|
Varied Industries Corporation (Vi-COR®), based in Mason City, Iowa, is a supplier of fermented yeast feed additives for livestock feed. The company has used the Branded Program to expand its exporting business and break into new markets including China, England, Spain, and Malaysia.
Offered through Food Export Association of the Midwest USA (Food Export – Midwest) and Food Export USA – Northeast (Food Export – Northeast), the Branded Program is a cost-share service that assists small Midwestern and Northeastern suppliers with promoting their food and agricultural products in foreign markets. The Branded Program provides participants with a 50 percent cost reimbursement on eligible international marketing endeavors. This program enables U.S. suppliers to make their international marketing dollars go twice as far.
Vi-COR® has experienced first-hand the value of the Branded Program. They use the cost-share program to help fund international tradeshow trips and the production of foreign brochures and advertisements in international trade magazines. According to Gerry Keller, Vice President, International Business for Vi-COR®, “We’ve experienced great success with the Branded Program. We’re able to put more effort into our international marketing and advertising. And our overseas business is growing at a big rate as a result.” In fact, the Iowa supplier is experiencing seven digit growth on an annual basis, with international sales increasing 30 – 50 percent annually. The sales increases have helped Vi-COR® to add personnel to their international team with plans to add even more staff in the future. Keller continues, “Without the support of Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast, these sales increases would have taken longer and would not have been as dramatic.”
Iowa-based Varied Industries Corporation (Vi-COR®) manufactures fermented yeast feed additives for farm livestock including dairy, swine, beef, poultry, horses, as well as dogs and cats.
Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA – 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.
|
|
