A few weeks ago, I spent a day at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center in New York City. Being a blogger (with my press badge) and honorary foodie, it was fun to stroll the aisles (along with 14,000 other attendees) through 2500+ exhibitors.
Now that I’ve perused my notes, emptied my sample stash and assessed all that I ate — I’m ready to share my 2026 Judi Foodie Report including my favorite finds and top food trends.
I’m back from my food coma at the 2026 Specialty Fancy Food Show
Let’s dig into what caught my eye—and my taste buds. Note this is a very full post so read what interests you. As for purchasing any of these food products that are currently available in the USA, I suggest checking your local grocer first and if not look on Amazon, the company’s website, Costco, Whole Foods, and other upscale shops.
2026 Judi Foodie Trend Report
Overall, protein is still popular; probiotics and prebiotics are here to stay; same for making sure you get enough daily fiber; flavors are on tap with sometimes the hotter the better along with sweet and spicy and even smoky; there are ever more ways to drink up and get hydrated; and vegan is vibrant. Korea was prominent in a big way with beauty and wellness. Finally snacks and sweets are a mainstay of fancy foods.
Protein still reigns supreme
Are you eating enough protein? If not, there are multiple ways to add protein to your diet. The number of protein bars currently on the market and being introduced is never-ending.
I guess people are so busy that they don’t have time to sit down and eat a meal. Or perhaps it’s attributed to the many people on GLP-1 who need to make sure they get enough protein — since they rarely get hungry.
I was intrigued by Presteez nutrition bars created by Torr FoodTech from Israel. Its patented technology uses ultrasonic waves to bind ingredients eliminating the need for sugary binders.
Listen to these varieties — a Functional High Protein Performance Bar enriched with magnesium, collagen and creatine; a GLP-1 Friendly High Protein Bar with no sweeteners and 15 grams of protein; a Gut Friendly Prebiotic Fiber Bar with 10 grams protein and Vitamin C; an Enhanced Coffee Protein Bar with 100 mg caffeine and 10 grams protein; a Keto Friendly Bar that’s low-carb and high-fat; Cheddar & Everything Savory bar made with real cheese; and Fruit & Nuts Collection. Flavor-wise I give them a thumbs-up.
Torr FoodTech uses unique technology to create nutrition bars without sugary binders
If you want to drink your protein, you might want to try Acai Super Fruta. This bev has 20 grams plant based protein plus contains antioxidants from the acai berry.
I have an entire section on cheese, but grouped Jarlsberg Protein Lite in this section because the new packaging has 9 grams protein per slice. I buy lowfat Jarlsberg slices at Trader Joe’s. One slice provides 7g of protein, 2.5g of fat, and is a significant source of calcium (20% of your daily value). I find it a great way to get extra protein and calcium in my diet.
More pasta brands are introducing protein-packed varieties. DeCecco Protein Boost Pasta has 28 grams protein per serving. When I cook pasta I buy those enhanced with protein.
From Italy comes Loopini Protein Packed Pizza. It contains 64 grams protein and 19 grams fiber in each 640 calorie serving. These pizzas are sold at Target.
Loopini Protein Packed Pizza can be found in the frozen aise
Factor Ready to Eat meals contain 40 grams of protein. The rep told me these meals are fresh, never frozen. I wasn’t able to taste them at my go-round but they had nice packaging and looked appetizing. Serena Williams is a spokesperson and she seems to like them. She has been on GLP-1 and looks fantastic.
To start your morning on a positive protein note, there’s Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola with 10 grams protein and 6 grams fiber in 2/3 cup — Almond Butter & Berries; Cinnamon Toast and Dark Chocolate Blueberry. Purely Elizabeth also offers Protein Instant Oatmeal in Maple Cinnamon Roll, Apple Harvest Crumble, and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with 10 grams protein.
Cheese lovers rejoice
I’m glad I wasn’t going for a cholesterol test after indulging in so much cheese.
Flavored cheeses are popular. At the German booth, I tasted lavender cheese; red pesto cheese and chili cheese. All delish and colorful for a cheese board.
Sincerely Brigette brand makes Wine Pairing Cheeses in flavors such as rosemary thyme; tomato olive; lemon sage; orange ginger and smoked pepper jack. Sweet cheeses like raspberry chocolate goat cheese and flavored slices of cheese for sandwiches are on the menu too.
