Company

Products

Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC

Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC is a manufacturer of processed meat products. Product categories include raw and fully cooked bacon, hams, roast beef, meat balls, sliced deli meats, raw and precooked sausage, dry sausage, Italian specialties and franks/smoked sausage. Their key brands are Armour, Eckrich, Margherita, and Healthy Ones. Armour-Eckrich sells to the food service, retail and deli channels.

CCD Ranch

Purebred black angus beef-no hormones or antibiotics. Natural beef sold in 1/4, 1/2, or whole-hamburger in 1 pound packs.

Hogg Hollow Winery

Hogg Hollow Winery offers wines made with grapes only grown in Southern Illinois. Whites: Seyval (dry), Vidal (dry), Villard Blanc (off dry), Vignoles (semi-sweet), Heavenly White (sweet blend of Seyval, Vidal, Villard, and Vignoles); Full Bodied Reds: Chambourcin (dry), Norton (dry and oaky), Vintner's Choice (off dry blend of Norton and Chambourcin), Rylee Red (sweet blend of Norton and Chambourcin), Sweet Red Bour (very sweet Chambourcin); Light Red: Blush (semi-sweet blend of Seyval and Chambourcin), Hogg Wild (sweet blend of blackberries, blueberries, Chambourcin and Seyval), and Shelby Rose (Norton and Chambourcin, only processed like a white wine, very light and fruity).

Hot Mamas Foods

Organic and all natural salsas, hummus, sauces, dressings, sandwiches, butters, spreads, pizzas, and dips.

Kite Hill Vineyards

Kite Hill Vineyards has a variety of wines made from grapes grown in their vineyards. They also have a Bed & Breakfast on the 26 acre property. They specialize in dry wines, but they also have an excellent Sweet Rose.

If you have any changes that you would like made to your company’s Profile Form, please send us a copy of the attached FORM as soon as possible and we will update your listing. Also if you know of a company that would like to be added to our database, pass on a copy of the form to them.

Company Profile

Larry Aldag

larry.aldag@illinois.gov

217/524-3012

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

info@foodexport.org

312/334-9200

January 10 - 12	Illinois Specialty Crop Conference
	Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center Springfield, Illinois

Illinois Specialty Growers Association

January 12 - 14	Winter Fancy Food Buyers Mission
	San Diego, CA

This is an unparalleled, low-cost opportunity to meet with visiting retailers, wholesalers, brokers, trade suppliers, and distributors from multiple foreign markets. You will have approximately 30 minutes to meet with each buyer that you have pre-selected prior to the mission. The one-on-one meetings will provide you with direct buyer feedback on your product’s international market potential.

Meetings will be held on January 12, 13 and 14 at the San Diego Convention Center during the NASFT’s Winter Fancy Food Show.

Will Smith

January 17 - 18	MIDWEST Organic Production and Marketing Conference & Trade Show
	Illinois Union on the Campus of the University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois

Attention Illinois Organic Businesses!

There is still exhibitor space available at the Midwest Organic Production and Marketing Conference and Trade Show, January 17-18, 2008 at the Illini Union on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana. Cost is $300 per exhibit space ($250 for non-profit organizations) and includes an 8-foot table and two registrations to the conference. This is the fourth year of the conference (formerly Illinois Organic Production Conference) and the event continues to grow. We hope you can join us.

Clicking anywhere on the image below will take you to the conference website. Follow the links to the on-line registration form for exhibitors. Questions? Call Dan Anderson 217-333-1588.

Dan Anderson

January 21 - 25	2008 NORTHEAST BUYERS MISSION
	Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston

The Northeast Buyers Mission is the largest Buyers Mission of the year. The 2007 Northeast Buyers Mission brought together more than 85 U.S. suppliers with buyers from around the globe. U.S. suppliers walked away from the three-day event with an increase of more than $1.9 million in actual sales and a potential for an increase of more than $12 million.

