In this Issue:
 Has your company ever thought about exporting, but is not sure where to start or what things to consider? Now is your chance! Register for the
International Marketing Program and Food Exports’ Seminar 'Why Export’ on December 1, 2016 in Detroit, MI. This event will provide
your company with the tools necessary to begin the process of exporting.
At the seminar, participants will learn about the benefits
of exporting, programs and services available, the logistics of exporting,
terms of sale, as well as be able to evaluate their companies export readiness.
The topics covered provide a low-risk and informational
event for companies who want to take the jump into exporting, but are not quite
sure how.
Interested? Register online today!
Event details:
When: December 1,
2016 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Where: Kid Rock
Kitchen Commons, 2934 Russell St, Detroit, MI 48207
Register online
before November 28, 2016. Cost is $50/person
Interested in engaging with over 45,000 buyers face-to-face
at the largest food service and hospitality trade show in the Western
Hemisphere? Then join the International Marketing Program by exhibiting in the Michigan
Pavilion at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago, IL, May
20-23, 2017. Companies that participated in the 2016 Michigan Pavilion reported 293 new leads. The cost for a 10 x 10 booth is $3,395 which includes signage with company name, a lockable counter space, carpet & padding, and hard walls.
In addition to exhibiting at the show, companies can participate in Food Export-Midwest’s Food Service Buyers Mission held in
conjunction with the NRA Show. During the buyers’ mission, companies have arranged one-on-one meetings with pre-qualified international
buyers.
New! This year the
International Marketing Program is also hosting a Michigan Pavilion at the 2017
BAR Show which runs May 21-22 in tandem with the NRA show! Meet with over 5,500
pre-qualified alcoholic beverage buyers to expand your product lines both domestically
and internationally. Additionally, companies can participate in a craft beverage Buyers Mission during the show. Booth space is available on a
first-come-first-serve basis, the cost of a 8 x 5 booth is $1,500. Interested
companies are asked to contact Allie Fox VanDriel for more details.
For more information regarding the 2017 NRA and BAR shows,
please visit the International Marketing Program website, or contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at 517-284-5738 or zmitkoj@michigan.gov for NRA show information, or Allie Fox VanDriel
at 517-284-5737 or foxa1@michigan.gov for BAR show information.
Safie's Specialty Foods Hires 25 Employees as Result of Export Success |
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“Safie Specialty Foods Company, Inc. located in Mt. Clemens,
Michigan, of the 10th Congressional District, has been a consistent
attendant of Food Export activities, participating in 15 events since 2013.
Safie’s has participated in Buyers Missions, Focused Trade Missions, and
utilized Food Show PLUS!™ services provided by Food Export Midwest and the
International Marketing Program of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MDARD). Through these events, Safie’s has increased their
exports to 30% of their overall sales as well as grown total sales by 35-40%.
Mary Safie, the President of Safie Specialty Foods, has stated that these
events have given the company the opportunity to “meet face to face with key
buyers to cultivate relationships critical for international business
development.”
As a result of their export growth, the company has hired an
additional 25 full time employees and 25-30 seasonal employees since 2013. Mary
Safie states that much of their growth is due to their “success with programs
available through the USDA F.A.S. [United States Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service], Food Export Association, and MDARD.”
To read more about Safie’s success, click here.
The International Marketing Program and Food Export –
Midwest offer a variety of programs and activities aimed at helping Michigan
food & agricultural companies export their products. Below is a list of 2017
programs and activities companies can engage in to grow internationally.
Michigan Pavilions:
Appearing at select international and domestic trade shows, Michigan Pavilions are
areas reserved for Michigan food and agriculture companies to market under the
Michigan brand at a reduced cost. For information on upcoming Michigan
Pavilions, please click here.
Focused Trade
Missions: Focused Trade Missions give U.S. suppliers the opportunity to
travel to a country in order to learn first-hand about the market and meet
face-to-face with local buyers. For a list of upcoming Focused Trade Missions,
click here.
Buyers Missions: Buyers
Missions bring qualified, international buyers to the U.S. to meet with U.S.
suppliers. Companies meet one-on-one with the buyers to make potential business
connections and gain important feedback about their product’s exporting
potential. Click for a list of upcoming buyers missions.
Branded Program: A
cost-share funding program that provides U.S. food and agriculture companies up
to 50% cost reimbursement for a variety of eligible international marketing and
promotional expenses. Costs include international website development, package
and label modifications, fees for exhibiting at international trade shows and
select domestic trade shows, freight cost for samples and much more! For more
information about applying and a full list of covered costs, please click here.
Companies seeking more information regarding the programs
and services are encouraged to contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or 517-284-5738, or
Allie Fox VanDriel at foxa1@michigan.gov
or 517-284-5737. The International Marketing Program is also available to meet with companies to discuss which programs and activities would best fit each
individual company’s export goals.
