Toronto
April 30th – May 2nd
SIAL Canada is an annual Canadian trade show that took place in Toronto from April 30th to May 2nd. We had 12 U.S. suppliers who attended the show and participated in our Food Show PLUS! services. Our Food Show PLUS! tradeshow enhancement package allows you to become a more confident international exhibitor and can help you maximize your tradeshow success. Each event is different but typically the program can offer: introductions to qualified buyers, in-market briefings, on-site assistance, self-guided retail tours and post-show lead qualifications.
Our State Member from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Erin Windham, and our Food Export In-Market Representative for Canada, Kathy Boyce, worked together to facilitate the Food Show PLUS! program at the show and help our U.S. suppliers get the most out of this excellent international opportunity.
SIAL Canada switches between the cities of Toronto and Montreal every year. Find out more about SIAL Canada 2020 happening in Montreal here.
U.S. Suppliers in Canada for the trade show participate in a Retail Tour with our State Member and IMR
A glimpse at the Food Export Booth on the show floor
Vermont Tortilla Company exhibiting their products on the show floor
Timeless exhibiting their products on the show floor
The Sprouted Flour exhibiting their products on the show floor
Pet Food Ingredients Buyers Mission at Pet Food Forum
Kansas City, Missouri
April 30th – May 1st
The Pet Food Forum Tradeshow is an annual conference and trade show for the pet food and treat industry that took place from April 30th – May 1st , 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Pet Food Forum tradeshow provides pet food manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity to network with other pet food professionals around the world as well as attend informational seminars and workshops.
This is the second year Food Export has conducted a Pet Food Ingredients Buyers Mission in conjunction with the show. We had 10 participating U.S. suppliers and 5 international buyers who participated in the mission. Initial results show 50 new supplier/buyer introductions, $2.5 Million in new export sales generated, and $2 Million in projected export sales as a result of the event! It was a great opportunity to do outreach with current and future suppliers in the pet food industry.
Food Export-Midwest Liaison Lauren Kliethermes and our State Member from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Suzanne Numrich, both attended the show and helped facilitate the Buyers Mission.
Suzanne Ryan-Numrich from the Kansas Department of Agriculture stands outside the Convention Center with Buyers from Mexico, Ecuador, Korea, and Brazil
What is a pet food trade show without puppies?
Kansas State Member Susan Ryan-Numrich walking the show floor and making a new furry friend
Opening night presentation on the dangers of pet obesity
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Lauren Kliethermes and our State Member Jennifer Kliethermes from the Missouri Department of Agriculture visiting local suppliers before the Pet Food Forum show began.
Importer Seminar
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
May 7th
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to participate in a Food Export Importer Seminar. The goal of an importer seminar is to educate international buyers about U.S. food and agricultural products as well as introduce them to Food Export’s programs and services. Our In-Market Representative for Vietnam, Francis Lee, helped to facilitate the seminar. The seminar was extremely successful, as the room was packed with interested parties to the point that there was only standing room available. The itinerary included the following presentations:
FAS Overview of Vietnam: Megan Francic – Agricultural Attache, FAS
Food Export Programs and Services: Tim Hamilton – Executive Director, Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast
Food Safety in Vietnam: Nestor Scherbey – General Director, CTRMS Vietnam
This event was made possible by our recent funding provided by the USDA’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP). We have an extensive series of Importer Seminars planned in other countries throughout the year. Stay tuned as we share more reports from those in the coming months.
Room full of local Vietnamese buyers interested in learning more about U.S. products
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton with our In-Market Representative for Vietnam Francis Lee and associate
Food Show PLUS! at 2019 Seafood Expo Global
Brussels, Belgium
May 7th – May 9th
Seafood Expo Global is the largest seafood-specific trade show in the world, attracting visitors from 150+ countries. This year the show took place from May 7th to May 9th, 2019 in Brussels, Belgium. The event hosts a variety of purchasers who dominate the seafood industry in Europe and around the world. It is an extremely cost-effective way to make contact with existing customers, launch new products, meet new buyers, evaluate trends and discover new trends in the seafood industry.
Many products were on display in the Seafood Export USA – Northeast pavilion, including live lobster, processed products like split tails, frozen squid, and a wide variety of fin fish from the North Atlantic. With a very dynamic environment, suppliers were able to connect with existing customers while developing new business with buyers from nearly every country across the globe in attendance. Of particular interest at this show were discussions on development of new and underutilized Northeast U.S. species such as Jonah Crab, Dogfish, and Butterfish.
A record 18 companies from our region exhibited with us and participated in our Food Show PLUS! tradeshow enhancement services at the show. Food Export – Northeast supported companies by coordinating meetings with buyers on the floor, organizing the pavilion, facilitating construction of the booths, providing space for private meetings, and more. Initial evaluations show 412 new supplier/buyer introductions made, 91 new distributorships established, $84 Million in new export sales, and $212 Million in projected export sales as a result of the event.
