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Success Stories
Food Export USA Northeast and Food Export Association of the Midwest USA provide a broad range of programs and services designed to promote Midwestern and Northeastern foods and to develop agricultural product expansion into international markets. Click the headlines below to read some of our exporting successes.
Multi-Vitamin Company Begins New Ventures in Europe
In August 2009, Kwik Enterprises LLC, dba Vitamins for Life, located in Oakhurst, NJ, in the 6th Congressional District, used Food Export-Northeast's Branded Program to exhibit at the Natural Product Expo East tradeshow in Hong Kong. At the event, they met a buyer from Bulgaria. In April of 2010, they were able to make a first-time export sale of multi-vitamins for $3,000. Kwik Enterprises LLC saw a 1% increase in their overall export sales from this single deal. This sale soon led to new interest from a buyer in Romania and the company is quoting several products of interest for that buyer.
New Hampshire Organic Pet Food Company Makes First-Time Export Sale To Canada
Wholistic Pet Organics, LLC, located in Bedford, New Hampshire, in the first Congressional District received assistance from Food Export-Northeast’s no-cost Food Export HelplineTM to complete their first export sale to Canada. John Phillips, President and CEO, explained, "The Food Export HelplineTM helped educate us on exporting to Canada. We learned how to respond to pricing requests, how to complete NAFTA forms, and the Food Export HelplineTM Counselor conducted a market analysis to determine the best markets for our products. In fact, the assistance was instrumental in getting us the information we needed from NAFTA to complete our first export sale to the region for $12,000. We expect this initial sale to grow to $150,000 a year based on demand for our organic pet food supplements in the region." As a result of the increased sales, the company is sourcing more U.S. bulk goods and plans to hire two additional employees.
Bakery Company Expands Export Sales to Middle East and Russia With Help From the Branded Program
For almost four years, Love and Quiches, located in Freeport, New York, in the 3rd Congressional District, has been taking advantage of Food Export-Northeast's 50 percent cost-share Branded Program to help with the cost of attending international tradeshows. In 2007, while exhibiting in the USA Pavilion at the Gulfood Show in Dubai, the company established a new distributorship and increased their market share in the region by 27.2 percent. Every year since, the company has attended the Gulfood show using Branded Program funds and has consistently expanded their market share in the region. During the 2010 show, they made a new distributor from Dubai and made a first-time export sale to the country. Patti Gonchor, National Sales Coordinator explained, "The first order to Dubai was for more than $31,000 with a follow-up order for more than $53,000."
North Dakota Company Brings Its Organic and Gluten Free Flour Products to Hong Kong
June 2009, Dakota Prairie Organic Flour Company, located in Harvey, North Dakota, participated in the Food Export-Midwest-sponsored Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services during Natural Products Expo Asia held in Hong Kong. According to Cindy Keller, Gluten Free Sales and Marketing for Dakota Prairie, During the event, Food Export Midwest introduced us to a new distributor in Hong Kong which resulted in an initial sale of one container of product in 2009. So far in 2010, weve sold three more shipments of our bulk organic and gluten free flour and mixes and anticipate the sales to continue every six weeks, totaling approximately $150,000 this year alone. If the gluten free demand continues to grow in the region, these sales could grow significantly.
Michigan Company Makes First-Time Export Sale To Belgium
In 2009, Select Soy, LLC, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the 3rd Congressional District, was featured in the June/July issue of Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeasts international U.S. Foodlink newsletter. As a result, a distributor from Belgium contacted the company about their dry roasted soy nuts.
Candy Company Experiences Sweet Success Thanks to Food Export-Northeast Support
January 31-February 3, 2010, Before and After Candy, Ltd. LLC, with a location in Merion, Pennsylvania, in the 6th Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Northeast-sponsored ISM Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services in Cologne, Germany. During the event, they met one-on-one with numerous buyers and landed new export sales of their unique mints to Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, and Hungary. According to Brian Schroeder, CEO of Before and After Candy, “By participating in the ISM Food Show PLUS!™, we expanded our export business significantly. Since the event, we’ve sold approximately $750,000 of our mint products to Germany, $50,000 to Denmark, $50,000 to Switzerland, $20,000 to Norway, and an additional $20,000 to Hungary. This was our most successful tradeshow yet thanks to Food Show PLUS!™.”
