Bringing the Foods of the Midwest and Northeast to the World

1. Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA-NortheastPrograms and Services for Importers Bringing the Foods of the Midwest and Northeast to the World

2. Who are Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast? • Private, non-profit international trade organizations • Members are State Agricultural Promotion Agencies • Work with producers in the Midwest and Northeast • Often work with small and medium-sized US producers • Focus on products that are value-added & consumer-oriented • Members promote our services to the companies within their state • Governed by a Board of Directors/Board of Trustees consisting of Secretaries, Directors or Commissioners of Agriculture from member states

3. Our Mission • Food Export Association of the Midwest U.S.A. and Food Export USA-Northeast are non-profit organizations that use federal, state, and industry resources to promote the export of Midwestern and Northeastern food and agriculture products.

4. StrategicAlliance • Alliance began April 1, 2000 • One Executive Director for both groups • We have seen many benefits

5. Four Regional Trade Groups

6. Products We Work With • Focus on Products that are Value-added, Consumer-oriented • Branded food products • Snack Foods • Convenience Foods • Natural Products • Specialty Foods • Private Label • Food Ingredients • Foodservice Products • Feed Ingredients • Other Value-Added Agricultural Products • Seafood

7. How Do We Achieve Our Mission? • Education • Market Entry • Market Promotion

8. Programs and Services • Education • Newsletter • Websites • Market Entry • Market Builder • Food Show PLUS!TM • Buyers Missions • Trade Missions • Trade Lead Connection • Market Promotion • Branded Program

9. U.S. Foodlink • Informs readers about issues that affect global trade • Focuses on trends in the U.S. that affect retail and food service industries • Showcases new products from the Midwest and Northeast U.S. • Information is available in three formats: - bi-monthly newsletter - bi-weekly email news bulletins - Web site, www.usfoodlink.com

10. U.S. Foodlink Newsletter • Partnership with Progressive Grocer/VNU Publishing • Educate readers about products made in the Midwest and Northeast • In-depth articles on the latest food trends and issues related to food service and retail industries • Published bi-monthly • New Products highlight • U.S. state profiles

11. U.S. Foodlink E-mail Bulletin • Partnership with Food Institute • Comprehensive news source for food industry-related topics • Published biweekly

12. U.S. Foodlink Websitewww.usfoodlink.com • One-stop for latest news, • research, and trends • Find new products made • in the Midwest and Northeast • Upcoming events and • tradeshows

13. Market Builder ServiceOffers Distributors the Opportunity to Meet with Suppliers Market Scan Store Check Distribution Analysis Competitive Product Shopping Importation Analysis Distributor Referrals Rep Finder Distributor Referrals Market Visits • Cost effective primary in-country research • Offered in numerous countries worldwide • Services include: Market Scan or Rep Finder

14. Food Show PLUS!TMLinks International Buyers with Suppliers • Introductions to qualified suppliers at tradeshows - Would you like to participate? • Translation of company information • Interpreters at company booth • Site visits, industry tours, pre-show briefing

15. Buyers Missions Meet Suppliers in the U.S. • Buyers are invited to the U.S. to meet with food and agricultural companies • One-on-one meetings with pre-qualified suppliers • Establish new contacts with long-term sales potential • Often in conjunction with U.S.-based trade shows - i.e. Food Marketing Institute, Fancy Food Shows, National Restaurant Association • Be a part of the mission? - Develop new partnerships with U.S. suppliers

16. Trade MissionsU.S. Suppliers Come To You • 3-day activity to bring suppliers to various countries • Suppliers receive import analysis and competitive store check • Seminars on product label requirements • Table-top reception, suppliers feature products to interested buyers • Schedule one-on-one meetings with suppliers • Companies featured in brochures that are printed in local language • Essential tools provided, such as ground transportation and interpreters throughout mission

17. Trade Lead ConnectionFind U.S. Products • Buyers are able to submit leads electronically through our website by completing our form online • Leads are sent to states and registered suppliers within 24 hours. • Suppliers respond directly and provide information

18. Branded Program • Cost share assistance for branded products in your market • U.S. supplier submits application • small companies only (<500 employees) • or agricultural producer cooperatives • Covers 50% of eligible promotional expenses • Importer/distributor expenses also eligible • All products must have a minimum of 50% U.S. agricultural origin