During the 2008 event, one-on-one matchmaker meetings will be scheduled at major hotels in Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston with buyers from 23 countries including: Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates. Not only do these meetings help you establish new relationships and initiate new export sales, they provide an opportunity for you to gain valuable feedback on your product's potential in the various country markets.

Early registration deadline: December 10, 2007

Final registration deadline: January 7, 2008

Lauren Lockie

January 23	Land of Lincoln Food Expo
	Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, Illinois

The "2nd Land of Lincoln Food Expo" food show will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, in the Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL. This is a new location for the show…all exhibitors will be located in one large room.

The cost to participate is only $75.

Over 1,000 retail and food service food buyers representing major retailers, independent retailers, large and small wholesale suppliers, retail and foodservice distributors, convenience store distributors and wholesalers, food brokers, restaurants, hospitals, food service operators, colleges-universities, schools, state institutions and others will be invited to attend. Buyers located in downstate Illinois and also some buyers located in the Chicago area & even out of state will be invited. Illinois food companies participating in the show will receive a copy of the list of buyers who are being invited to the show.

Participating food companies are encouraged to sample their food products at the show. Electric skillets, microwaves, roaster ovens, etc., can be used to prepare/maintain food samples. A more than ample electric supply is available in the Orr Building. Limited refrigeration space and ice will also be available at no cost.

Please complete & return the "Interest in Participating" Form as soon as possible. An Exhibitor's Packet will be mailed at a later time. This show will provide a very inexpensive venue to promote Illinois food products to retail and food service food buyers. The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Marketing & Promotion is coordinating this show.

Informational Flyer

Interest in Participation Form

Comments from Last Year's Show

Larry Aldag

January 23 - 25	'08 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo
	Atlanta, GA

The Illinois Dept. of Agriculture (IDOA) has blocked space at the `08 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo. This event has been the largest international poultry specific trade show, and it is now bigger and better! The `07 show joined forces with the American Feed Industry Association. The `08 event is scheduled for January 23-25 in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. The show is estimated to attract about 20,000 poultry and feed leaders from 90 countries.

Bobby Dowson

February 13 - 16	Pet Food and Treats Buyers Mission
	San Diego, CA

This is Your Opportunity to Gain Access to the Thriving International Pet Food Marketplace

In coordination with the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), Food Export USA is providing your company with the opportunity to meet pet food buyers from around the world. Prescreened pet food and treat importers are brought together for you to meet in one-on-one, product-matched meetings at one convenient location.

The Pet Food Buyers Mission is held the day before the start of the Global Pet Expo. Buyer profiles, meeting location and other information will be available soon.

Participating companies must promote only those products manufactured in the US with a minimum of 50% US-agricultural content by weight.

Products of Interest: Food, treats, and vitamins/supplements for pets such as dogs, cats, birds, fish, and small reptiles.

David Drayton

February 18 - 22	2008 Focused Trade Mission to Monterrey and Mexico City, Mexico
	Monterrey and Mexico City, Mexico

Visit Mexico to Find Out First-Hand if the Market is Right for Your Products

Focused Trade Missions are an excellent opportunity to travel internationally, learn more about your product’s export potential, and build relationships with interested key importers. The USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service reports that Mexico continues to be one of the best opportunities in the world for U.S. exporters. Visit www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep to search more information on the Mexican market.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 27, 2007

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

February 23 - 25	Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-Con
	San Diego, CA

This is Your Opportunity to Gain Access to the Thriving International Frozen Food Marketplace

This is an unparalleled opportunity to meet with visiting retailers, wholesalers, brokers, trade suppliers, and distributors from multiple foreign markets. You will have approximately 30 minutes to meet with each buyer that you have pre-selected prior to the mission. The one-on-one meetings will provide you with direct buyer feedback on your product’s international market potential.

Meetings will be held February 23rd through 25th at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina during the AFFI Frozen Food Convention.

Products of Interest
International manufacturers and processors, suppliers, marketers, retailers and foodservice operators and other related businesses have expressed interest in a wide variety of U.S. frozen foods.