Pennsylvania Supplier Expands Export Sales to Southeast Asia
DelGrosso Foods, located in Tipton, Pennsylvania, in the 9th Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Midwest-sponsored Food and Hotel Asia Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services in April 2008. According to Michael DelGrosso, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, "By participating in the Food and Hotel Asia Food Show PLUS!™, we solidified a deal with a large food distributor in Southeast Asia to produce private label pasta sauce for the company.
New Jersey Company Opens New Export Doors in Egypt Through Northeast Buyers Mission
In January 2008, General Trading Co., located in Carlstadt, New Jersey, in the 9th Congressional District, attended the Northeast Buyers Mission where they were introduced to a buyer from Egypt. In August 2008, they made their first sale of assorted food products to the region valued at approximately $20,000, followed by a second order in November for an additional $20,000. Orders continued from the Egyptian buyer throughout 2009, increasing from every other month to once a month and totaling $200,000.
Colby International Makes New Export Sale to Korea Through Food and Beverage Buyers Mission
April 28-30, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast hosted the Food Export Marketing Forum. The event included the Food and Beverage Buyers Mission and a series of educational sessions to help U.S. suppliers gain insights into opportunities for their food and agricultural products in foreign markets and, ultimately, increase export sales. Fifty U.S. suppliers participated in the Buyers Mission, making actual on-site sales of more than $1.9 million. Of these sales, 29 were first-time export sales. Projected sales for the next 6 to 12 months were more than $3 million. In total, the companies made 261 contacts with new buyers and established 119 new distributorships.
New Jersey Company Expands Exports to Middle East Through Northeast Buyers Mission
In February 2009, International American Supermarket Corp. (IAS), located in Piscataway, New Jersey in the 6th Congressional District, attended the Food Export-Northeast-sponsored Northeast Buyers Mission and walked away with export sales totaling approximately $350,000 a year.
Pennsylvania Company Expands Export Sales to the Caribbean
In October 2009, Herr Foods, located in Nottingham, Pennsylvania in the 16th Congressional District, took advantage of Food Export-Northeast-sponsored Food Show PLUS!TM tradeshow enhancement services offered at the ANUGA tradeshow in Cologne, Germany, and landed new export sales in the Caribbean.
North Dakota Company Continues to Grow Export Sales with Support from the Branded Program
Dakota Prairie Organic Flour Company, located in Harvey, North Dakota, has participated in the Branded Program for five years. The program has helped the company exhibit at international tradeshows, place advertisements, cover the cost of freight when shipping samples overseas and modify their package labels. Before joining the 50-percent cost-share program, their export sales accounted for only five percent of their total sales.
Midwest Buyers Mission helps Illinois company make first-time export sale to China
Dutch Farms, located in Chicago, Illinois, in the 2nd Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Midwest-sponsored 2009 Midwest Buyers Mission where they had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with international buyers and made a first-time export sale to Beijing, China.
Ohio company makes first-time export sale to Philippines with Food Export HelplineTM assistance
Nutra Source Trading Co., LLC, located in Columbus, Ohio in the 15th Congressional District, was brand new to exporting in November 2008. Melissa Fata, Owner, used Food Export-Midwest’s Food Export HelplineTM to get started. “The Food Export HelplineTM ensured I was prepared to meet with buyers by helping me locate harmonized codes for our products, providing market research on the top 25 markets for our products and helping me understand the various INCOTERMS (International Commercial Terms) and how important it is to use the correct terms for any international sales contracts. I was also given contact information for the overseas USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service offices.” As a result of the assistance, the company was able to connect with a buyer in the Philippines through their USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service office and make a first-time export sale valued at $11,500. They are hopeful this will become a monthly shipment.
Midwest Company Makes First-Time Export Sale to Jamaica
PW Montgomery, LLC, with locations in Fargo, North Dakota, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in Congressional District 7, and Greeley, Colorado, attended the Food Export-Northeast-sponsored 2009 Focused Trade Mission to the Caribbean for Food Service Products and made a first-time export sale to Jamaica. According to Paul Montgomery, consultant/sales representative, “The trade mission was very well organized and just the right size. We met one-on-one with eight pre-qualified buyers and walked away with some very strong sales leads. In fact, one of the buyers contacted us after the event, which lead to a first-time export sale of one container with further sales pending.”
Pennsylvania Company Makes First-Time Export Sale To Argentina
In September 2008, Herr Foods, located in Nottingham, Pennsylvania in the 16th Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Northeast-sponsored SIAL Mercosur Food Show PLUS!TM where they were introduced to a distributor from Argentina.
