business opportunities for all segments of the specialty food industry.”
“With more than 80 percent of the SFA maker members being new, smaller, and scaling brands struggling to attain wide product distribution, the SFA’s new Infinite Aisle program allows their incredible specialty food products to be discovered, sourced, and purchased by thousands of new retailers through our distributor partners,” said Leo Squatrito, Vice President, Member Development and Outreach at SFA.
Infinite Aisle is a part of the broad portfolio of member benefits provided by the SFA. Click here to learn more about SFA membership.
About the Specialty Food Association
Founded in 1952 in New York City, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading trade association for the $158.4 billion specialty food industry. Representing makers, importers, entrepreneurs, retailers, distributors, and others in the trade, the SFA aims to champion, nurture and connect its members to deliver traditional and innovative new products to consumers that expand consumption of specialty foods. With more than 3,700 member companies, the Association helps its members through providing information, research, networking, business-building and education opportunities, and recognition programs that celebrate the industry. The SFA is known for hosting the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, Specialty Food LIVE!TM, Virtual Tasting Experience sessions, and presents the sofiTM Awards honoring excellence in specialty food.
