Ross Colbert, Managing Director of Food & Beverage M&A at Carter Morse & Goodrich, attended the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, where industry leaders, emerging brands, and investors gathered to explore the trends shaping the specialty food and beverage sector. Here are his key takeaways from this year’s event:
- Deep, growing brand pipeline — Record 32,000+ attendees, $219B specialty food industry, steady supply of emerging brands feeding “buy vs. build” strategics/PE.
- Protein/functional positioning is now table stakes — Reinforces the GLP-1/BFY multiple-premium thesis that’s driving seller valuations.
- Functional & non-alcoholic beverages were the most energetic category — Direct evidence supporting the 15x–20x+ scarcity premiums that sub-sector commands in private M&A.
- “Sense Maxxing” + global flavor exploration — SFA’s 2026 trend themes suggest differentiation (and future multiple premiums) shifting toward sensory intensity and global provenance, not just clean-label claims.
- Founder-to-PE-to-founder exit loop going mainstream — The Justin’s panel discussion (founder sold, then re-acquired via PE) is a live example of the growing sponsor-exit-pressure dynamic.
The 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show highlighted the trends, categories, and market dynamics shaping the future of the specialty food and beverage sector. As the industry continues to evolve, CMG remains focused on helping founders and business owners understand market opportunities and prepare for successful transactions.
If you’re a business owner in the food and beverage sector considering your company’s next chapter, contact Ross Colbert to discuss current M&A market dynamics, valuation trends, and strategic opportunities for your business.
