SFA MEMBER PRODUCT QUALIFICATION SUBMISSION PROCESS
PRODUCT QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the SFA Product Qualification process, a product must be (a) Selling in the US Market for a minimum of six months and (b) Meet all the requirements under the FDA rules and other applicable federal, state and local laws. Furthermore, only food and beverage products designed and suitable for human consumption (and marketed as such) shall be eligible for consideration.
Acceptable Products:
- Products submitted must meet the SFA’s Definition of Specialty Foods
Specialty Food Products as used herein shall mean: foods and beverages that exemplify quality, innovation and style in their category. Their specialty nature derives from some or all the following characteristics: their originality, authenticity, ethnic or cultural origin, specific processing, ingredients, limited supply, distinctive use, extraordinary packaging or specific channel of distribution or sale. By virtue of their differentiation in their categories, such products maintain a high perceived value and often command a premium price.
- Products must be properly labeled and meet FDA Standards
The FDA Food, Labeling Guide is available by CLICKING HERE (with Guidance Documents)
- Foodservice items must be accompanied by the following information:
- Ingredients Statement
- Nutritional Information
- Allergen Warnings
Non-Acceptable Products:
Pet food, foods containing CBD or THC, non-food items and nutritional/health supplements (a product taken orally that contains one or more ingredients, such as vitamins or amino acids that are intended to supplement one's diet and are not considered food) are not eligible for Product Qualification.
Only approved products will be featured in SFA’s Product Platforms
- Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows
- sofi Awards
- Specialty Food Magazine
SFA ENCOURAGES COMPANIES TO SUBMIT DISTINCTIVE PRODUCTS
All companies that want their products to appear in the Product Market Place, the Fancy Food Shows, sofi Awards, etc., must be submitted for evaluation.
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY EVALUATION PROCESS
Members need only submit one product that best represents their product line . Once approved, the evaluation will cover your entire line and products you may produce in the future. Enough product should be sent for 5 small tasting samples. Due to safety concerns, shipping box MUST be labeled as PERISHABLE, keep FROZEN or keep REFRIGERATED.
Submitting Products For Evaluation to Rutgers Food Innovation Center
All products that you would like evaluated must be uploaded into the SFA portal by CLICKING HERE. This is where you will enter all details about your product(s).
Shipping product to Rutgers
All products must be shipped directly to Rutgers Food Innovation Center for evaluation.
Please follow the steps below to ensure your product(s) are received in a timely manner:
Please include the PQ Invoice for the product which is to be evaluated. The invoice is generated at the end of the application when payment is made.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their shipment arrives at Rutgers Food Innovation Center. We advise using a reliable shipping service that you can track such as FedEx or UPS.
If products are being shipped from a warehouse, copacker, distributor, retailer, etc., your company name must be included on the package.
All products must be shipped Monday through Friday only. Rutgers Food Innovation Center is closed on weekends and holidays; therefore, no deliveries can be accepted.
Clearly mark the exterior of the box: FOR PRODUCT QUALIFICATION and whether it is PERISHABLE, Keep FROZEN or Keep REFRIGERATED
- All frozen products must be shipped with dry ice.
- All refrigerated products must be shipped with frozen ice packs.
Shipping Address
Attention: SFA PQ
Rutgers Food Innovation Center
450 East Broad Street
Bridgeton NJ 08302-2849
FEES
There will be a fee of $150.00 per product that is submitted for SFA Product Qualification process.
Questions? Please review the FAQs page here or send an email to admissions@specialtyfood.com