 "Trade shows like this are important to our agricultural economy
because food sales create demand for our crops and jobs in our
food processing plants," Blagojevich said. "The Illinois Food
Expo offers an excellent opportunity for Illinois food companies
to build name recognition with buyers who make purchasing
decisions for restaurants, grocery stores and catering services
throughout the Midwest."
The list of invitees also includes representatives of
wholesale food suppliers, food distributors, convenience stores,
hospitals, colleges and universities, and state institutions.
The expo will allow them to sample and order products from 55
Illinois food companies.
"Marketing Illinois food products is an important part of our
mission," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said. "Every event
we sponsor that creates demand for our agricultural production
helps to preserve jobs in an industry that employs nearly 90,000
Illinoisans."
Illinois ranks third nationally in food processing
employment. It has about 1,500 processing plants, including at
least one in 87 of the state's 102 counties.
The trade show will include an elegant buffet table in the
center of the theater and company booths around its perimeter.
The event is for food buyers only and not open to the general
public.
A list of the participating companies follows:
-
Ahruns Famous
Inc., Crystal Lake
-
al Gelato Bornay
Inc., Franklin Park
-
American Kitchen
Delights Inc., Harvey
-
Athena's
Silverland Desserts, Forest Park
-
Avatar Teas,
Bloomington
-
Birdie Pak
Products, Chicago
-
Bobby G's Fine
Foods, Milan
-
Caputo Cheese --
Wiscon Corp., Melrose Park
-
Chicagoland
Foods, Park Ridge
-
Coffee, Tea & Me,
Chicago
-
Country Bob Inc.,
Centralia
-
Coupla Guys
Foods, Chicago
-
Dell'Alpe Italian
Foods -- Rubinelli Inc., Bolingbrook
-
Devanco Foods,
Elk Grove Village
-
Doreen's Gourmet
Frozen Pizza, Calumet City
-
E. Formella &
Sons Inc., Woodridge
-
Elgin Dairy Foods
Inc., Chicago
-
Food Industry
News, Des Plaines
-
Foulds Inc.,
Libertyville
-
Georgetown Spice
Company, Arlington Heights
-
Goldman's Gourmet
Inc., Springfield
-
Green Mountain
Flavors Inc., Oswego
-
Gusto Packing
Inc., Montgomery
[to top of second column]
 |
-
Hannah's Granna's,
Charleston
-
International Meat
Company Inc., Chicago
-
J.D. Mullen Company,
Palestine
-
Jemm Foods, Chicago
-
Koch Foods, Park
Ridge
-
La Guadalupana
Wholesale, Chicago
-
M & G Foods (Grandpa
G's Brand), Hamilton
-
Makowski's Real
Sausage Company, Chicago
-
Manny's Delicatessen
& Frozen Foods, LLC, Chicago
-
Marconi Foods,
Chicago
-
Mellos Peanut
Company, Chicago
-
Moo and Oink Inc.,
Chicago
-
National Pasteurized
Eggs, Lansing
-
New Packing Company
Inc., Chicago
-
Noon Hour Food
Products, Chicago
-
Prairie Farms Dairy
Inc., Decatur
-
Pronto Foods Company,
Chicago
-
Red Cactus USA,
Quincy
-
Ropp Jersey Cheese,
Normal
-
Rose Acre Farms,
Germantown
-
Select Brands, LLC,
Chicago
-
Simply Sno, Crestwood
-
Sokol & Company,
Countryside
-
Steidinger Foods,
Fairbury
-
Temptation Vegan "Ice
Cream," Chicago
-
The Puckered Pickle
Company, Chicago
-
Torkelson Cheese
Company, Lena
-
Uncle Mel's Inc.,
Wheeling
-
Vince & Sons Pasta
Company, Bridgeview
-
Xcell International
Corporation, Burr Ridge
-
Zafi Beverages Inc.,
Bensenville
-
Zarlengo's Italian
Ice & Gelato, Chicago Heights
About Opportunity Returns: Blagojevich's regional economic
development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach
to creating jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all
approach to economic development just doesn't work, the governor has
divided the state into 10 regions, each with a regional team that is
empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and
challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions
to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more
entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about
upgrading the skills of the local work force, increasing the access
to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and
creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about
successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large
and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.
[Text from
Illinois Department of
Agriculture file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
