Success Stories

An idea in 2013 helped create Brooklyn, New York-based ProFormance Foods, Inc.’s latest Protes Protein Chips. This revolutionary protein-based chip is the product of two college friends who realized a need for protein-dense snacks that were different from the oversaturated market of protein bars and shakes.

In May of 2016 Schafer Fisheries participated in Food Export’s Food Service Buyers Mission at the National Restaurant Association Show where they met with eight international buyers. The buyers reviewed the Sun Perch, Catfish, Bullhead, Carp, Gar, Bass, Crappie, Troup and Paddlefish products offered by the Illinois Supplier.

In June of 2016, Original Gourmet Food Company, from Salem, New Hampshire, attended Food Export’s Specialty Food Buyers Mission at the 2016 Summer Fancy Food Show where they acquired export sales of $40,000. These sales helped the New Hampshire supplier increase export sales over 20% in two different international markets, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The supplier also projects another $80,000 in sales over the next twelve months due to the six new buyer contacts they acquired at the mission.

Pennsylvania Company Grovara, of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania achieved huge sales after meeting international buyers at Food Export Natural Products Buyers Mission at the 2016 Natural Products Expo East Show. The mission introduced the Supplier to qualified buyers from Brazil, Canada, Cayman, Hong Kong, Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. After the mission, Grovara was able to report new export sales to Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates for $95,000 and projected another $150,000 in sales over the next twelve months.

Calendar Islands Maine Lobster LLC, located in Portland, Maine, started out in 2009 when Calendar Islands lobstermen decided to join their multigenerational knowledge of Maine lobstering and their love for local lobster recipes into an innovative business venture. Less than a decade later, Calendar Islands Maine Lobster serves as no less than a complete supply chain partnership between lobstering families, talented chefs and dockside lobster processing operations, managing the greatest Maine natural resource from catch to table. Since 2009 Calendar Islands has been marketing a line of value-added lobster products along with conventional whole lobster as well as tails and meat in both retail and foodservice.

Ready Seafood, located in Portland, Maine, was founded by two brothers John and Brendan Ready in 2004. It all started with the brothers deciding to join efforts in leasing a small warehouse space on Portland’s commercial waterfront, versus paying rent for an apartment. They choose to live and work at the warehouse, while growing their business of buying and selling fresh and frozen Maine Lobster.

In August of 2016, Herkner Farms, located in Traverse City, Michigan, in the 1st Congressional District, attended Food Export’s 2016 Midwest Buyers Mission in Lansing, Michigan. They spoke with several buyers from Asian and Central American markets during the one-on-one meetings. Since then, the company has had contact with many potential buyers and is excited for future trade shows and finding more export opportunities.

Agostino Foods, located in Bristol, PA, in the 8th Congressional District, first attended the 2015 Caribbean & Central American Buyers Mission for Retail & Food Service Products, also attended again in 2016. They made connections with buyers from Barbados, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. As a result, Agostino Foods’ first year export sales were projected at $350,000 through these connections. In 2017, they are projected to do $1,000,000.00 in export sales.

Farmwise LLC dba Healthy Life Brands is a family-owned business located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in the 4th Congressional District. On a mission to get families to eat more veggies, Farmwise’s innovative Veggies Fries® and Veggie Tots™ offer healthier alternatives to traditional frozen French fries and tots. These revolutionary products are made from a blend of farm-grown vegetables, legumes, and potatoes and provide two vegetable servings in every ten fries and twelve tots.

In August of 2016, City Foods, Inc./ Bea's Best, located in Chicago, Illinois in the 3rd Congressional District, attended Food Export’s Midwest Buyers Mission where they had the opportunity to meet food service buyers from around the world in a one on one setting. On site they made a sale of over $20,000 and they have projected $100,000 more in sales over the next twelve months.

In August 2016, East-West International Group, from Moreland Hills, Ohio, participated in Food Export’s Focused Trade Mission to China for Retail and Food Service Products. The Mission began with a market briefing at the ATO Shanghai Office, and then proceeded to a retail tour of Shanghai.

In 2015, Devenish Nutrition located in Fairmont, Minnesota, in the 1st Congressional District, participated in Food Export’s Value-Added Feed Ingredients Buyers Mission at the World Pork Expo. There they met with Buyers from Mexico, Brazil, and El Salvador. During these meetings, they made new sales totaling $40,000 and projected sales of $75,000 in the following year.

Fornazor International, Inc., an exporter of animal feed ingredients and other commodities, offers a wide variety of commodities and feed ingredients such as animal proteins, vegetable proteins, marine proteins, whole grains, forage grasses and equine feeds. Throughout the years Fornazor International has developed relationships with multiple first class feed and grain suppliers throughout North America, enabling their feed ingredients product line to grow as they continue to expand and develop.

American Food Service, Inc. (AFS) from Boonville, New York focuses on exporting American goods into foreign markets. Currently, the company has been able to export all across Europe, as well as other markets such as Asia, Indonesia, and South America. The company has a wide array of products that they update constantly in order to meet the demand of international markets.

In June 2015, Joel Ansh, President of Joel’s Outrageous, located in Midland Park, New Jersey, in the 5th Congressional District, attended the Summer Fancy Food Show with financial assistance from the Branded Program where he met a buyer from Saudi Arabia. They continued discussion after the tradeshow, and Joel sent samples to the buyer a few months later.

Agri-Mark, Inc./Cabot Creamery Coop., located in Waitsfield, Vermont, has utilized Food Export’s Branded Program since 2002. Utilizing this funding has allowed the Vermont Supplier to attend many international trade shows that may not have been possible with the Market Access Program allocated funds.

The Branded Program has played an essential part in helping Fido Enterprises Inc. expand and succeed in the international export arena. In 2016 Food Export’s Branded Program provided funding for advertising and international trade show exhibition to Fido Enterprises. This campaign resulted in new actual sales over $20,000 to Germany for the Harrison Township, Michigan based company.

White Oak Farm and Table is based in Westport, Connecticut in the 4th Congressional District and has an uncompromising approach to food that incorporates global flavors influence into innovative-yet-relatable creations. From their famous salsas to their preserves, mustards, ketchups, sauces and tapenades, they take great pride in providing unique creations that are geared for the gourmet palate.

Western New York Food Products, Inc. a Food Export participant since 2012, who produces Jake’s Grillin Coffee Rubs and Barbeque Sauces, was able to secure a Korean buyer from participating and exhibiting with Market Access Program Branded funds at the 2015 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.

Global Development and Management LLC (GDM) is a firm dedicated to helping pet food and pet treat companies develop export markets. GDM has helped many companies establish a global presence by creating long-term trading partnerships.