Trendy cheeses are enhanced with herbs and spices and veggies
I consumed Brie with sweet apricot, with raspberry paste, and an extra creamy Brie. Feta cheese, Burrata, White Stilton with mango & ginger and with apricot were equally tasty.
There was Rich Cow Frying Cheese, a semi-soft cheese that you can fry. And finally even a Cheesy Ramen. It was so good, so good, so good.
Cultured dairy has a moment
After seeing three different exhibitors with cultured butter, I decided it’s a trend. Out with regular butter and in with cultured.
I tasted: Pepe Saya Cultured Butter churned by the Amish (originally in Australia but coming to the US); Ploughgate Creamery Cultured Maple Butter from Vermont; and Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter European-Style (now in consumer packaging). Worth a splurge — these butters were super high in fat and super delicious!
Cultered butter is super creamy and delicious
Evolving vegan choices
Are you vegan? No problem. Choices abound. I tried Creative Pea Vegan Beef Free Plant Based Burger Mix with 40 grams protein. I sampled high fiber Jasberry Organic Superfood Rice and Grains and fried tofu . Take your pick!
Lentiful Instant Lentils are flavored with coconut curry and different chilis
Gut health and wellness take center stage
In terms of the gut, I noticed a few booths that were touting A2A2 dairy products. Could this be the start of a trend? Maybe. I liked Moozy chocolate milk A2A2 with 13 grams protein. Trimona Bulgarian yogurt drink and yogurt made with A2A2 probiotic were good.
Moozy Chocolate Milk is made with A2A2 milk
I didn’t know much about A2A2 — it’s supposed to be easier to digest. Here’s the scoop according to AI: When regular milk is digested, the A1 protein breaks down into a fragment called BCM-7. This fragment can slow down digestion and cause gut inflammation, gas, bloating, and stomach pain. The A2 protein does not break down into BCM-7 during digestion. Because of this, A2A2 milk is gentler on the stomach. It is NOT lactose-free.
Nature’s Garden Probiotic Yoggies offer 2 billion probiotics and 3 grams fiber
Lifeway Muscle Mates is another dairy beverage made with kefir cultures that’s good for the gut with zero added sugar; 20 grams protein, 5g creatine; and 50 billion CPU probiotics. They also have a kids version called ProBugs Kefir.
Another wellness product that intrigued me was Supherb Vitamins in Gum form. An innovative company from Israel is introducing these vitamins in varieties such as Prenatal, Iron 30 and Hair, Skin & Nails. You chew the gum to get nutrients and then spit it out. So far Supherb is not available in the USA.
I wrote about Muze Chocolates last year and continue to find this brand of interest. I still have a Muze chocolate bar that is supposed to help me sleep. Haven’t tried it yet. Last year my bar melted on the way home from SFFS. This time I made sure to keep it cool. WIll let you know if it works.
Dress it up with flavorful sauces and dressings
As far as sauces, Primal Kitchen introduced dipping sauces in Polynesian and Sriracha. They previewed a vegan Creamy Cashew Alfredo sauce, along with new Creamy Romano, Buttermilk Ranch, and Tzatziki Style salad dressings made with grass-fed dairy and avocado oil.
Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce won a Gold Award in the SFFS Sofi Awards Barbecue Sauce category in 2024. Its unique, tomato-free tamarind base delivers a bold, tangy, and smoky flavor. Since I cannot have tomato products due to my acid-reflux this might be an option for me.
Primal Kitchens has new sauces and dressings for 2026
Kuze Fuku Japanese salad dressings are available in the US with choices such as Umami Boost; Zesty Yuzu Ranch and Carrot Umami. If you like these sushi restaurant flavors now you can enjoy them at home.
Smoky and hot spices are trendy
Hydrating in different ways
There was an abundance of Asian hydration products at SFFS. I sipped a few: sugar-free CHI Sparkling Lychee Fizzy from China; Banana Milk from Korea (along with banana ice cream sandwiches that I thought tasted like cardboard); and Swiiyo Beauty Sparkling Grace Seed Extract + Vitamin C Rose Lychee from Taiwan.
Swiiyo specializes in zero-sugar sparkling waters and boba-infused energy drinks
I also hydrated with Farmwell anti-oxidant hydration beverages; non-alcoholic beers; Curious Elixirs for cocktails or mocktails in Ginger Beer for a French Mule or Tonic Water for a Gin Tonic; Spindrift Sparkling Water’s new Yuzu Mandarin; and Pretty Tasty Collagen Iced Tea.
