2009 Branded Program
October 25, 2008--Women's Lifestyle Conference and Trade Show
November 3-7, 2008--Focused Trade Mission to Northern Mexico
November 14, 15 & 16--Great American Cooking Expo
November 16-18, 2008--Private Label Manufacturer's Show
January 21, 2009--Land of Lincoln Food Expo
February 21-23, 2009--American Culinary Federation Central Regional Conference
June 16 - 18, 2009--All Things Organic--Illinois Pavilion
Food Export Association of the Midwest USA (Food Export-Midwest) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture announce the launch of the 2009 Branded Program year.
Made possible through funds from the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, this cost-share service assists small Illinois suppliers promote their brand name food and agricultural products in foreign markets.
Once approved, participants receive 50% cost reimbursement on certain eligible marketing and promotional endeavors such as:
- * Advertising
* In-store promotions
* Public relations
* Product literature
* Freight costs for samples
* Package and label modifications
* Overseas trade shows
* Certain domestic trade shows with an international focus
The Branded Program enables Illinois suppliers to stretch their international marketing dollars twice as far and grow their exporting business! The Branded Program reimburses eligible companies between $2,500 and $300,000 for eligible marketing activities. Midwest participants collectively receive over 6 million dollars annually in reimbursements. The 2009 program year runs from January 1st-December 31, 2009. In order to be pre-approved for January activities, companies should apply to the program by October 1, 2008.
Please visit Food Export's new account management system at www.brandedprogram.org to begin the application process. Simply login with your user id and password if you have one and click on the "Add Pre-Qualification" link at the top of the page. If you require a new user id and password please follow the guidelines on the web site or contact Food Export for further assistance. Once they have received and processed your completed "Pre-Qualification Worksheet", you will receive a confirmation along with instructions on completing the rest of the application via e-mail.
Questions about Branded Program qualifications, marketing plans, eligible reimbursements, and the application process can be directed to Kim Hamilton, Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, Tel: 217/782-5809, Eween $2,500 and $300,000 for eligible marketing activities. Midwest participants collectively receive over 6 million dollars annually in reimbursements. The 2009 program year runs from January 1st-December 31, 2009. In order to be pre-approved for January activities, companies should apply to the program by October 1, 2008.
Please visit Food Export's new account management system at www.brandedprogram.org to begin the application process. Simply login with your user id and password if you have one and click on the "Add Pre-Qualification" link at the top of the page. If you require a new user id and password please follow the guidelines on the web site or contact Food Export for further assistance. Once they have received and processed your completed "Pre-Qualification Worksheet", you will receive a confirmation along with instructions on completing the rest of the application via e-mail.
Questions about Branded Program qualifications, marketing plans, eligible reimbursements, and the application process can be directed to Kim Hamilton, Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, Tel: 217/782-5809, E-Mail: kim.hamitlon@illinois.gov or to Food Export-Midwest at 312/334-9200.
2008 Women’s Lifestyle Conference & Trade Show
October 25, 2008
Peoria Civic Center
Peoria, Illinois
www.womenslifestyleshow.com
The 2008 Women’s Lifestyle Conference will be held Saturday, October 25th in the Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Last year, over 16,000 women attended the one day conference & trade show. This is a great opportunity to sample and sell your product(s) to women in Central Illinois.
In 2007, 335 vendors participated.
The Show Management for this event contacted the IL Department of Agriculture again this year and offered a reduced rate to Illinois companies that we recruited to participate. Again this year, they are offering a reduced rate of $250 (plus $45 for electricity if needed & ordered in advance). They are providing this special offer to the first 20 Illinois companies that sign up. You will be placed in an “Illinois Products” section at the show. (If you would go through the show managers to participate, you would pay $600 to participate.)
Last year, 15 Illinois companies sold their products in the trade show and received a total of $11, 456 in sales. Again, the first 20 companies who respond will receive the reduced rate.
Prior to being approved, your company’s products will need to be approved by the Catering Department of the Peoria Civic Center (to avoid competition).
Please notify Larry Aldag as soon as possible if you are interested in promoting/selling your products at the 2008 Women’s Lifestyle Conference.
Please click here for the participation agreement.
Larry Aldag
Marketing Representative
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Telephone - 217/524-3012
E-mail – larry.aldag@illinois.gov
Focused Trade Mission to Northern Mexico
November 3-7, 2008
Monterrey, Mexico
www.foodexportalliance.org/eweb/
Trade Missions are an excellent opportunity to travel internationally, learn more about your product's export potential and build relationships with interested key importers.
According to the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, the Mexican market continues to be a growth market that represents one of the best opportunities in the world for U.S. exporters of food products. Furthermore, U.S. agricultural and food exports to the region have been climbing at an annual rate of almost 10 percent since 2002.
