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North Dakota Snack Brand Expands Global Reach with Food Export

Giant Snacks has rapidly expanded its brand presence internationally by leveraging Food Export–Midwest programs to boost brand awareness, refine packaging, and connect with key international buyers. Their multi-year participation has generated strong sales growth, and sustained momentum in global markets.

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Giant Snacks Inc., a family-owned nut and seed snack producer based in Wahpeton, North Dakota, has transformed its international presence through strategic and sustained engagement with Food Export–Midwest programs. Founded on a commitment to quality—sourcing the largest sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cashews on the market and producing bold flavors like dill pickle, bacon ranch, and kettle roast—the company has steadily built both its reputation and its export readiness.

After being referred to Food Export in 2021, Giant Snacks began actively participating in a range of services, including the Market Access Program (MAP)-funded Branded Program, Trade Leads, the Online Product Catalog, educational webinars, and Buyers Missions. These programs played a pivotal role in helping the company expand its brand presence, meet new buyers, and gain traction in key international markets, with a strong focus on Canada.

Giant Snacks’ first year in the Branded Program in 2021 set an impressive foundation. With support for packaging modifications to meet Canadian bilingual labeling requirements and funding for temporary in-store promotions, the company secured $101,727 in initial sales, gained 1 new foreign buyer contact, and established its first Canadian distributorship, projecting an additional $200,000 in future sales.

Building on that success, Giant Snacks intensified its efforts in 2022, using Branded Program reimbursement funding to support overseas marketing and buyer outreach. The company connected with 10 international buyers and 3 new agents, resulting in $130,000 in export sales and an additional $300,000 projected in the Canadian market alone. Participation in the Sweets & Snacks Expo Buyers Mission further accelerated relationship-building with key global buyers.

Momentum continued into 2023, marking a breakthrough year for the North Dakota supplier. Through enhanced packaging, promotional literature, sample shipments, and participation in Canadian trade shows, Giant Snacks achieved an outstanding $780,000 in export sales and projected an additional $1.56 million in the following twelve months. The company also reported securing 4 new foreign buyer contacts and 2 new distributorships, significantly strengthening its foothold in the Canadian market.

In 2024, its second consecutive year utilizing the Branded Program for Canadian market expansion, Giant Snacks reported shipping over one million bags to Canada while gaining 11 new foreign buyer contacts and establishing 4 new distributorships. The company has already contracted with Food Export to continue building on this success in 2025.

Across multiple years of program participation, Giant Snacks consistently credits Food Export–Midwest’s programs with helping them refine their overseas marketing strategies, navigate regulatory requirements, connect with new buyers, and generate meaningful international sales growth. From packaging adaptation to trade show promotion to buyer engagement, Food Export programs have served as powerful accelerators for the company’s export development.

Today, Giant Snacks stands as a strong example of how a high-quality, Midwest-rooted brand can scale globally with the right strategy, partnerships, and market support. Its ongoing collaboration with Food Export–Midwest continues to open doors, deepen market penetration, and fuel impressive export success—bringing their bold, flavor-packed snacks to more consumers around the world.

Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.

 
 

15 Year Branded Program Participant

New Distributorships Established

New Foreign Buyer Contacts Made

Share your Success

Each year, hundreds of U.S. suppliers participate in the Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast’s programs. As a result, companies are successful at generating new export sales, establishing new distributorship, expanding their production facilities,
and hiring additional employees. Read the Success Stories to learn more!

If your company has a success to share, email us at info@foodexport.org.

 

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