Ohio Company Makes Million Dollar Sale To Korea
East-West International Group, located in Moreland Hills, Ohio in the 14th Congressional District, has used Branded Program funds since 1999 for advertising, in-store promotions and demonstrations, shipping samples and exhibiting in international tradeshows. The Branded Program is funded through the Market Access Program and administered by Food Export-Midwest. It provides reimbursement of 50 percent of many international promotional costs to help small companies increase their export of U.S. agricultural products.
Nebraska Export Management Company Thrives With Branded Program Assistance
Good Life Foods, Inc. of Lincoln, Nebraska in the 1st Congressional District has used cost-share funding from the Branded Program since 2002 to expand its export management business in numerous international markets. The Branded Program is funded through the Market Access Program and administered by Food Export-Midwest. It provides reimbursement of 50 percent of many international promotional costs to help small companies increase their export of U.S. agricultural products.
Kansas Company Builds Exports & Becomes "Exporter of the Year"
Cereal Ingredients, Inc., of Leavenworth, KS in the 2nd Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Midwest sponsored Focused Trade Mission to China for Food Ingredients in February 2008. According to Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, Jim Thomasson, “It couldn't have been any better. We received great detail of information about the market. And contacts made with a buyer yielded export sales of $42,000.” Through participating in Food Export- Midwest’s Buyers Missions, where Cereal Ingredients, Inc. had the opportunity to meet with international buyers, the company made a total of $73,000 in export sales in 2008. In addition, In 2009 Cereal Ingredients, Inc. won the “Exporter of the Year” award which is one of Kansas’ top business honors. And 2009 is looking just as bright. So far, the company has made sales to the buyer from the Focused Trade Mission to China for $36,000 with another shipment due out in June.
Food Export-Northeast Helps Rhode Island Company Make First-Time Export Sale to Dubai
After participating in the March 2009, Food Export-Northeast-sponsored, Seafood Buyers Mission at the International Boston Seafood Show, Seafreeze Ltd. of Kingstown, Rhode Island, in the 2nd Congressional District landed a new sale to Dubai for three containers of their seafood products valued at $100,000 as well as a sale to Russia valued at $80,000. This marked the company’s first-time export sale to Dubai. Buyers Missions afford U.S. suppliers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with pre-qualified international buyers interested in their products to generate export sales.
Iowa Company's Exports of Halal Foods See New Heights Through Branded Program Assistance
Midamar Corporation of Cedar Rapids, IA in the 2nd Congressional District has taken advantage of the Branded Program for two decades. The Branded Program is funded through the Market Access Program and administered by Food Export-Midwest. It provides reimbursement of 50 percent of many international promotional costs to help small companies increase their export of U.S. agricultural products. As a result, the company is exporting from West Asia to East Asia.
Tastemorr Snacks Makes Some Tasty Sales to Canada Through Food Export-Midwest Services
Through participating in Food Export-Midwest services over the last six years, Testator Snacks of Coldwater, OH in the 8th Congressional District, has seen significant expansion. The company has used Branded Program funds to produce promotional literature, signs and banners in 17 international markets. In addition, they landed a small customer accounting for 4% of Canadian business at the 2007 Private Label Manufactures Association (PLMA) Buyers Mission.
U.S. Suppliers See Export Sales Soar From Food Export-Northeast Food Show PLUS™ at ISM
Six U.S. companies from Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin traveled to Cologne, Germany for the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair (ISM) in February 2009. Food Export-Northeast sponsored Food Show PLUS™ tradeshow enhancement services funded through the Market Access Program to prepare U.S. companies for international tradeshows and maximize their experience.
Natural Products Expo West Buyers Mission Provides Export Opportunities for U.S. Suppliers
Food Export-Midwest sponsored the Natural Product Expo West Buyers Mission in Anaheim, California in March 2009. 25 U.S. suppliers from 15 states had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with qualified buyers. At the event, the companies made actual on-site sales to the tune of $80,000. 8 of these sales were first-time export sales for the companies. Projected sales for the next six to 12 months were $3,145,000. In total, the companies made 88 contacts with new buyers and established 20 new distributorships.
