Success Stories

In 2018, Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets, located in Comstock Park, Michigan, in the 2nd Congressional District, participated in Food Export – Midwest’s Sweets and Snacks Expo Buyers Mission where they secured sales and built relationships with buyers from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Korea. As a direct result of their participation, two buyers collectively placed a first time order of $61,000.

Taunk Inc. known as Meal Mantra is a growing player in the simmer sauce market. In 2019, the company participated in Food Export – Northeast’s Specialty Food Buyers Mission at the 2019 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.

In 2018, Simplified Foods LLC. dba Simple Squares, located in Chicago, Illinois, in the 7th Congressional District, participated in Food Export – Midwest’s Branded Program that helped them gain $1,000 in new export sales to Canada. In February, the supplier was able to report these new sales and also projected to complete $1,000 in sales over the next twelve months while also making 1 new contact and gaining 1 new agent relationship.

Flanders, New Jersey based Aii, Inc. (formerly American Instants, Inc.) is a leading manufacturer of powdered beverages in the United States. In business for over fifty years, they are a manufacturer and blender with the ability to create and package new products per specification. They specialize in private label and are continuously working hard to improve their company and meet the needs of their customers.

Stonington, Maine, long-known for its rich and historic tradition of lobstering, is the home of Greenhead Lobster, a family owned business since 1997 that focuses on one product: wild-caught fresh Stonington, Maine lobster. Owner Hugh Reynolds oversees every aspect of his operation from his Stonington, Maine headquarters located right at dockside.

Good To-Go, a specialty food supplier based in Kittery, Maine utilized Food Export – Northeast’s Branded Program in 2018 to grow their export sales to Canada. Last year (2017) was the first year the Maine Supplier earned export sales to the market and 2018 helped them create brand awareness as they utilized their allocated funds to advertise their gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan option products, attend the Outdoor Adventure Show, and make label/package modifications.

In 2018, Milford, Delaware based DrNaturalHealing, Inc., utilized Branded Program funds from Food Export – Northeast to promote their agriculture based health products in China. The supplier did this by attending a Food Export Focused Trade Mission, the ANUFOOD China Show in Beijing, and the Asia International Import Food Expo. They also completed a strong advertising plan that included trade seminars, in-store sampling events and online marketing to build brand awareness.

Belle Cove LLC, located in South Portland, Maine supplies value-added seafood to your table. With the help of the Market Access Program funded Food Export – Northeast Branded Program, Belle Cove was able to offset marketing cost for exhibiting at Seafood Expo Asia in 2018. As a result of Seafood Expo Asia, Belle Cove reported $300,000 in sales and $750,000 in projected sales. Belle Cove was also a participant in Food Export’s Food Show PLUS!™ services at Seafood Expo Asia.

In 2018, LorAnn Oils, Inc, located in Lansing, Michigan, in the 8th Congressional District participated in Food Export – Midwest’s Branded Program. They utilized their Branded Program funds in 2018 to help offset their costs of exhibiting at trade shows, participating in Buyers Missions and Trade Missions, and other international marketing efforts.

In 2018, YZ Enterprises, from Maumee, Ohio, utilized Food Export - Midwest’s Market Access Program (MAP) funded Branded Program to grow brand awareness in Canada. The Ohio based company used their allocated Branded Program funds to make label/package modifications that would meet Canadian food regulation standards for their thin sliced and twice baked almond biscuits (cookies) and crisps made special for the Canadian market.

Cape Cod Select, founded in 2009 by Cindy Rhodes, sells premium frozen cranberries in order to give her consumers the option to eat cranberries year-round. This family run company keeps the environment in mind, appreciates their employees and always produces quality and safe cranberries.

Love Your Health Foods, LLC, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the 3rd Congressional District credits Food Export Association of the Midwest with helping the company grow in the Canadian market. The company has participated in the Branded Program to help offset some of their international marketing expenses. The Market Access Program (MAP) funded Branded Program provides 50% cost reimbursement for a variety of international marketing activities.

In 2018, Hometown Bagel, located in Alsip, Illinois in the 1st Congressional District participated in the Food Export – Midwest Branded Program. Hometown Bagel is a family owned and operated small business that was established in 1995 and has been participating in Food Export – Midwest programs and services since 2014.

Alden Group, located in Farmington Hills, Michigan, of the 14th Congressional District transferred the technical knowledge gained from the Food Export Helpline to help establish an export partnership in Chile. According to Donald Bryant, President of Alden Group, “We now export our non-gmo corn oil to an international customer and [the Food Export Helpline] was helpful in getting our organization comfortable with exporting.”

Cracked Candy LLC, a Brooklyn, New York-based candy manufacturer, attended Food Export - Northeast’s Summer Fancy Food Buyers Mission last summer. A three-time participant of Food Export’s Summer Fancy Foods Buyers Mission, Cracked Candy was ready to launch two new flavors and promote their delicious, sugar-free, healthy candy.

In January 2019, John Zidian Co, Inc, from Youngstown, Ohio, in the 13th Congressional District, participated in Food Export - Northeast’s Market Access Program (MAP) funded Northeast Buyers Mission in Boston, Massachusetts. At the Mission the Ohio Supplier met with thirteen different international buyers to introduce to them their line of sauces and condiments.

In 2018, Coop’s MicroCreamery, located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 8th Congressional District, utilized Food Export – Northeast’s Branded Program to promote their hot fudge and caramel sauces at the Summer Fancy Food Show. In October of last year, they made a sale of hot fudge and caramel sauces worth $7,000 and in March of this year they made an additional sale of $7,000.

In June of 2018, Neilly’s Foods, located in York, Pennsylvania attended Food Export - Northeast’s Specialty Food Buyers Mission at the 2018 Summer Fancy Food Show where they had the opportunity to make a close connection with a buyer from Canada. They are currently communicating with the buyer and seeking to expand exports to this market.

Dr. Natural Healing sells over the counter asthma inhalers and other health promoting products that are used by customers all over the world. They also manufacture weight-loss foods and dietary supplements, cost-effective over the counter drugs, and medical devices.

John Nagle & Co is a leader in the wholefood seafood industry, having been in operation since 1887. The company recently returned after a twenty year absence to exhibit in the Massachusetts aisle at the Seafood Expo North America Trade Show.