Food Export – Northeast Deputy Director Josh Dillard, Seafood Program Coordinator Colleen Coyne, Seafood In-Market Representatives, Felipe Macias and Alexander Wever, and our State Members from the Maine International Trade Center, Jeff Bennett, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Bonita Oehlke, were all in attendance at the show.
Front of the Brussels Expo building that had been decorated for Seafood Expo Global
A look at the Food Export – Northeast booth on the show floor
Food Export – Northeast Deputy Director, In-Market Representative Alexadner Wever, Seafood Program Coordinator Colleen Coyne, and State Member Jeff Bennett from Maine
IMR Alexander Wever meets with suppliers in the Food Export booth as well as a member of the FAS Poland team
The two story booth was great for suppliers to have private meetings off of the busy show floor
Food Export – Deputy Director Josh Dillard with Milu Camacho the local staff from FAS Peru
Food Export – Deputy Director Josh Dillard and Seafood Program Coordinator Colleen Coyne meeting with our supplier Luke’s Lobster at their booth to talk about exports
Food Export – Northeast Seafood Program Coordinator Colleen Coyne, State Member Jeff Bennet from Maine, Food Export – Northeast Deputy Director Josh Dillard, and State Member Bonita Oehlke from Massachusetts pose with the FAS Post members from Poland
Food Show PLUS! at HOFEX
Hong Kong
May 7th – 10th
HOFEX is Asia’s Leading Food and Hospitality Tradeshow that happens every other year. The 2019 show took place at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center in Hong Kong. With 2,800+ companies exhibiting from 74 different countries, this tradeshow is a great opportunity for U.S. suppliers looking to expand their Food Service exposure in Asia and other countries.
Food Export had 7 U.S. suppliers from the Northeast and Midwest regions that exhibited at the show and participated in our Food Show PLUS! tradeshow enhancement services.
U.S. Suppliers exhibiting on the show floor and networking with industry professionals
A look at the USA Pavilion at HOFEX
One-on-one meetings between U.S. suppliers and interested buyers
Incoterms and Harmonized Codes Workshop
Chicago, Illinois
May 8th
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Enrique Rubio attended an Incoterms and Harmonized Codes Workshop in Chicago on May 8th held by the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC) and hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Network International Trade Center.
Group show of everyone that attended the workshop
Ohio Company Outreach Visit
Ohio
May 13th – 14th
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Enrique Rubio traveled to Ohio to conduct company visits with various current and potential suppliers. He is pictured below visiting a garlic farm! State visits are one of the ways that we continually strengthen relationships with our suppliers in the Midwest and Northeast regions. It’s a great opportunity for our Liaisons to get out and meet with suppliers face to face to better understand their business and be able to assist them with customizing their export strategy to fit their unique needs.
Food Export – Midwest Liaison Enrique enjoying a ride through a garlic farm
Food Show PLUS! at SIAL China
Shanghai, China
May 14th – 16th
SIAL China is Asia’s largest Food Innovation Exhibition, which took place in Shanghai from May 14th to 16th, 2019.
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton attended the show to help facilitate our Food Show PLUS! trade show enhancement services alongside our State Member from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Lisa Stout. This year 6 of our U.S. suppliers took advantage of our Food Show PLUS! services.
While there Tim also had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Branstad, the U.S. Ambassador to China. As always SIAL China provided a fantastic opportunity for our U.S. suppliers to network with a variety of foreign buyers looking to purchase U.S. products.
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton and our State Member Lisa Stout from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture in our booth on the show floor at SIAL China
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton meeting Ambassador Branstad, the U.S. ambassador to China
World Trade Center Harrisburg’s 20th Annual Trade Conference
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
May 15th
On May 15th Food Export – Northeast Liaison Deborah Ingravallo, and Branded Program Associate Haley Dack attended the World Trade Center (WTC) Harrisburg’s 20th International Trade Conference. Food Export – Northeast was invited to participate as both an exhibitor and a speaker. Deb, Haley, and our State Member from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Tom Mainzer, participated in an informal breakout session titled “Food Exports: Resources and Roundtable”. They were able to explain Food Export’s services and hear from the audience of various food and agricultural industry members on their experience with exporting. We also had a Food Export – Northeast table to have one-on-one conversations with potential participants and partners.
