South Carolina Specialty Food Association
South Carolina Specialty Food Association is a non-profit trade association promoting specialty food producers in South Carolina through a statewide member directory, retail listings, and partnership with the SC Department of Agriculture's Certified SC program, funded by $100/year memberships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What South Carolina Specialty Food Association does
The South Carolina Specialty Food Association (SCSFA) is a non-profit trade association headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, and the only statewide organization dedicated to promoting specialty food products produced within the state. The association has operated for over 20 years and serves two member categories: Active Members, which are farmers, producers, and retailers actively involved in the manufacture or production of specialty food products (confectioners, smokehouses, BBQ sauce makers, spice companies, bakeries, coffee roasters, and farms); and Associate Members, which are service providers such as co-packers, growth consultants, and gift/embroidery companies. Active membership is contingent on participation in the South Carolina Department of Agriculture's Certified South Carolina Program, which functionally ties SCSFA membership to state-level quality certification. Leadership is provided by an elected board drawn from member businesses, with a President (Brittany Willis, Sallie's Greatest), Vice President (Tracey Richardson, Lillie's of Charleston), and Secretary/Treasurer (Brad Mallett, Coastal Coffee Roasters).
The association's core offering is a shared promotional platform delivered through the Shop Local SC website (shoplocalsc.org), a printed and digital product catalog, social media channels, and a regional retail directory that maps 180+ outlets across the Upstate, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions. These channels aggregate demand for member products at grocery chains (Lowe's Foods, Piggly Wiggly, Fresh Market), specialty shops (Mast General Store), farmers markets (Pee Dee State Farmers Market, Charleston City Market), and food service accounts.
Revenue mechanics are based on a flat $100 annual membership fee for both member tiers, supplemented by what is presumed to be operational support from the SCDA partnership. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or commercial revenue lines are disclosed. The association does not operate proprietary technology beyond its WordPress-based member directory and product catalog, and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or integrations. The single disclosed contact email routes to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture ([email protected]), and the only named individual contact is Grace Heins at SCDA (803-734-2207), indicating that the association's operational infrastructure is closely tied to the state agriculture department.
South Carolina Specialty Food Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South Carolina Specialty Food Association
- Legal name
- South Carolina Specialty Food Association
- Website
- https://shoplocalsc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- South Carolina Specialty Food Association is a non-profit trade association promoting specialty food producers in South Carolina through a statewide member directory, retail listings, and partnership with the SC Department of Agriculture's Certified SC program, funded by $100/year memberships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South Carolina Specialty Food Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Food Trade Association
- NAICS
- Specialty Food Retailers (4452), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)
- SIC
- Retail-Food Stores (5400)
- akta.pro industry
- Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly)Specialty & Ethnic Grocery Wholesale
Keywords
Where South Carolina Specialty Food Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
South Carolina Specialty Food Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Active Member - $100/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Member - $100/year |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
South Carolina Specialty Food Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The South Carolina Specialty Food Association is a non-profit trade association that promotes South Carolina specialty food products through membership-based joint marketing, promotional campaigns, technical assistance, networking, and education. Active Members must be food manufacturers or producers enrolled in the Certified South Carolina Program; Associate Members are supporting service businesses in the specialty food industry. The association operates the Shop Local SC directory and catalog as its primary promotional platforms.
Product overview
The South Carolina Specialty Food Association (SCSFA) is a non-profit trade association serving as a membership directory and promotional platform for specialty food companies across South Carolina. The association does not offer a unified software product but rather promotes its member companies through the Shop Local SC platform. The membership portfolio includes Active Members (food producers/manufacturers) such as confectioners, smokehouses, sauce makers, bakeries, spice companies, and farms; and Associate Members (support services) including co-packing companies, growth consulting firms, and specialty gift providers. The association supports the Certified South Carolina Program and provides networking, education, and promotional services to its members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use South Carolina Specialty Food Association
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
South Carolina Specialty Food Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
South Carolina Specialty Food Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
South Carolina Specialty Food Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Buy Fresh Buy Local (FoodRoutes Network): National campaign and chapter network connecting consumers to local, farm-fresh food through directories and branding, conceptually identical to SCSFA's 'Shop Local SC' and Certified SC promotional model.
- Georgia Grown: Georgia Department of Agriculture's statewide branding and promotion program for Georgia-produced food and agricultural products. Near-identical model to South Carolina's Certified SC program and SCSFA partnership structure.
- Edible Communities: Network of hyper-local food magazines and digital platforms promoting independent food artisans, restaurants, and specialty producers. Operates a similar 'local-first' discovery and storytelling model at multiple geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Specialty Food Association: The national trade association for the U.S. specialty food industry, operating the Fancy Food Shows and serving as the umbrella body that state-level associations like SCSFA plug into. Closest direct analog at a national scale.
- Food Marketing Institute: Large national trade association representing food retailers, wholesalers, and the broader food marketing ecosystem. Provides adjacent association infrastructure and benchmarks relevant to specialty food retail channels.
Regional players
- Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: Regional sustainable agriculture organization covering the Carolinas with overlapping mission around local food promotion, farmer/producer support, and certification adjacent to Certified SC. Direct geographic overlap with SCSFA.
Others
- National Farmers Market Coalition: National non-profit supporting farmers markets as a channel for local and specialty foods. Adjacent infrastructure provider for many SCSFA members who sell through farmers markets in SC.
- Southern Food and Beverage Museum: Regional institution focused on Southern food culture, producers, and heritage. Culturally aligned with SCSFA's mission of promoting specialty Southern-made products, though its scope extends beyond SC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
South Carolina Specialty Food Association social profiles
Digital presenceSouth Carolina Specialty Food Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South Carolina Specialty Food Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
South Carolina Specialty Food Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
South Carolina Specialty Food Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Specialty Food Association
What does South Carolina Specialty Food Association do?
The South Carolina Specialty Food Association is a non-profit trade association that promotes South Carolina specialty food products through membership-based joint marketing, promotional campaigns, technical assistance, networking, and education. Active Members must be food manufacturers or producers enrolled in the Certified South Carolina Program; Associate Members are supporting service businesses in the specialty food industry. The association operates the Shop Local SC directory and catalog as its primary promotional platforms.
Is South Carolina Specialty Food Association a public or private company?
South Carolina Specialty Food Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was South Carolina Specialty Food Association founded?
South Carolina Specialty Food Association was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is South Carolina Specialty Food Association based?
South Carolina Specialty Food Association is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
Who are South Carolina Specialty Food Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Buy Fresh Buy Local (FoodRoutes Network), Georgia Grown and Edible Communities. Broad incumbents are Specialty Food Association and Food Marketing Institute. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is listed as a regional player. Others are National Farmers Market Coalition and Southern Food and Beverage Museum.
Does South Carolina Specialty Food Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for South Carolina Specialty Food Association.
What industry is South Carolina Specialty Food Association in?
South Carolina Specialty Food Association's product category is Specialty Food Trade Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAEAE, Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly), with a secondary code of AFAIABAJ, Specialty & Ethnic Grocery Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 4452 and its SIC code is 5400.