The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) is participating as a State Pavilion at the 69th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. This will be the third year in a row that the NJBAC serves in this position at the event, which will be held from June 19 to July 1 at the Jacob Javits Center.
NJBAC and its Office of Export Promotion (OEP) will share information with show attendees about export opportunities, the New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program (NJ STEP), and other business services and resources. The NJ STEP initiative is funded in part by the Small Business Administration (SBA). NJBAC and OEP will host 15 New Jersey-based companies from underserved and underrepresented business communities that are new to exporting and are poised for growth with global exports.
Companies interested in participating will need to meet the criteria set forth by the SBA’s small business communities definition, which includes, but is not limited to: ownership or control by women, representation from the LGBTQ+ community, Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, or Veterans and/or service-disabled Veterans.
Businesses wishing to join the 2025 NJ State Pavilion will be able to apply beginning February 18. All businesses seeking to participate must meet the criteria designated by the OEP Team listed below. Applicants will be evaluated on a first come, first served competitive basis.
Criteria for the 2025 New Jersey State Pavilion:
- New to Exporting
- Underserved / Underrepresented Business Community
- Small Business (as defined by the SBA)
- In Business for at Least One (1) Year
- Located in New Jersey
- Established in Domestic Sales
- Registered Business in New Jersey
- In Good Standing with NJ State Division of Taxation
- Export Ready
- Available June 29 – July 1, 2025
Sponsored annually by the Specialty Food Association (SFA), the Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food trade show in North America. In 2024, the show secured over 2,200 exhibitors from 62 countries and entertained over 34,000 attendees over three days. Now, in its 69th year, the event connects businesses with prospective global export partners (buyers, brokers, and distributors) and promotes quality gourmet foods and ingredients. Each of the 15 participating NJ STEP businesses will share their specialty products over the three-day show with these global export partners.
The NJBAC Office of Export Promotion works with small and mid-sized companies interested in expanding sales and their customer base through export, ensuring access to the NJ STEP program for eligible businesses. NJ STEP, funded in part by the SBA, provides essential and equitable financial awards on a first come, first served competitive basis, to eligible domestic New Jersey small businesses new to export, as well as businesses currently selling their goods and/or services to other countries.
To learn more about the NJ BAC Office of Export Promotion, visit NJ Department of State – NJ Business Action Center. To learn more about STEP, visit NJ Department of State – NJ Business Action Center – NJ STEP.
About the New Jersey Business Action Center
The New Jersey Business Action Center serves as the State’s liaison to the business community, offering free information, services, and resources across various areas such as business registration, financial programs, regulatory compliance, property selection, workforce training, and more. NJBAC comprises multiple offices, including Small Business, Business Advocacy, Export Promotion, and State Planning. Access to NJBAC services is available through NJ DOS – NJ Business Action Center or Business.NJ.gov: Your first stop for doing business in NJ or by calling 1-800-JERSEY-7.