Food Export – Northeast Branded Program Associate Haley Dack manning the information table
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Deborah Ingravallo, Branded Program Associate Haley Dack, Duck Donuts Zana Murad, and our State Member Tom Mainzer from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Christa Mummau from the PA Office of International Business Development with Food Export – Northeast’s Haley Dack and Deborah Ingravallo, and our State Member for PA Tom Mainzer
Food Service Buyers Mission at the National Restaurant Association Show
Chicago, Illinois
May 18th – 20th
The 100th National Restaurant Association Show took place in Chicago, Illinois from May 18th to May 21st, 2019. The NRA show is one of the industry’s leading trade shows and a place to see all of the new trends and products from equipment to supplies to technology. It also kicks off a busy week of Chicago-based shows and events every May that keep our Food Export – Midwest office very busy!
We held a Food Service Buyers Mission in conjunction with the show with 14 international buyers and 33 U.S. suppliers participating. Initial evaluations show $8.8 Million in new export sales and $12 Million in projected export sales as a result of the mission. Many of our suppliers were exhibiting in the American Food Fair section of the show that was put together by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the USDA’s Foreign Ag Service (FAS). FAS Administrator Ken Isely attended the show and had the opportunity to walk the show floor and speak to a variety of suppliers one-on-one.
We also had a special networking event at The Chopping Block restaurant in Chicago, where Midwest and Northeast suppliers had a unique opportunity to have their products prepared by a chef and served to the attending international buyers. This event has always been great at creating relationships between buyers and suppliers in a more relaxed environment where they get to see and taste the products first hand.
Overall it was a fantastic way to celebrate 100 years of the NRA show, we can’t wait to see what year 101 has in store.
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton posing with FAS Administrator Ken Isley and a group of FAS and NASDA team members as well as reporters from the UK that attended the show to learn more about safety of U.S. foods
A look at the American Food Fair pavilion at the NRA show
FAS Administrator Ken Isely speaking to a group of industry professionals and UK Reporters about U.S. agriculture
A look at the Food Export booth and meeting spaces on the show floor
Entrance to the Food Export booth
Food Export – Midwest’s Communications Coordinator Adolfo Montelongo and International Marketing Program Associate Calleigh O’Connor man the Food Export booth and talk to FAS Marketing Specialist Don Washington
2019 marked the 100th year of the NRA Show!
Food Export – Midwest state member from Missouri Jennifer Kliethermes and Food Export – Midwest liaison Lauren Kliethermes walk the show floor together to talk to suppliers about Food Export
Food Export – Northeast Liaisons Madison Smith and Apryl King walk the show floor to outreach to suppliers
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Madison Smith enthusiastically poses with her NY based supplier Zesty Z
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast staff members bond at a Phillies-Cubs game after the one night after the NRA show was wrapped up
Food Export – Midwest Branded Program Associate Mike Hamrock hands out name tags to those attending our special culinary event at the Chopping Block
U.S. suppliers had the opportunity to have their products put together by a professional chef for buyers to taste during the networking event
Bascom Maple Farms maple syrup is put on some glazed mixed nuts
Group of buyers and industry professionals at the special culinary event
Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton with the head chef of The Chopping Block and FAS Administrator Ken Isley
Beer, Wine, & Spirits Buyers Mission at BAR19
Chicago, Illinois
May 20th
Part of the NRA show that takes place in Chicago every May is a section that focuses on beer, wine, & spirits called BAR. This year we held a Beer, Wine & Spirits Buyers Mission at BAR19 that had 6 participating international buyers and 17 U.S. suppliers. The buyers were given an overview of the U.S. alcoholic beverage industry and went on a retail tour to local stores and even a brewery to get a better understanding of the U.S. market prior to their one-on-one meetings with suppliers.
Buyers came from the following countries:
Initial evaluations show that more than 60 new supplier/buyer introductions were made and $500,000+ in new export sales were generated as a result of this activity.
Buyers go on a retail tour of U.S. alcoholic beverage stores to learn more about the industry
An overhead shot of Binny’s
The retail tour event included a stop at a brewery to see first hand how craft beer is manufactured
Vermont State Pavilion at the BAR19 Show
Allie Fox VanDriel, state member from the Michigan Department of Ag, Jennifer Kliethermes, state member from Missouri, and Lauren Masseria, state member from Vermont working together to facilitate the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Buyers Mission
Food Export IMR Jens Homeck from Germany meeting one-on-one with a suppliers to discuss export opportunities
Sweets and Snacks Buyers Mission at the 2019 Sweets and Snacks Expo
Chicago, Illinois
May 20th – 22nd
The Sweets & Snacks Expo took place in Chicago, Illinois from May 20th to May 22nd, 2019 at McCormick Place. Sweets and Snacks is one of the most popular shows in the confectionery industry, bringing professionals from the snack community together to learn about new products and trends as well as network with potential suppliers, buyers, and more!
We hosted our annual Sweets and Snacks Buyers Mission alongside the show, which included 37 U.S. suppliers and 10 international buyers. As usual the sponsored buyers went through a market briefing and retail tour prior to their one-on-one meetings with U.S. suppliers to learn more about the U.S. market and products. Our initial evaluations show that over $11 Million in new export sales and $2.5 Million in projected export sales came as a result of this event.