The deadline to schedule international buyers meetings is February 1, 2008

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

March 1 - 2	10th Illinois Products Expo…A Food & Cooking Extravaganza
	Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL

The “10th Illinois Products Expo...A Food and Cooking Extravaganza@ will be held March 1-2, 2008, in the Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL.

Expo hours:
Saturday, March 1 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 2 – 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The cost to participate is only $175.

Illinois food companies can sample and sell their food products to consumers who attend the Expo. Last year, over 5,800 people (11 years of age and older) attended the Expo. (We do not keep a record of attendance of children under 11 years of age).

The Expo provides a very inexpensive venue to promote Illinois food products to consumers.

Last year, approximately eighty Illinois food companies, agribusiness and agricultural groups promoted, sampled and/or sold their Illinois food and agricultural-based products to general public consumers and to some special buyers. Last year, fifty-nine companies sold over $65,300 in total value of sales during the Expo alone (not counting any long-term commitments to special food buyers).

A promotional flyer and an “Interest in Participating” form is attached. If interested in participating, complete and return the attached form as soon as possible. (Space is limited.)

The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Marketing and Promotion is coordinating the event.

Larry Aldag

March 2 - 4	Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA Show)
	Toronto, Canada

The sign-up deadline for Illinois Dept. of Agriculture sponsorship is December 15th, 2007.

The CRFA Show [Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association] is the combination of the Canadian Food and Beverage Show and Hostex. The event is the largest food service show in Canada and Canada is our largest trading partner. If your company exports products (or wishes to) this show is an excellent opportunity to put your products in front of major buyers from the foodservice industry as well as many retail buyers. Products for catering, hotel, restaurant, and institutional trade are especially relevant at this show..

Jim Mackey

March 10 - 14	2008 AAHAR Food Show PLUS!
	New Delhi, India

Maximize Your Tradeshow Experience With Food Show PLUS!

TMAAHAR is India’s largest food tradeshow. The 2007 event boasted more than 25,000 business visitors from the region. India is an emerging market for U.S. high-value agricultural products. With the country’s large size, growing incomes, and changing lifestyles there are prime opportunities for food producers in India. Visit www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep to search more information on the Indian market.

Early Registration Deadline is December 31, 2007 ($200)
Final Registration Deadline: January 28, 2008 ($300)

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

March 11 - 14	FOODEX Japan 2008
	Tokyo, Japan

ONLY 1 BOOTH LEFT!

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will be sponsoring an Illinois stand within the U.S. Pavilion at FOODEX Japan 2008. The show will be held March 11-14, 2008, at Nippon Convention Center (Makuhari Messe) in Tokyo. FOODEX is the largest food and beverage show in Asia, which serves Japan’s $600 billion food market. FOODEX is also attracting an increasingly regional visitor profile, thus providing an outstanding opportunity for promoting your products to other Asian markets. Japan is an $8 billion export market for U.S. food, beverage, and seafood products. With a food self-sufficiency rate of only 40%, Japan is one of the most import-dependent markets in the world. As a result, high Japanese demand for foreign food and beverage products remains a constant, regardless of overall market conditions. Asia-wide trends begin in Japan. For foreign companies, entry into the Japanese market is often the first step to expansion across the entire Asia Pacific region.

Kim Hamilton

March 14 - 16	Natural Products Expo West Buyers Mission
	Anaheim, CA

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are sponsoring a world of opportunities that are naturally good for your products.

Bring the international marketplace to you by participating in the Natural Products Expo West Buyers Mission! This Buyers Mission, happening in conjunction with Natural Products Expo West, the nation’s largest natural, organic, and healthy products tradeshow, is a cost- effective, convenient way to find potential new international buyers. You meet one-on-one with pre-qualified and motivated buyers from Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Taiwan, obtain live feedback about your product’s exporting potential; and build relationships with key industry players.