Midwest Buyers Mission Opens the Doors to Costa Rica and Colombia for Wisconsin Company
Patrick Cudahy, located in Cudahy, Wisconsin, in the 4th Congressional District, attended the 2007 and 2008 Midwest Buyers Missions, sponsored by Food Export-Midwest, where they met one-on-one with buyers from Costa Rica in 2007 and Colombia in 2008. Through the contacts made at these two Food Export-Midwest events, the company is currently working on a new export sale to Colombia valued at $250,000 and is expecting an additional $50,000 sale to Costa Rica in the next year. The company has also taken advantage of the no-cost Food Export Helpline service to assist them with navigating exporting regulations and determining their HS codes for use in Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
Baby Food Company Happily Welcomes Export Sales Through Food Export-Midwest Support
Happy Family Brands of Brooklyn, New York in the 12th Congressional District exhibited at the Natural Product Expo West Buyers Mission in March 2009. As a result of attending the show, the company sold their baby food product worth $14,000 to Hong Kong, $35,000 to Dubai and $4,000 to Singapore. According to Bob Zimmerman, Vice President of National Sales, “Prior to this year, I had no experience in exporting. Now we are making sales and have inquiries from other markets such as Vietnam, Korea, and Turkey.”
Food Show PLUS!™ Services Help U.S. Suppliers Make International Sales
Food Export-Midwest sponsored Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services at the February 2009 Japan Self Service Association (JSSA) show in Tokyo. Five U.S. Suppliers from Nebraska, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin participated and made actual on-site sales of $4,102,000 which included two first-times sales to the market. Projected sales for the next year were estimated at $11,000,000. The companies made 21 contacts with new buyers and established 29 new distributorships.
Popcorn Company Expands Its Export Sales With Food Export-Midwest & Food Export-Northeast Services
Thatcher’s Gourmet Specialties, Inc., of North Loup, NE in the 3rd Congressional District, used Food Export-Midwest’s Branded Program to exhibit at tradeshows for the last two years. In June 2008 they attended the Food Export-Northeast Summer Fancy Food Buyers Mission in New York where they met a buyer from Canada. The company has since made export sales to this buyer totaling over $100,000. In February 2009 they exhibited at the Japan Self Service Association Food Show PLUS!™ in Tokyo. Three weeks later, Thatcher’s made an export sale of their popcorn to a buyer they met at the show worth $24,000. The company projects sales to both buyers in 2009 that will increase their export sales an additional 15%.
Food Export-Midwest Helps Export Sales for Iowa Company Pop
The American Pop Corn Company of Sioux City, Iowa in the 5th Congressional District, has participated in Food Export- Midwest’s programs and services since the early 1990s. In that time their actual export sales have grown from non-existent to a few million dollars per year. President, Garrett Smith, says their participation has significantly helped the company find and keep contacts in overseas markets. “We participate in the Food Show PLUS!™ services at shows such as Anuga and SIAL China. We always come home with a handful of leads. It’s unusual if we don’t attract one or two buyers from each show. We use the Branded Program as a tool to attract new agents by letting them know that they can be eligible to receive 50 percent reimbursement for marketing expenses by working with us. ”
Food Show PLUS!™ Activity Creates Opportunities for U.S. Suppliers in Dubai
Eight U.S. companies from Maine, Massachusetts and New York, traveled to the Gulfood Food Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 23-26, 2009, where they had the opportunity to take advantage of Food Export-Northeast’s Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services.
New Jersey Company Sees Exporting Success in the Middle East Through Branded Program Support
Rastelli Foods Corp. of Swedesboro, NJ in the 1st Congressional District, has participated in the Gulfood Food Show for the past four years. Their first year at the show the company learned about Food Export-Northeast and three years ago started exhibiting at Gulfood using the Branded Program. The company has sold a total of $400 million in product to the Middle East. In the last three years they have seen a double digit growth in sales including two new sales from the 2009 Gulfood Show to Jordan and Qatar each for $8-$12 million per year. David McClendon, Director of Marketing for Rastelli said, “Thanks to our participation in the Branded Program, we were able to secure and confirm new customers in the Middle East region. We strongly believe that Gulfood Show is the show which we would always want to be in as it helps us meet with our customers as well as exhibit our new brand and concepts.”
Pennsylvania Dessert Company Makes First-Time Export Sale to Singapore
In April 2008, Sweet Street Desserts, located in Reading, Pennsylvania in the 16th Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Midwest-sponsored Food and Hotel Asia Food Show PLUS!™. The Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services enabled the company to make more than 100 new buyer contacts, ten new distributor contacts, and resulted in a first-time export sale of one container of their desserts to Singapore. In addition, they are sending samples to several interested buyers in Japan, also a result of contacts made thanks to Food Show PLUS!™.
