Saffron Road's Executive Vice President Inducted into the Specialty Food Association 2024 Hall of Fame

Specialty Food Association 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee: Jack Acree, Saffron Road Foods

[Stamford, CT, April 28, 2024] – Saffron Road Foods is proud to announce the induction of Jack Acree into the 2024 Hall of Fame. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Acree has been a pivotal figure in the specialty food industry, known for his contributions to Terra Chips and Saffron Road.

After spearheading the nationwide growth of Terra Chips and building Saffron Road into a highly successful specialty food brand, Jack Acree has been seeking to share his experience and insights with others.

His long history of involvement with the Specialty Food Association includes multiple stints on the board of directors, serving on committees, and leading educational sessions.

When he was just getting his start in the industry in the 1980s, Acree was deeply involved in all aspects of the operations at Terra Chips, which had been founded by chefs Dana Sinker and Alex Dzieduszycki in New York. Acree did everything from buying vegetables needed to make the chips from Hunts Point Produce Market in New York, to driving the product from store to store to stock shelves at the city’s specialty food markets. Before long—with the help of some exposure and some product awards from the Specialty Food Association—Terra Chips expanded to the West Coast and eventually nationwide.

After leaving Terra Chips in 1996, Acree worked as a consultant and was also involved with a grocery ecommerce company called foodonline.com, and with a meal kit company called Impromptu Gourmet.

“Both were about 20 years too early,” Acree said.

He also ran the retail food business for chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten for a couple of years, and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he took his career on a detour to Honduras, where he worked as a scuba instructor.

He also worked with Dzieduszycki to help him build his Alexia Foods frozen potatoes business, which was acquired by Conagra in 2007, before he joined Saffron Road, the frozen Indian meals business, in 2010, and helped launch the line into Whole Foods.

Acree said he prides himself on being able to see the future potential in new ideas and enjoys imparting his accrued wisdom on other entrepreneurs in the business. In some ways, he said, it’s a bit like teaching scuba diving.

“It’s just really creating healthy guard rails for companies to exist within, and to be themselves and be unique, while just being aware of the things that could be dangerous for them,” he said.

To learn more about Saffron Road, visit saffronroad.com or connect with the brand on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

Visit Specialty Food Association to learn more : https://www.specialtyfood.com/

About Saffron Road

Saffron Road is a leading brand in the natural and organic food industry, offering a wide range of products from frozen entrées and shelf-stable meals to simmer sauces and plant-based protein snacks. All Saffron Road Products are Halal-certified by IFANCA and are available in more than 25,000 retail locations in the U.S. Saffron Road is a socially responsible brand on a mission of collective progress for the betterment of humanity, by inspiring, connecting and respecting global citizens through a shared love of ethical World Cuisines. Saffron Road is a certified B Corp, emphasizing the company’s commitment to wholesome ingredients which are better for the environment, better for the farmers, better for the animals, better for your health, and most all better tasting. Saffron Road. Journey to Better® *According to SPINS/IRI data, in 2021 and the latest 2022 period, Saffron Road is the #1 single serve entrée brand in the Natural Animal Protein sector nationally.

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $207 billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 3,800 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by developing resources, information, education, and events that celebrate innovation and inclusivity. SFA owns and operates the Fancy Food Shows as well as the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage annually since 1972. The SFA also produces the e-newsletter SFA News Daily, the Trendspotter Panel annual predictions and Fancy Food Show reports, the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report, Today's Specialty Food Consumer research, and the Spill & Dish podcast. Find out more online and connect with SFA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.