NASFT Introduces Leadership Awards

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. (NASFT) has bowed its first annual Leadership Awards to recognize individuals’ outstanding contributions to the specialty food industry. Honorees will not only have advanced food standards in society, but also have had a significant impact on society as a whole through visionary social, economic and environmental efforts.

“The specialty food industry is fueled by the innovative spirit of passionate entrepreneurs,” noted Ann Daw, president of New York-based NASFT. “As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, it is a great time to recognize those individuals who are making significant contributions through specialty food to the betterment of society.”

Nominations for the 2013 awards will be accepted through Friday, Nov. 16. The awards will be presented at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, which is scheduled to take place Jan. 20-22, 2013.

The three award categories are citizenship (improving the lives of people and communities by advancing environmental and social sustainability knowledge and practices, and/or making exceptional contributions of financial, personal and other resources against a chosen issue or issues); business leadership (advancing best practices across the spectrum of workforce issues to create economic opportunity and improve the quality of life, on and off-the-job, for food industry workers); and vision (pioneering new approaches, innovative products and business models that have set in motion positive change and progress).

Nominations may be made by NASFT members themselves, or others, and can be made for the same individual in more than one award category. More information and entry forms are available online. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of specialty food professionals and industry influencers.