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New Market Developer, July-August 2015

Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development sent this bulletin at 07/07/2015 09:15 AM EDT

Issue 4: July-August 2015

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Upcoming Seminar: The Best Way to Get Started in Exporting

In conjunction with Food Export Midwest, the International Marketing Program is offering an opportunity for Michigan producers, companies, and processors to learn about how they can achieve success from exporting. Whether your organization is preparing to begin exporting, or you are simply researching market options, this seminar is an outstanding opportunity to increase your knowledge. The seminar “The Best Ways to get started in Exporting” will take place August 13, 2015 in Lansing at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan from 8:30am-3:30pm.

Topics covered will include:

Developing export competence & confidence
Direct or indirect; intermediaries & distribution channels
Company panel discussions
Overview of Food Export-Midwest programs & services

Primary seminar presenter, Dennis Lynch, M.I.B.A., CGBP, is a 33-year veteran of international trade who has held a variety of positions in the public and private sectors. He has been directly involved in monitoring, troubleshooting and facilitating export transactions for more than 25 years. The seminar will also feature a company panel of experts from the region who will provided tips and tricks of the trade for getting starting in exporting. Registration for the seminar is now open at $50 per person and closes August 7th.

Visit the Food Export-Midwest website to register today: www.foodexport.org

For more information contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or 517-284-5738.

FAS Trade Lead Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has launched a new online system to connect exporters of U.S. food and agricultural products with potential customers around the world.

The trade lead system gives U.S. exporters access to information about potential foreign sales opportunities. In addition, interested international buyers can use the system to search for potential suppliers of U.S. farm and food products.

To learn more about the trade lead system and to register, visit www.fas.usda.gov/trade-lead-system.

Market Builder Service

Finding the right market and buyer for your product is the key to exporting success. Exporters who are looking to secure their product in an international market, find new distributors or importers, or receive valuable feedback about their product can take advantage of Food Export Association’s Market Builder service. This one-of-a-kind service offers packages specifically designed to fit an exporter’s product. Cherry Central Cooperation is just one of the companies that finds the Market Builder Service as a valuable resource- that can lead to export success, click here to read the success story.

What is the advantage of using Marker Builder?

Market Builder provides customized research to help your company uncover potential in international markets. It has two components:

Market Scan draws on In-Market Representative expertise to provide in-depth market research for a specific product; services include but are not limited to store check and distribution analysis, competitive product shopping, and target importer listing.
Rep Finder helps to facilitate direct meetings between your company and a select group of targeted importers. A minimum of three one-on-one appointments will be arranged for your company with targeted importers.

What are the benefits to your company?

Low risk way to ascertain the market’s climate (favorable or non-favorable)
Acquire valuable data regarding import regulations and restrictions on successfully entering the desired market
Discover competition and sales potential within a variety of retail and distribution facilities as well as associated cost-effectiveness
One-on-one meetings with pre-qualified and interested buyers
In-market assistance, such as introductions, translation (if necessary) and follow-up assistance

Marker Builder is offered in multiple countries including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and more, please click here for detailed information for this great service.

Success Experienced at NRA & FMI Shows

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) welcomed more than 40,000 buyers to their world class foodservice event May 16-19 at the McCormick place in Chicago, Illinois. Representatives and businesses from all 50 states and 100+ countries were present at the show as well as Michigan producers looking to expand their business beyond American borders. A total of eight Michigan businesses and commodity groups participated in the MDARD Michigan pavilion, leading to a total of $925,000 in anticipated sales. This year’s participants included; Better Made Snack Foods, Cherry Central, Michigan Bean Commission, Michigan Potato Industry Commission, Naturipe Farms, Temperance Distilling Co., The Great Lakes Potato Chip Co., and Zeeland Food Services. Ed Girrach, President of The Great Lakes Potato Chip Company, declared that the NRA Show was “very valuable for our small company.” Ed reported that the show resulted in more than 50 new industry contacts for their company and expects an increase in sales as a result.