19. Details of the Program • Maximum $300,000 per company per year for all markets and minimum is $2,500 • Maximum 5 years of funding per country • All products promoted as “Product of USA” • Activities approved in advance • Company incurs all expenses up front • Funds released on a reimbursement basis, subject to documentation

20. What Are Eligible Expenses?Expenses You Can Be Paid For • Advertising and publications • International Trade Shows • Promotions & demonstrations • Public relations and seminars • Package and label changes • Freight costs for samples

21. Ads and Publications • TV, Radio, Billboards • Newspapers, Magazines, Trade Journals • Flyers, Direct Mail • Brochures, Pamphlets, Sell Sheets

22. Print Advertising Taiwan Canada

23. Print Advertising Turkey Germany Canada

24. Print Advertising - Taiwan Domestic Show Ad

25. Billboard Advertising Korea Israel

26. Wrapping Advertising Korea - Kuwait

27. Marketing / POS Materials • The Creation, Printing, Placement and Translation of: • Flyers, Direct Mail, Brochures, Pamphlets, Sell Sheets, • Give-a-way items and more… Shelf Talkers Sell Sheets Brochures Banners Recipe Cards Catalogs Give-a-way Posters

28. POS Materials – Korea POS Tri Fold Brochure

29. POS Materials: Shelf Talkers & Displays

30. POS Materials: Posters/Banners Turkey United Kingdom

31. POS Materials: Give-Away Items

32. International Trade Shows • Booth costs • Rented equipment, chairs, tables, lights, etc • Freight costs • Temporary signage • Interpreters/Translators • Giveaway Items (up to $1/item) • Must exhibit in USA pavilion unless prior approval is granted

33. Foreign Tradeshows Posters Electrical Booth Cost This plant if rented Chair Rental Magazine Rack Rental Carpet USA Pavilion at Show

34. Foreign Tradeshows Polagra Poznan IFIA Tokyo

35. Promotions and Demonstrations • In-store and food service promotions • End-of-aisle displays • Shipment of samples • Temporary displays • Posters, banners, shelf talkers • Giveaways, awards, prizes, gifts (up to $1/item) • Demos to the trade and consumers

36. Demonstrations/Merchandising: Uniforms shirts and hats for various events

37. Demonstrations/Merchandising: Displays Banners Temporary Display stand Uniforms Supplies

38. Demonstrations/Merchandising Demonstrations in the Middle East

39. Demonstrations/Merchandising • Demo Report • Demo reports can be used as an alternative to photos of demonstrations

40. Label Modifications • Eligibility requirements: • When REQUIRED by importing country • Changes to existing packages, NOT for new products • Must show original and modified label • U.S. Origin statement • Eligible expenses include: • Design costs (for required changes only) • Translation costs • Production/printing costs (one year supply only) • Labor to attach stickers (if done by outside vendor)

41. Package and Labeling English/French for Canada

42. Package and Labeling Russia Mexico

43. Package and Labeling • Popcorn Arabic package modification. • We can pay for a variety of flavors • We can pay for the microwave bag, over-wrap and 3 pack box

44. Ineligible Claim Examples

45. Public Relations and Seminars • Editorial Placements • Space and Equipment Rental • Duplication of Seminar Materials • Writing of Press Releases, Press Info Packets

46. Questions to Ask Yourself • Do I buy products with an agricultural origin from the U.S.? • Are any of my suppliers of these products “SMALL” companies? (less than 500 employees)

47. What paperwork do I need to provide my supplier in order to get paid? • Invoice (what you paid for...) • Proof of payment (how you paid...) • Proof of activity (what you did...) • Proof of USA (MUST promote US origin) • English translation and foreign currency exchange rate based on time of payment

48. Questions to Ask Yourself • How much do my small company suppliers and I spend each year promoting products? • What eligible activities are already part of our marketing strategy?

49. Questions to Ask Yourself • What effect would it have on our sales if we • ran twice as many ads? • exhibited at twice as many trade shows? • conducted twice as many in-store demos? • What effect would it have on our sales if we • issued more promotional items? • developed more product literature, sell sheets, etc.?

50. Questions to Ask Yourself • Are there products I would like to carry but my potential supplier’s package or label does not comply with my country’s import requirements? • Would cutting in half the net cost of changing the package/label make it possible to start carrying those products?