Early registration: February 1, 2008
Final registration: February 29, 2008

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

April 6 - 10	Bakery Ingredients Trade Mission to Mexico City 2008
	Mexico City, Mexico

Get Your Products into the Growing Mexican Bakery Industry

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA–Northeast are offering a low-cost opportunity for U.S. bakery ingredient exporters to meet with a variety of bakery buyers in Mexico. Take advantage of the expected continued growth of the Mexican bakery sector by participating in this mission.

The registration deadline is February 11th.

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

April 23 - 25	SIAL Montreal
	Montreal, Canada

SIAL Montreal will host over 700 exhibitors, and 15,000 buyers from all provinces of Canada and 80 other countries. Canada is the #1 market for U.S. consumer food products with consumer-ready products being the largest and fastest growing segment of Canada’s food imports. Canada is also the #1 export market for Illinois’ food products. SIAL Montreal may also be one of the best international shows for displaying your products to a worldwide audience. If your company wants to make inroads in Canada with the additional opportunity of some European buyers, SIAL Montreal may be a good tradeshow choice.

The sponsored booth price is only $2395.

The sign-up deadline is January 15th.

Jim Mackey

April 26 - 27	2008 Food and Beverage Buyers Mission
	Chicago, IL

Meet One-on-One With Qualified International Retailers

Held in conjunction with the first ever Global Food and Style Expo in Chicago, the Food and Beverage Buyers Mission is a great, low-cost opportunity for U.S. food and agricultural exporters to meet face-to-face with qualified, international buyers. Many participating retailers attend the Buyers Mission with importers, which aids in producing immediate sales and widens your global network.

Early Registration deadline is March 17, 2008 ($75)
Final Registration Deadline is April 10, 2008 ($125)

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

April 27 - 29	2008 US Food Export Showcase
	McCormick Place Chicago, Illinois

SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is sponsoring an Illinois Pavilion within the Food Export Alliance Pavilion at the 2008 U.S. Food Export Showcase. The show will be be held on April 27 - 29, 2008 and will take place at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Now part of the Global Food and Style Expo, the U.S. Food Export Showcase will be held alongside the Spring Fancy Food Show and All Things Organic Show creating one of North America's largest food-focused events. Importers, donestic/int'l retailers and food service buyers will attend the event.

Kim Hamilton

April 27 - 29	All Things Organic - Illinois Pavilion
	Chicago, Illinois

ONLY TWO SPACES LEFT!
DEADLINE: January 15th.

Delayne Reeves

May 5 - 7	2008 FMI Show
	Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas, Nevada

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is sponsoring an Illinois Pavilion at the 2008 FMI Show. The show will be held on May 5 - 7, 2008 and will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

FMI is North America's largest food distribution show. Twenty-five thousand supermarket retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and importer/exporters from across North America & around the globe (133 countries) come to the FMI Show looking for food & beverage products. As an Illinois Pavilion participant at FMI, your company can be part of the largest state-sponsored area at the show. Top category buyers attend FMI to view many areas including food, beverage, pharmacy, general merchandis, & technology. FMI also promotes companies to get distribution in every retail outlet, such as specialty stores, mass merchants, department stores, convenience sotre, & supermarket chains.

Deadline is December 3, 2007.

Kim Hamilton

May 13 - 15	Focused Trade Mission to Canada for Specialty and Natural Products
	Toronto, Canada

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are sponsoring a world of opportunities that are naturally good for your products.

The Focused Trade Mission for Natural Products will allow you to assess the opportunities for your product in the Canadian market with the help of Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast. Not only will you meet one-on-one with buyers and learn more about the Canadian market, but you will also receive a market analysis of your product prior to the visit, an in-market briefing, tours of supermarkets and foodservice providers, product showcase, assistance with lead follow-up, and a networking reception.

Final registration: March 18, 2008

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

May 14 - 16	SIAL China
	Shanghai, China

Participate with the IL Dept of Agriculture and the USDA to promote your products to the world. SIAL China will be May 14th to 16th in Shanghai. US exports are exploding and the timing could not be better for this important show. Save 50% on booth space and access other programs for additional assistance with show expenses. Contact Jim Mackey now!

