The 12th Annual Making It In Michigan Conference and Marketplace Trade Show will be Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at the Lansing Center.
Making It In Michigan Conference
If you are interested in starting or expanding a food business, the Conference provides you with 11 different educational strategies covering product development, marketing and compliance. You will also have the opportunity to learn from and engage with retailers and distributors on determining the right placement strategies for your products.
Hear what other conference attendees have said about participation:
“If you want to want to be a part of the growing food scene in Michigan, attending the Making It In Michigan conference is a must.”- Andrew Chmielewski, Dave’s Sweet Tooth
“The Making It In Michigan conference has helped me build some great relationships and got the word out about my company.” - Scott Christ, Pure Food Company
As a result of the 2017 Making It In Michigan conference, attendees plan to:
- Develop a new food product or business 42%
- Launch a food product for retail sale from my food service business 35%
- Contact retailers to market my product 47%
- Hire a distributor to promote my product 29%
Marketplace Trade Show
The Marketplace Trade Show is invaluable opportunity for telling your story and showcasing your market-ready product to potential retail buyers. Becoming a vendor at the Marketplace Trade Show gives you exposure to:
- Retail buyers: large supermarket chains or institutional food buyers, independent grocers, specialty food stores
- General consumers
- Brokers
- Distributors
- Food Cooperatives
- Chefs
Past Marketplace Trade Show exhibitors have said:
“We attended the Making It In Michigan Marketplace trade show, which was a great opportunity to meet the decision makers at large and small stores and have benefited tremendously from that opportunity.” - Monica Randles, Nutcase Vegan Meats
"We've made some great contacts and met new customers at the Making It In Michigan Marketplace trade show and have become connected with some excellent resources in the industry." - Marshall and Elliot Rader, The Gluten Free Bar
Vendors at the 2017 Making It In Michigan Marketplace Trade Show reported:
- Receipt of new orders 39%
- Contacts established would lead to future orders 40%