The Specialty Food Association said July 15 that President Bill Lynch has informed the board of directors he will conclude his tenure at SFA at the end of his current term in March 2027.
Lynch has served SFA for more than 25 years and has been president since 2020. He will remain president until March, supporting the board and staff to ensure continuity during the transition, the association said.
During Lynch’s tenure, the association rebuilt the Fancy Food Shows following the pandemic, reimagined its winter show as the Winter FancyFaire and expanded its reach through the acquisition and integration of the Good Food Foundation.
“After more than 25 years with the Specialty Food Association, I have decided that this is the right time to conclude my tenure as president,” Lynch said. “I am proud of what our team, board and members have built together. The association is strong, headed in the right direction and well positioned for its next chapter.”
Growth leader
Under Lynch’s leadership, SFA membership grew 24 percent, from 3,912 to 4,868 companies. Revenue grew 50 percent, from $20.6 million to $31.1 million, and total assets grew 52 percent, from $56.8 million to $86.5 million. The association also earned Great Place to Work certification for three consecutive years.
“Bill has given extraordinary service to the Specialty Food Association and to the specialty food industry,” said Scott Jensen, chair of the SFA Board of Directors. “He led the association through a period of significant adversity and helped position SFA for continued strength. Because of the foundation Bill and the SFA team have built, the board approaches this transition from a position of strength.”
The board has launched a national search for SFA’s next president and has engaged ForceBrands, an executive search firm specializing in the consumer products industry, to lead the process. Member services, educational programming, industry partnerships and events and trade shows will continue uninterrupted throughout the transition.
New York City-based SFA was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $219 billion specialty food industry, representing more than 4,800 businesses worldwide.