Sweets and Snacks is always one of the busiest and sweetest shows of the year, and we love that it is right in Food Export – Midwest’s backyard of Chicago.
Overhead view of the show floor
Food Export – Midwest International Marketing Program Manager Teresa Miller giving a presentation to the sponsored buyers about Food Export’s programs and services
Buyers participating in a Retail Tour to learn more about the confectionery industry in the U.S.
Stopping at Windy City Sweets as part of the Retail Tour
Welcome sign for our Sweets and Snacks Buyers Mission at McCormick Place
Food Export – Midwest Communications Manager Greg Cohen and Deputy Director Michelle Rogowski drop by the Buyers Mission
Food Export’s Booth on the show floor at Sweets and Snacks
Activity Coordinator Carol Brunnert and a group of the international buyers that participated in the Sweets and Snacks Buyers Mission
Food Export – Midwest interns Kylie and Anthony pose with a life sized Sour Patch Kid
Food Export – Northeast Liaisons Madison Smith and Apryl King pose with a life sized Oreo on the show floor
Food Export – Northeast Liaisons Madison Smith and Apryl King pose with a life sized Jelly Belly on the show floor
There were colorful and fun things to look at everywhere on the show floor
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Madison Smith poses with her NY based supplier FatSnax
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Apryl King poses with her supplier MunkPack
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Madison Smith and Food Export – Midwest Liaison Lauren Kliethermes explore Chicago and pose in front of “The Bean” one night after the shows were over
Overview short of the Sweets and Snacks show floor
Food Show PLUS! at Seoul Food & Hotel
Seoul, Korea
May 21st – 24th
Seoul Food and Hotel 2019 took place May 21st to May 24th in Seoul and is the largest international food and hospitality trade show in Korea. It offers a great opportunity for U.S. suppliers interested in getting into or expanding their presence in the Korean food service industry to meet with potential partners.
Food Export had a booth at the show and administered our Food Show PLUS! tradeshow enhancement services to 10 participating U.S suppliers. We were surprised by a visit from the U.S. ambassador to Korea Ambassador Harris as he walked the show floor and spoke with our State Member from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Lisa Stout.
Food Export Booth on the show floor at Seoul Food & Hotel
A look at the Food Export Booth and USA Pavilion at Seoul Food & Hotel
State Member from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Lisa Stout speaks with Ambassador Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, on the show floor
Ambassador Harris walks the show floor and speaks with U.S. companies
Focused Trade Mission to Mexico for Feed Ingredients
Guadalajara, Mexico
May 21st – May 24th
Food Export’s Focused Trade Mission to Mexico for Feed Ingredients took place May 21st to May 24th, 2019, starting in Guadalajara and ending in Cancun for the APPAMEX Conference. This mission included a market briefing, farm visit, networking reception, and one-on-one meetings between U.S. suppliers and Mexican buyers. We had 6 U.S. suppliers participate in the mission.
Welcome table for the Focused Trade Mission to Mexico for Feed Ingredients
U.S. Suppliers participating in a market briefing about the feed industry in Mexico
One-on-one meetings between U.S. suppliers and Mexican buyers
More one-on-one meetings taking place in Guadalajara
APPAMEX conference in Cancun
Food Export’s booth at APPAMEX
More information about Food Export for those attending APPAMEX to read
Maine International Trade Day
Portland, Maine
May 23rd
On Thursday, May 23rd Food Export – Northeast Liaison Apryl King attended Maine International Trade Day in Portland, Maine. During the event Apryl was awarded the 2019 Global Leader Award for her work at MITC as a former Food Export intern. One of our Food Export – Northeast suppliers, Luke’s Lobster Seafood Company, was awarded the Innovator of the Year Award. Maine International Trade Day is a great opportunity for us to meet and network with a variety of Maine-based suppliers who are exporting or looking to export.
Food Export – Northeast Liaison Apryl King receives the Future Global Leader award from the Maine International Trade Center
Luke’s Lobster, a Food Export – Northeast supplier receives the Innovator of the Year award from the Maine International Trade Center
COMING UP IN JUNE
Dairy Deli Bakery Buyers Mission at IDDBA 2019
Food Ingredients Buyers Mission at the 2019 IFT Show
NEASDA/NE Board Meeting
USDA Agri-Business Trade Mission to Colombia
Importer Seminar – Peru
Importer Seminars – China, South Korea
Canada Concepts
Rhode Island and Vermont Company Outreach Visits
Plant Based World Expo
2019 Caribbean and Latin American Buyers Mission
Summer Fancy Food Show
FAS Regional Workshop – Colombia
MASDA/MW Board Meeting