The Summer Fancy Food Show 2025 lit up New York City’s Javits Center with a vibrant mix of innovation, global flavours and wellness-forward food trends. With more than 2,200 exhibitors from around the world, the show served up a feast for the senses—and this year, walnuts had a major moment showcased through functionality, flavour and newstalgia.
Why do we think the mighty walnut is having its biggest year yet? Let’s take a look at some of our favorite finds from the show floor.
A Trip Around the World
As global flavour exploration continues to influence the specialty food world, SWISSLION’s Laokoum with Walnuts offers a deliciously authentic taste of tradition Inspired by centuries-old confections from the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. This jelly candy—often known as lokum or Turkish delight—is reimagined with the richness and crunch of walnuts woven into every soft, delicately sweet bite.
Baking Reimagined
There’s something about the combination of banana and walnut that instantly brings comfort—like warm banana bread straight from the oven or a homemade muffin shared on a slow weekend morning. Joyffles took that nostalgic flavour memory and reimagined it for modern life with the Banana Walnut Oat Powered Waffle. Crafted from a blend of oat and chickpea flours, this gluten-free, dairy-free product feels both familiar and refreshingly new. The natural sweetness of banana pairs perfectly with the earthy crunch of chopped walnuts, creating a soft, satisfying bite that feels indulgent, yet nutritious.
Flavour Crossover Reboot
The coffee obsession continues, and Struesli’s Cacao + Coffee Granola is a gourmet twist on granola. Each bite starts with walnuts, joined by roasted cacao nibs and ethically sourced artisanal coffee, which bring nuanced bitterness, rich aroma and that coveted caffeine lift. The taste is rounded out by flaxseed meal, hemp hearts, chia seeds and the aforementioned trendy coconut. This plant-based product proves that coffee doesn’t just have to be confined to a cup.
Maple is also bursting out of the pancake box. Martha Stewart said maple syrup isn’t just a winter flavour anymore, and who are we to argue with greatness? The rich aroma of warm maple syrup is paired with the satisfying snap of toasted walnuts in every bite of Lowtide Goods’ Maple Walnut Dainties. Crunchy walnut pieces bring textural depth to Dainties, balancing the maple’s sweetness with wholesome sophistication.
Imagine your next product—rich with the crunch of California Walnuts—being sampled by top buyers, trendspotters and media at the Specialty Food Association’s Winter FancyFaire Show! This January in San Diego, the industry’s most influential voices will gather for an intimate, curated showcase of what’s next in specialty food. Email foodinnovation@walnuts.org to get started.
Products mentioned for informational purposes only, and inclusion does not imply an endorsement.