Jim Mackey

May 17 - 20	2008 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show
	McCormick Place Chicago, Illinois

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is sponsoring an Illinois Pavilion at the 2008 NRA Show. The show will be held on May 17 - 20, 2008 and will take place at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

The American Food Fair will join the National Restaurant Show (NRA) to provide Illinois companies top exposure to the lucrative $537 billion restaurant and lodging business. The NRA Show is the largest single gathering in the world of foodservice and lodging professionals that include corporate executives, owners/operators, franchisees, managers and purchasing agents of foodservice, hotel/motel operations, cruise lines, airlines/commissary, entertainment concessions, military, and contract foodservice. The show includes more that 2,142 exhibitors and 73,500+ attendees from 50 state and 115 countries. More than 5,700 international buyers attend the show.

Deadline is December 3, 2007.

Kim Hamilton

June 1 - 3	IDDBA Dairy-Deli-Bake Show
	Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, LA

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will be organizing a state pavilion at this year's IDDBA Dairy-Deli-Bake Show. The IDDBA Show is the premier supermarket dairy, deli, and bakery show in the industry and continues to grow and improve every year. Participate with the Illinosi Department of Agriculture and save 50% off the booth cost!

Deadline is January 31, 2008.

Jim Mackey

June 26 - 28	Natural Products Expo Asia Food Show PLUS!™
	Hong Kong, China

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are sponsoring a world of opportunities that are naturally good for your products.

Natural Products Expo Asia is the largest and most prominent natural and organic products tradeshow in Hong Kong. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast can enhance your tradeshow effectiveness with technical and logistical assistance by providing pre-show feedback on your competition, translation of your marketing materials, an in-market briefing and orientation, retail store visits, a booth interpreter, pre-arranged meetings with potential buyers, trade lead qualification, and post-show follow-up assistance.

Early registration: April 3, 2008
Final registration: May 1, 2008

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

June 28 - July 2	IFT Food Expo - 2008
	New Orleans, LA

The Institute of Food Technologists' Food Expo is the premier US event for food ingredients and technology, and one of the most important food ingredient shows in the world. Thousands of food scientists, technologists, and business professionals will travel to new Orleans to search out new products, new sources, and new technologies. 42% of attendees are in R&D/scientific/technical job functions. 12% are vice presidents or highter. 86% make or influence their company's buying decisions.

For more information: www.ift.org

Deadline is January 31, 2008.

Jim Mackey

September 12 - 13	Canadian Health Food Association Food Show PLUS!™
	Toronto , Canada

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are sponsoring a world of opportunities that are naturally good for your products.

Improve your tradeshow effectiveness at the CHFA Health Food Show in Canada with Food Show Plus!™. Food Show Plus!™ services will enhance your trade show opportunities by providing: pre-show feedback on competition, translation of your marketing materials, pre-arranged meetings with potential buyers, retail visits, in-market briefing, trade lead qualification, and post-show follow-up assistance.

Early registration: June 20, 2008
Final registration: July 18, 2008

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

October 8	5th Illinois Food Expo
	Drury Lane Theatre Center Oakbrook Terrace, IL

12:00 Noon – 4:00 p.m.

More information will be forthcoming.

Larry Aldag

October 15 - 18	Natural Products Expo East Buyers Mission
	Boston , MA

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are sponsoring a world of opportunities that are naturally good for your products.

Taking place in conjunction with the Natural Products Expo East tradeshow, this special event will bring importers who want to purchase natural and organic products together with U.S. suppliers who have products to offer in this sector. Meet with pre-qualified and motivated buyers from around the world in pre-arranged, one-on-one meetings right here in the U.S.; obtain live feedback about your product’s exporting potential; and build relationships with key industry players. Make the most of this premier health food show in Canada!

Early registration: September 3, 2008
Final registration: October 1, 2008

Food Export Association of the Midwest USA