Branded Program Helps Minnesota Company Export to the Middle East & Russia
Fiberstar, headquartered in Willmar, Minnesota, in the 7th Congressional District, used Food Export-Midwest's Branded Program to help offset the cost of participating in the 2008 Gulfood tradeshow in Dubai, UAE. According to Nick Kovalenko, Director of International Marketing, "Thanks to cost-share assistance through the Branded Program, we were able to participate in many international tradeshows." Through contacts made at the Gulfood show, as well as through the technical assistance provided to the distributors in the area, in the first quarter of 2009 they received an order from a buyer in Turkey for $20,000 and another order from a buyer in Jordan for $50,000.
Pennsylvania Company Makes First-Time Export Sale to Canada
In August 2008, Cherchies Specialty Foods, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, of the 6th Congressional District, participated in the Food Export-Northeast-sponsored Focused Trade Mission to Canada where they were introduced to a Canadian buyer.
Pet Food Company Makes Sales Through Branded Program Funding Support
Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc. of Wheeling, IL, in the 10th Congressional District, utilizes Branded Program funds to advertise their products in international markets. As a result their advertising in Germany, Canada and Poland, the company has been able to increase their export sales 5-10%. The company also uses the Branded Program to exhibit at international tradeshows to make contacts with buyers. According to Holly Sher, President of Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc., “Every trade show we've participated in has been beneficial in at least one way. We've never left a show without a new contact or empty handed. We have also been able to afford to do more advertising which has helped increase sales. This is all thanks to Branded Program.”
Focused Trade Mission Helps Minnesota Company Expand Export Sales to Mexico
Contacts made at the 2008 Focused Trade Mission to Northern Mexico (sponsored by Food Export-Midwest) resulted in a three percent increase in snack export sales to Mexico for SunOpta of Minnetonka, Minnesota in the 5th Congressional District. During the Mission, the company had the opportunity to meet with targeted foreign buyers one-on-one to learn more about their product's export potential, and build relationships.
Popcorn Company Expands With Branded Program Support
Preferred Popcorn, LLC, of Chapman, NE in the 3rd Congressional District, has taken advantage of Food Export-Midwest’s Branded Program since the late 1990s. The program has helped them break into several markets including Trinidad and Tobago, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Trinidad, India and helped them increase their sales in Mexico. Currently they are exporting to over 40 countries around the world.
Seafood Company Excels in Exporting with Food Export-Northeast Support
Portland Processing LLC (dba Claw Island Foods), located in Portland, Maine, in the 1st Congressional District, has utilized MAP-funded programs and services over the past nine years to develop and expand international sales of Maine lobster, Jonah crab and coldwater shrimp. Claw Island has participated in seminars, European Seafood Expositions, Seafood Buyers Missions at the International Boston Seafood Show and the 2009 Gulfood Show, in Dubai. Through Food Export-Northeast they had the opportunity to meet pre-qualified international buyers interested in their products. Sales & Marketing Director Emily Lane says, 'As a small business with a limited marketing budget, the benefits of this program are huge. Our export sales have steadily increased over the past nine years from 5% to 40% of our total sales."
Iowa Company Breaks Into the Japanese Market With Support from the Branded Program
Sioux Honey Association in the 5th Congressional District of Iowa has used the cost-share support through the Branded Program to enter the market in Japan by receiving funding for tasting demonstrations, brochure translations and labeling. Export sales for the company have gone up 40% since they entered the market two years ago.
Island Creek Oysters Now Exporting to Hong Kong
Island Creek Oysters of Duxbury, Massachusetts, is now exporting their live oysters to Hong Kong through a buyer who saw their fresh oysters featured in U.S. Foodlink newsletter. The company later met with the buyer one-on-one during the 2008 Focused Trade Mission to Hong Kong for Food Service (a Food Export-Midwest-sponsored event). The company expects this one sale to exceed $100,000 by the end of 2009 and grow to $350,000-400,000 within the next two years. Food Export-Northeast’s Market Builder Program also helped the company conduct market research to determine that the Hong Kong market was a fit for their product. According to Shore Gregory, Director of Business Development for Island Creek Oysters, “Our ability to create these new markets during an economic downturn has been really important in helping to sustain the workforce of our farmers.”
Branded Program Helps Michigan Company Export Their Dried Fruit Across the Globe
Three years ago, Shoreline Fruit’s export sales were a very small part of the company’s overall business. Today, thanks to cost-share funding support through the Branded Program, the Traverse City, Michigan-based company is exporting to Canada, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. According to Joseph Lothamer, export sales manager for Shoreline Fruit, “Our export sales are now in the seven figures. With cost-share funding through the Branded Program, we’re able to attend international tradeshows and meet foreign buyers. Branded Program funds have also helped us with the cost of new marketing materials and tradeshow booths. Our new export sales are a direct result of the help we’ve received through the Branded Program.”
