Food Marketing News and Web Links

ILLINOIS DAIRY INDUSTRY TOUR, SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 1, 2009
The Illinois Dairy Industry Tour slated for September 27 through October 1 showcases Illinois' storied dairy industry to foreign buyers and is coordinated through IDOA's domestic, Mexico City and Asian Marketing Divisions. Contact Bobby Dowson at bobby.dowson@illinois.gov or 217.782-4755. Home.

ILLINOIS GRAIN TOUR, OCTOBER 11-15, 2009
The Illinois Grain Tour brings agricultural importers to Illinois to see first hand the agricultural technology that makes Illinois second in the US in agricultural exports. Participants are recruited through the IDOA offices in Mexico City and Hong Kong. Contact Terry English at terry.english@illinois.gov or 217.785-0115. Home.

6TH FOOD EXPO, OCTOBER 7, 2009
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL
There is still space available in the 6th Illinois Food Expo Food Show an event designed to showcase Illinois food manufacturers only! As a participant, you will receive the list of over 2,000 retail and foodservice 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. Vendors have indicated that receiving the list of buyers is well worth the cost of the show.

The show will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, Schaumburg, Illinois, from 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The show is being coordinated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Marketing & Promotion.

The cost to participate is as follows:

$250 (without electricity)

$389 (booth space with 5amps/500 watts of electric, if ordered 21 days prior to the show)

$424 (booth space with 10 amps/1000 watts of electric, if ordered 21 days prior to the show)

$455 (booth space with 20 amps/2000 watts of electric, if ordered 21 days prior to the show)

Participating companies will prepare and sample their food product(s) in a 10 ft. x 10 ft. exhibit space. The Illinois Department of Agriculture will pay for the rental of carpeting to cover the entire exhibit area.

Click here to find comments from some of last year�s buyers, go here to review comments from last year�s exhibitor's and navigate here to get an �Interest in Participating Form�. A promotional piece is here.

Please complete the attached �Interest in Participating� Form and fax or e-mail it back as soon as possible. Contact Larry Aldag at larry.aldag@illinois.govor 217.524.3012. Back to top.

ILLINOIS PRODUCTS SHOWCASE, OCTOBER 15, 2009
Hamilton's Catering, Jacksonville, IL
IDOA Marketing is currently recruiting for the ILLINOIS PRODUCTS SHOWCASE, a highly successful food show that drew more than 700 consumers in its previous run in 2007. The event will be held at Hamilton's Catering on October 15th, 2009. This not only provides you an opportunity to get your product sampled by new people, but also gives you a chance at bulk sales. THIS SHOW IS NOT CLOSED, BUT SPACES ARE FILLING UP FAST. To secure your spot, or for more information, contact Bob Reese. 217.524.9130 or email bob.reese@illinois.gov Home.

VIV CHINA IN BEIJING, OCTOBER 19-21, 2009
VIV China showcases the industry's developments by the Feed-to -Meat concept. Feed-to-Meat brings together supply and demand within the complete animal protein chain. VIV China will represent every step in the meat production process. VIV China will be the meeting point for milk production specialists. VIV recognized the important growth in the dairy sector and the developments in demand for liquid milk and dairy products. Contact Terry English at terry.english@illinois.gov or 217.785-0115.Home.

GREAT AMERICAN COOKING EXPO, OCTOBER 23-25, PALATINE
Marketing is recruiting for the Great American Cooking Expo to be held October23-25, 2009 in Palatine, Illinois. With over 4000 in attendance in 2008, the Great American Cooking Expois an extraordinary opportunity for brand exposure, attracting new customers,and reinvigorating previous relationships. And, since the Cooking Expo takesplace in late October � just before the largest cooking and gift-giving season, your company will be face to face with consumers eager for cooking and holiday shopping ideas. Contact Larry Aldag at larry.aldag@illinois.gov or 217.524.3012. Home.

2009 WOMEN'S LIFESTYLE CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW, OCTOBER 24
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois
The 18th Annual Women�s Lifestyle Conference will be held Saturday,October 24th in the Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, from 9:00 a.m.� 4:00 p.m. Last year, over 7,500 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 2008, 325 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 $55 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.) 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). To participate, complete and return the attached Vendor Application and fax or e-mail to Larry Aldag, Illinois Department ofAgriculture Fax � 217/524-5960; e-mail � larry.aldag@illinois.gov. For more information, contact Larry (telephone - 217/524-3012). Home.

LIVESTOCK SHOW, ASIA, OCTOBER 27-29
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This event is the fastest growing international trade show for feed, livestock, and the meat processing industries. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) will provide an Illinois Pavilion for interested Illinois companies. Exhibitor categories include: vaccines, feed additives, antibiotics, feed and livestock equipment, poultry equipment, genetics, meat products and packing equipment. Livestock Asia is a biannual event that attracts over 5,000 trade show attendees and 250 exhibitors from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, China,Malaysia, Vietnam, India, the US and the Middle East. Contact Bobby Dowson at bobby.dowson@illinois.gov or 217.782.4755. Home.

AMERICAS FOOD & BEVERAGE SHOW, NOVEMBER 9-10, 2009, MIAMI FLA
The Americas Food & Beverage Show targets the Western Hemisphere,which is the largest regional market for agricultural exports and is the largest of its kind. Miami serves as the leading food and beverage purchasing and distribution center in the Americas, serving as an ideal platform for market entry into this region. Thirty-three percent of all U.S. exports flow through South Florida. Companies interested in developing new markets in the 46 countries that comprise the Western Hemisphere use Miami as their platform for market entry, sales, and distribution. Over 1,200 food and beverage importers, exporters, and distributors are based in Miami. Additionally, Miami serves as the largest cruise port in the world. Cruise line buyers purchase food and beverages for more than 12 million passengers who take cruises each year. Miami serves as the sales and distribution center for duty free products sold in duty free stores in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over 5,868 buyers from 87countries attended the 2008 show. Companies will receive a value-added package that includes their booth space and pre-set meetings withpre-qualified international retailers, distributors, and importers. These meetings will take place before, during, and after the show. Deadline for entry is July 31, 2009. The flier is here. Contact Kim Hamilton at kim.hamilton@illinois.gov or 217.782.5809. Home.