NEW YORK (May 11, 2026) – Celebrating food industry leaders both past and present, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) has announced the 2026 honorees of its annual Leadership Awards, Hall of Fame, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. These programs recognize individuals who have shaped and are currently shaping the specialty food market through their vision, energy, and generosity.
The SFA Leadership Awards are given across six categories: Equity & Opportunity, Citizenship, Vision & Sustainability, Outstanding Buyer, Next Generation Leader, and Volunteer of the Year. These winners tend to be earlier in their careers yet already making waves. The SFA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals with a decade or more of service, and the Lifetime Achievement Award winners are selected from previous Hall of Fame inductees.
“It’s our great pleasure to shine a spotlight on some of the remarkable people working across the specialty food industry each year,” said Bill Lynch, SFA President. “The continued growth, maturation, and sense of community in the specialty market is thanks to individual leaders like this year’s winners. Congratulations to all!”
This year’s honorees are:
2026 Leadership Awards
- Equity & Opportunity: Djenaba Johnson-Jones, Hudson Kitchen
- Citizenship: Starr Edwards, Bitchin' Sauce
- Vision & Sustainability: Paul Schiefer, Amy’s Kitchen
- Outstanding Buyer: Lisa Tosun, Whole Foods Market
- Next Generation Leader: Megumi Kawase, The Red Food Inc.
- Next Generation Leader: Giovanni Battimelli, Salumificio G.B.
- Volunteer of the Year: Arn Grashoff, World’s Best Cheeses
2026 Hall of Fame
- Jill Giacomini Basch, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
- Julie Smolyansky, Lifeway Foods
- Adnan Durrani, Saffron Road Foods
- James “Jungle Jim” Bonaminio, Jungle Jim’s International Market
- Bob Burke, Natural Products Consulting, LLC
- Eric Skae, Carbone Fine Food
- Lee Zalben, Peanut Butter & Co
- Sandra Archer, Specialty Food Association
2026 Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Sue Conley, Cowgirl Creamery & Tomales Bay Foods
- Peggy Smith, Cowgirl Creamery & Tomales Bay Foods
- Richard Graeter, Graeter’s Ice Cream Company
- Stewart Reich, Hanson Faso Sales & Marketing
- Fran Bigelow, Fran’s Chocolates
A special ceremony is planned for Monday, June 29 during the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show to celebrate all the winners. Hosted by Dana Cowin, former Food & Wine editor-in-chief and founder of Progressive Hedonist, the ceremony will be open to all Summer Fancy Food Show badge-holders.
Registration for the Show is open now for qualified members of the specialty food trade, industry affiliates, and journalists.
About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $219-billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 4,200 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by producing events, programs, and year-round resources and education. SFA owns and operates the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire*, and the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. Find out more at Specialtyfood.com, and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
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