SIAL Paris is the world’s largest
food innovation exhibition and is a high-impact trade show ideal for small to
medium-sized food producers. SIAL Paris is held bi-annually in Paris, France,
and draws buyers from all over the world. This year’s show took place from
October 16-20, 2016, and hosted 7,000 exhibitors and around 155,000 buyers and
industry players from all food sectors. SIAL Paris also provides companies
the opportunity to learn about emerging trends with 250 events taking
place throughout the duration of the show.
Three Michigan companies, Naturipe
Foods, Graceland Fruit and the Cherry Marketing Institute, exhibited in the
Michigan Specialty Crops Booth at SIAL Paris as a part of the USA Pavilion. Interaction
with show attendees was productive and steady. As a result of the show,
the exhibitors in the Michigan Specialty Crops booth anticipate growth in both
existing and new export markets within the next six to twelve months.
Companies interested in exhibiting at trade shows like SIAL
Paris are encouraged to contact Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov or 517-284-5738, or
Allie Fox VanDriel at foxa1@michigan.gov or 517-284-5737.
Be sure to visit our website for a list of upcoming export events
and
activities.
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New! The International
Marketing Program will host a Michigan Pavilion at the 2017 United Fresh Show. The
Michigan Pavilion provides a place for companies to exhibit at a fraction of the cost alongside other Michigan companies, offering the opportunity for local collaboration and business growth.
The United Fresh
Show is designed to connect all aspects of the fresh produce supply chain by
bringing producers, packers, and distributors together at one show. This
combination creates an atmosphere for innovation and business growth in the
fresh produce industry. All companies involved in the process of getting
produce from farm to table will benefit from exhibiting at
this show.
Registration
information can be found on the International Marketing Program website.
The United Fresh Show will take place June 13-15, 2017 at the McCormick
Place in Chicago, IL. The cost for a 10 x 10 booth is $3,350 which includes pipes, drapes, and carpet. Interested companies are encouraged to contact Jamie
Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov
or
517-284-5738.
Q. What is a
Certificate of Free Sale?
A. A Certificate
of Free Sale, sometimes called a “Certificate of Health”, is required for
various food products and used to demonstrate that the product is eligible for
export.
Q. How can I request a
Certificate of Free Sale?
A. In order for a
Michigan-based food processor to obtain a Certificate of Free Sale, they must first
be licensed as a food processor by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development’s Food and Dairy Division. Requests can be made by completing
the Certificate of Free Sale Request Form located on the International Marketing Program’s
website and submitted to the Food and Dairy Division.
Q. Is there a fee for
obtaining a Certificate of Free Sale? How long does it usually take to receive
the certificate?
A. The cost per
certificate is $60 and turnaround time is typically 3-5 days.
For more information on obtaining a Certificate of Free
Sale, click here.
Food Show PLUS! At
Gulfood 2017
February 25-March 2, 2017 | Dubai, UAE
Registration closes Dec. 5
Focused Trade Mission to
Korea for Retail and Foodservice Products
March 12-14, 2017 | Seoul, South
Korea
Registration closes Dec. 19
Specialty Foods Buyers
Mission at the 2017 Winter Fancy Food Show
January 21-23, 2017 | San
Francisco, CA
Registration closes Dec. 9
Seminar: Why Export?
December 1, 2016 | Detroit, MI
Registration closes Nov. 28
The International Marketing Program is excited to welcome our new intern, Grant Kalem!
Grant is currently a junior at Michigan State University studying International Relations and Economics, with a minor in Russian Studies and a Business Cognate. He will be working closely with the program to help Michigan based food and agricultural companies export their products globally! Welcome Grant!
On September 26-27, five Michigan companies travelled to
Miami, Florida to exhibit in the Michigan Pavilion at the 20th Americas
Food and Beverage Show (AFB). The two day show resulted in 45 leads for the
Michigan companies, with expected domestic sales of $50,000 and export sales of
$50,000. The companies in the Michigan Pavilion included Riveridge Produce,
Findlay’s Organics, Safie’s Specialty Foods, Cherry Central, and Michigan Apple
Committee. To view pictures from the
show, follow this link to our Facebook album: 2016 AFB Show.
Companies interested in attending the 2017 AFB show can find
more information by visiting the Michigan Pavilion webpage here, or by
contacting Jamie Zmitko-Somers at zmitkoj@michigan.gov
or 517-284-5738, or Allie Fox VanDriel at foxa1@michigan.gov
or 517-284-5737.
 Jamie Zmitko-Somers
zmitkoj@michigan.gov
517-284-5738
Allie Fox VanDriel
foxa1@michigan.gov
517-284-5737
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