Focused Trade Mission Services
Meet one-on-one with key importers, distributors, and supermarket buyers from the region. You will have the opportunity to meet with approximately 12-15 top importers from the northern region. At least 10 of these importers will come from different cities such as Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez and Baja California, North and South. Some of the prospective buyers include: Smart and Final del Noroeste, Grupo Pasani, Super Comercial Gonzalez, Cafe Marino (Sugar Foods), Casa Ley, Calimax Supermarkets, Comercializadora de Marcas Lideres, Supermercados Arteli, Centro Comercial Californiano, Alsuper-Futurama, HEB Mexico Supermarkets, Soriana Supermarkets (#2 supermarket in Mexico), and Grupo Oxxo-Femsa (#1 convenience store in Mexico).
Services offered:
- Market analysis of one of your products prior to the visit
In-market briefing
Supermarket tours
Table-top reception
Breakfast seminar covering the Northern Mexican market and its labeling regulations, importing products in accordance with Mexican guidelines, and border procedures
Inclusion of your company profile (in Spanish) in activity brochure to be distributed to buyers
Products in Demand:
- Butter, margarine, shortening, and oils
Dairy products
Flours
Frozen and canned vegetables
Ice cream
Mayonnaise
Meat
Pet Food
Important Details and Additional Information
Participants may qualify for 50% reimbursement of travel expenses thru Food Export's Branded Program. Visit www.brandedprogram.org for more information.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 30, 2008 ($475). To register, please visit http://www.foodexportalliance.org/eweb/ and look up the event in upcoming activities.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Raul Caballero, Food Export Mexico Representative
raul@marketingsolutionsfirm.com
Shannen Bornsen, MN Dept. of Ag, Activity Manager
shannen.bornsen@state.mn.us
2008 Great American Cooking Expo
November 14, 15 & 16
Expo Center Harper College
Bldg M - 1200 W. Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL
www.thecookingexpo.com/
Discounted Booth Space!
Only 4 spots left
The Great American Cooking Expo takes place over three days – November 14, 15, and 16. Three wonderful days of sampling, savoring, and discovering the best foods, wines, products and ideas available in today’s culinary marketplace.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Marketing and Promotion, has 4 discounted booth spots left for any Illinois company interested in showcasing its products.
Email: larry.aldag@illinois.gov call 217/524-3012 or 217/416/2904
2008 Private Label Trade Show
November 16-18, 2008
Rosemont Convention Center
Chicago, IL
www.plma.com/
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is sponsoring an Illinois Pavilion at this year's PLMA Show. The Private Label Manufacturer's Association Show is November 16-18 in Chicago.
Click Here For Additional Information: http://www.plma.com/ Or email Jim Mackey at jim.mackey@illinois.gov
Third Annual Land of Lincoln Food Expo
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Orr Building
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL
12 Noon-4 p.m.
For further information, contact Larry Aldag at larry.aldag@illinois.gov or at 217/524-3012.
American Culinary Federation Central Regional Conference
Sat.-Mon., February 21-23, 2009
Renaissance Hotel
Schaumburg, IL
www.acfchefs.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/Events/Regional/Central/
The 2009 American Culinary Federation Central Regional Conference is coming to Schaumburg, IL at the Renaissance Hotel February 21-23, 2009. Organizers have asked the Marketing Division to solicit Illinois food companies that might be interested in showcasing their products at the 2009 show.
The central region of the American Culinary Federation consists of 15 states from Minnesota and Michigan in the North to Louisiana and Texas in the south. The more than 400 attendees are made up of Executive Chefs, Pastry Chef’s and Industry professionals bringing with them the buying power or their respective restaurants, country clubs, catering companies and large corporations. This event is an excellent opportunity to get your product in front of an important segment of the industry.
With fifteen states making up the region this conference will not return toIllinois for quite some time. If you think you would like to attend this event space will be limited and available on a first come first served basis. Please contact Bob Reese for more information at 217-524-9130 or drop him an email at bob.reese@illinois.gov
All Things Organic--Illinois Pavilion
June 16 - 18, 2009
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
www.organicexpo.com
All Things Organic™ is the only event focused exclusively on organic products, delivering an audience like no other trade show. In 2008, more than 10,000 attendees visited the show floor- with more than half of them reporting that they plan to increase their volume of organic product purchases in 2009. Don't miss your best opportunity to launch products, meet buyers, network, and increase distribution by exhibiting at this year's All Things Organic™.
91% of buyers found new products at All Things Organic™.
Over 77% of attendees plan to purchase products as a result of attending the show, including nearly 63% with plans to purchase within 3-6 months of the show.
53% of All Things Organic™ attendees do not attend other industry shows.
If your company is interested in participating in the "Illinois Pavilion", contact Delayne Reeves at 217/524-9129 or delayne.reeves@illinois.gov
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