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General Business
May 22, 2024
For the second consecutive year, the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) will participate as the state pavilion at the 68th Annual Summer Fancy Food Show. The event will take place June 23-25, 2024, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. NJBAC and its Office of Export Promotion (OEP) will provide show attendees with information on export opportunities, the New Jersey Trade Expansion Program (NJSTEP), and other business services and resources. The NJSTEP initiative is funded in part by the Small Business Administration (SBA). NJBAC and OEP will host 19 New Jersey-based businesses from underserved or underrepresented business communities who are new to exporting and ready to grow with global exports.
“We are pleased to be showcasing New Jersey businesses in the State Pavilion at the Fancy Food Show for the second year in a row,” said Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees NJBAC as Secretary of State. “Our participation in this event allows us to support New Jersey businesses looking to expand and grow, and to share the flavor, culture and diversity of the Garden State with people around the world.”
The 19 underserved businesses meet the criteria set forth in the SBA's definition of the small business community, which includes, but is not limited to, being woman-owned or managed, representing the LGBTQ+ community, Hispanic American, African American, or a veteran and/or disabled veteran. All 19 businesses participating in the Fancy Food event are NJSTEP clients and approved grant recipients. Grant approval is an NJBAC requirement to participate in the pavilion. Each business was required to apply to participate in the pavilion by meeting specific criteria specified by the OEP team. All businesses were evaluated on a first-come, first-served competitive basis.
“The Fancy Food Show is a great opportunity to introduce our 19 New Jersey businesses to the export world,” said Melanie Willoughby, executive director of NJBAC. “Our pavilion provides a platform to connect these businesses with new vendors to help them expand their international operations.”
Organized annually by the Specialty Food Association (SFA), the show is the largest specialty food trade show in North America, attracting more than 34,000 attendees from around the world to learn more about consumer goods from more than 2,000 exhibitors. The 2023 show will feature 2,200 exhibitors from 60 countries, entertaining more than 32,000 attendees over the three-day show. Now in its 68th year, the Fancy Food Show connects companies with potential global export partners (buyers, brokers, distributors) to promote high-quality gourmet foods and ingredients. Each of the 19 participating NJSTEP companies will have the opportunity to learn more about their specialty products over the three-day show.
New Jersey State Pavilion participants include:
- Chookie LLC – Livingston
- Hank Sauce – Sea Isle City
- Harmony Global Foods – Montclair
- Jersey Girl Hot Sauce – Stockton
- Johnson's Popcorn – Ocean City
- Kim Chi Pride – Prospect Park
- Ma Ka Khana – Edison
- Madison Park Foods – Brookside
- Bare Plants – Mendham
- Peleg Natural Foods – Clifton
- Planted Eats Wholesale – North Caldwell
- Savorx Flavors LLC (The Savorx) – Belle Meade
- Seraphim Social Beverages – Red Bank
- Soha Savory – Lawrenceville
- Sam Bread – Hoboken
- Tra Chai – Hillsboro
- Two Rivers Gourmet Mushrooms – Sea Bright
- Undercover Chocolate Company, Inc. – East Hanover
- We Are Wonderfully Made – Metuchen
The NJBAC Export Promotion Office works with small businesses interested in expanding their sales and customer base through exporting to help eligible businesses access the NJSTEP program. Funded in part by the Small Business Administration (SBA), NJSTEP provides needed and fair financial assistance on a first-come, first-served competitive basis to eligible New Jersey small businesses that are exporting for the first time, as well as businesses that currently sell goods or services to other countries.
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