SIAL Paris Food Show PLUS!™ Reaps $2.8 Million in Actual Export Sales for U.S. Suppliers
October 19-23, 2008, during the SIAL Paris tradeshow, Food Show PLUS!™ tradeshow enhancement services were provided to help U.S. suppliers expand their export sales to the region. U.S. companies that participated in the event walked away with $2.8 million in actual export sales and more than $10 million in projected export sales! Companies reported 767 new buyer contacts and 13 new distributorships established. According to Ed Lopatin from Before and After Candy, “The support we received through Food Show PLUS!™ was invaluable. Thanks to the on-site assistance provided during the show, we made several key new buyer contacts to distribute our product in France, Thailand, Singapore, UK, and Belgium. We are currently in the process of finalizing a sale with a new distributor in France worth $150,000-$175,000. Prior to this, we were selling our products through just one store in the country. As a result of the new contact we made, our product will be distributed in numerous stores throughout France!”
Mercer's Dairy Makes First-Time Export Sale to Jordan
July 24-25, 2008, Mercer’s Dairy, located in Booneville, New York, and their international agent, located in the Netherlands, attended the Midwest Buyers Mission in Chicago, Illinois. Through one-on-one meetings during the Buyers Mission, they made new buyer contacts in Japan, Korea, Panama, Jordan, and Dubai. The company is in the process of shipping a first-time export sale of their traditional ice cream products to Jordan—a minimum of ten pallets of ice cream, totaling $45,000.
Midwest Buyers Mission Helps Snack Company Break Into New Market
In July 2008, Anton-Argires, Inc., located in Alsip, IL in Congressional District 1, participated in Food Export-Midwest’s Midwest Buyers Mission. The Mission included one-on-one meetings between U.S. suppliers and foreign buyers to help build business relationships and, ultimately, generate new export sales. During the Mission, the company met with international buyers from seven countries and established one new distributorship to the Caribbean. As a result of the meetings, Anton-Argires generated new actual export sales to Vietnam totaling $16,000. This marked the company’s first sale to Southeast Asia.
Hampton Popcorn Attends Northeast Buyers Mission and Lands Two Big Sales in Canada
While attending the 2008 Northeast Buyers Mission, Hampton Popcorn, located in New York, New York, landed two new sales in Canada, increasing their sales approximately 34 percent in 2008. The company is also in negotiations with the Netherlands and Santa Domingo as a result of new contacts made at the Northeast Buyers Mission. According to Arthur Kerr, Vice President and Director of Global Sales for Hampton Popcorn, “These sales give us a 60 percent market share for gourmet popcorn in the Canadian market. The Branded Program also helped us with bilingual labeling changes for Canada, point-of-sale materials, and in-store promotions. Sixty percent of our business now is in exports and we expect this to increase. We have more international shipments going out than domestic sales.”
Metzger Specialty Brands Makes First-Time Sales to Canada and Germany
Metzger Specialty Brands, located in New York, New York, made their first export sales to Canada in 2008 with support from the Branded Program. The company used Branded Program funding to help offset the cost of bilingual labeling for Canada, as well as in-store promotions, demonstrations, and shipping samples. Their export sales to the country have gone from nonexistent to $12,000 in 2008, and they expect this number to double in 2009. According to Tim Metzger, President of Metzger Specialty Brands, This has been a very collaborative effort. Without the support of Food Export-Northeast, we could never have undertaken the promotional activities were doing in Canada. They help us defray some of the costs, making it all worthwhile.
Dr. Praegers Sensible Foods Uses Branded Program Funds to Expand in Canada and the UK
Dr. Praegers Sensible Foods, located in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, takes advantage of matching funds through the Branded Program to stretch their marketing dollars and, ultimately, increase their export sales. The company has used Branded Program funds to help lower the cost of changing their labeling to French in Canada, meet new labeling requirements in the UK, and to help offset the cost of exhibiting at international tradeshows. According to Larry Praeger, Vice President of Dr. Praegers, In 2008, we increased our export sales by 17.5 percent to Canada and by 12.5 percent to the UK thanks, in part, to support from the Branded Program. The cost-share program allows us to double our exposure in foreign markets because it makes our marketing budget go twice as far. Their support is especially critical with helping to offset the cost of new packaging required for labeling changes. Were able to launch twice as many new products in foreign markets because of the Branded Program! |
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