Four weeks later McCormick Place was filled again, this time by the FMI Connect show held June 9-11 in Chicago, Illinois. Over 700 exhibitors were present in search of fresh and perishable products, packaged grocery, frozen products, and more. The show also featured culinary demonstrations, educational sessions with keynote speakers, and opportunities to meet one-on-one with new buyers on site. During the three day event Cherry Central, HoneyTree Inc, Findlay Organics, LorAnn Oils, Microcide, Inc., and Safie Specialty Food Co. participated in the Michigan pavilion at the show. Commodity groups Michigan Potato Industry Commission and Michigan Apple Committee also exhibited booths at the Michigan pavilion. These Michigan businesses had the opportunity to engage in conversations with company representatives from across the world. As a result, these companies will access new export markets to China, Japan, India, and Pakistan.

To learn more about these events, and begin planning for next year check out the International Marketing Program activities page available here: Michigan Pavilions at Trade Shows.

Contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers with any additional questions at zmiktoj@michigan.gov or 517-284-5738.

FMI Bus Trip

The International Marketing Program recently partnered with Michigan Farm Bureau to organize a one day bus trip, which allowed Michigan businesses the ability to travel to the FMI Connect show at McCormick place on June 11. The group of 30 people included representatives from a wide variety of establishments from across the State of Michigan. As an annual event, the bus trip provides an opportunity for Michigan businesses, producers, and farmers to walk the vast show floor and interact with other producers.Visiting the show provides a unique opportunity to see what products are about to hit the market.

But the show offers much more than just early access to new products. In a single day, attendees had the opportunity to gain knowledge to “prepare for coming trends and develop their own new products, they may also build their contact list and could even glean additional sources for their businesses,” said Kate Krepps, Associate Field Crop Specialist for Michigan Farm Bureau.

America's Food & Beverage Show

The 19th Americas Food and Beverage Show will take place October 26-27 in Miami, FL at the Miami Beach Convention Center. With over 10,000 individuals in attendance, this show presents an invaluable opportunity to establish or strengthen industry contacts. The International Marketing Program will once again have a Michigan Pavilion at the show, and encourage Michigan companies to attend. Although all companies are welcome to attend, the show will focus primarily on products that highlight the crops and flavors unique to the Americas. As such, Michigan companies offering fruits, vegetables, dry beans or specialty goods will be of particularly high interest for international buyers.

Last year, America’s Food & Beverage Show welcomed 154 international exhibitors representing 29 countries. National pavilions were also held by 11 countries including Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, and Turkey. Connections established at the show resulted in $168.6 million actual and projected sales, with 13% of those sales produced by companies new to export. With even more exhibitors and countries expected to attend, the 19th Americas Food and Beverage Show is sure to be an even bigger success!

For more show information visit the show website today!

Testimonies from companies across the country who attended last year’s show are available here.

Contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers with questions at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or 517-248-5738.

Exporter's Toolbox

Every profession comes with a unique set of tools. As a food exporter your toolbox might be lacking if you aren't using all of the available resources. The following are links and articles to assist in making sales overseas:

Branded Program- help offset the costs of international marketing expenses with this reimbursement program.

Online Webinars- Food Export-Midwest offers a wide variety of online webinars available to you 24/7.

United States Department of Agriculture FAS- get information about foreign markets from the USDA.

Welcome Allie!

International Marketing Specialist Hannah Bollinger recently left the International Marketing Program team in order to pursue other opportunities. We wish her good luck in her future endeavors!

Assuming the role of International Marketing Specialist in the International Marketing Program is Allie Fox. Allie is a recent graduate from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in International Studies and a cognate in Anthropology. She recently interned with the Cherry Marketing Institute where she worked on their export program and interacted with Michigan cherry growers and processors. We are excited to have her join the team and know she will be a valuable addition. Welcome Allie!

Companies can contact Allie at 517-284-5737 or FoxA1@michigan.gov.