No beverage trends would be complete without the addition of tea and coffee. I sampled Flower Power Hibiscus Ginger Tea created more than 5,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians – a super drink thanks to its high antioxidant content; Twinings Superblends Flavoured Herbal Teas including Calm Fig & Vanilla with Ashwagandha and Lemon Ginger with probiotics to support healthy digestion.
As for coffee, I liked Yah Yah Yah Middle Eastern Coffees in ready-to-drink cans — Espresso Milk Cardamon Honey, Cocoa Pistachio Honey, Pistachio Honey and Yah Yah Yah Lattes — Dubai Mocha, Cardamom and Baklava.
Korean cuisine craze = inner beauty
Korean brands were all over the show. I had read about Korea’s focus on inner beauty and have to say the products promoted at SFFS totally aligned:
Need a collagen and vItamin fix? There’s Everydaze Essential C’s Konjac Jelly Sticks with 3000 mg Collagen + Vitamin C Mango flavor with only 10 calories in a portable package. If you take this stick everyday, it promises to enhance skin texture, improve elasticity, reduce wrinkles and clear damage from external everyday stimuli and stressors.
Need help with digestion? X7 Multibiotics comes in a stick and is a comprehensive lactobacillus compounded of seven ingredients plus collagen and vitamin C to help with intestinal health.
Rather get your collagen with your main meal? There are Korean Hot Sauces with Collagen in a variety of flavors. I sampled Bulgogi which was quite tasty. (Note: These were being marketed but I don’t think they are available yet in the US. Although check Amazon for Saudeep Hot Sauce.)
Don’t want to drink your apple cider vinegar? Korea makes it easy with mini chewable Apple Cider Vinegar tablets for detox, B12 energy and chromium for metabolism.
Dried Sweet Potato Sticks are one of several Korean healthy sweet potato snacks for kids
Chef-inspired creations and other standouts
Celebrity chefs are cashing in to make home cooking quicker with high-end flavors. Martha Stewart is launching a line of dry and frozen products from honey drizzles to spices, pizza mixes and even pizza flour which will be coming to the US soon. Jose Andres has natural broths and chocolates. And the newest addition is Marcus Samuelsson with Mekcato by Marcus Simmer Sauces made with his famous Spice Blends – – Curry Delish; Mediterranean Bounty; Island Vibes.
Marcus Samuelsson”s Merkato by Marcus Simmer Sauces are coming this fall
“Try a Kung Pao Chicken dumpling,” said the guy from Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. “It’s just like in our restaurants.” The delish dumplings are available frozen at Costco and other stores in the US.
Snacking never goes out of style
When it comes to snacking, I’m happy to share four Women Owned Businesses that I found yummy: Snackios Artisan Bagel Chips made with avocado and EVOO in Cinnamon n’ Sugar; Zaatar; Sea Salt : Z Crispy Dippy Crunchy breadsticks made with cornmeal; and Effie’s Biscuits – Ginger; Gruyère, Almond, Hazelnut, and Walnut; and Stellar Mini Pretzels in flavors like Cinnamon Dolce with cinnamon & sweet brown butter and Bold & Herby seasoned with monk fruit. You go girls!
Effie’s Biscuits is a women-owned company
Sweet endings
Saving the best for last, I’ll end with those that swept my sweet tooth. My favs were:
* Halva (I adore anything with sesame tahini);
* Petit Pot Extra Creamy Tapioca and Chocolate Puddings from France (the French know their desserts — ooh, la, la and there are 8 grams of protein in a cup);
* Zoe’s Premium Gelato Caramel Sea Salt Chocolate Pretzel (OMG like going to heaven – it’s only in foodservice but will be sold in upscale markets soon);
*Bonne Maman Peanut Chocolate Spread (put on anything it’s delish);
* McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream in any of its new flavors Brown Sugar with Milk Bordeaux, Dirty Chai, Chocolate Raspberry Cake, and Miso Sticky Toffee (OMG you can order these online);
* Red Velvet Ready To Bake Cookie Skillet (another incredibly rich winner).
McConnell’s Ice Cream is made with the finest ingredients in amazing flavors
That’s a wrap for my 2026 Judi Foodie Trend Report. Are you hungry yet? What food trends and products struck your fancy that you want to try? Leave a comment and LMK.
Bon Appetit!
Judi
