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!TM 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%.

Both sales have prompted Thatcher’s to hire more staff. In September 2008 the company added eight new employees and then six more in March of 2009. According to Gus Ghassan, President of Thatcher’s, “Food Export-Midwest’s programs and services are excellent. The financial assistance encourages small businesses to market their products globally helping to grow the U.S. economy.”

Thatcher’s Gourmet Specialties, Inc. was founded in 1983 and produces a wide variety of gourmet popcorn. Flavors include: Caramel Corn, Caramel & Nuts, Fat Free Caramel. Sugar Free Caramel, Chocolate Drizzled Caramel, White Cheddar Cheese, Jalapeño, Sour Cream & Onion, Cinnamon Toast, Cookies ‘n’ Cream and more.

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are private, non-profit associations of Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to promote the export of Midwestern and Northeastern food and agricultural products. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service.