Hello, we’re Midwest Pantry!

We organize and offer… • networking events • educational seminars • sales events (wholesale & retail) • sales opportunities • mentorship & consultation

We are MN food entrepreneurs. We help MN food entrepreneurs. Making MN #1 for food startups.

We created the Local Food & Gift Trade Show

Which showcases juried locally made products to be sold to wholesale buyers from across the region.

The Local Food & Gift Show is a little different than the average tradeshow.

(my business partner)

(my Mom)

It’s an intimate experience…

Crafted to connect quality producers and motivated wholesale buyers

To establish business relationships that benefit both businesses.

We know wholesale buyers are busy.

Even as we are growing, we know we must make it worth the buyers time

So, we vet producers at our Shows: 1) They must be licensed & insured

2) They must be unique; we minimize dupes to maximize variety

3) They must be shelf-ready, with great packaging & a UPC Code

We’ve been doing this for a while.established in

MMX (2010)

We’ve organized dozens of events…

Starting by organizing groups at the Food & Wine Show here in Mpls...

It worked…

We saved $$ and proved a group of producers can attract attention!

(that’s me)

So we grew, creating a “pop-up” show with 18 producers & 50 buyers.

It worked! So, we grew again…

Filling up the 8000 ft Grain Belt Bottling House with 35 local producers,

and attracting over 100 buyers… twice in 2014!

2

It worked!

Buyers put a lot of local products on their shelves, making a great story!

We grew again in 2015, maxing out the Bottling House with 50

producers & over 200 buyers!

We’ve attracted more media and great strategic partners...

We’ve grown to be the largest local food trades how in the nation! (and at a fraction of the cost)

It’s working. Business relationships are forging...

We’ve got buyers…

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…meeting local producers.

It’s working for new producers...

“Including new accounts landed at the recent Fall Show, a full 60% of Cool Jerk’s wholesale accounts have been acquired from Midwest Pantry’s Show” -- Owner Mali Kouanchao, Cool Jerk

It’s working for experienced producers

“The costs of most wholesale shows run in the thousands of dollars, making it difficult for smaller producers to attend and get access to large groups of buyers. We need a show like this in Minneapolis.” -- Owner Michael Sedlacek, WorkerB

It’s working for buyers from start ups

“I really didn't think show was that big of a deal and almost didn't go! Boy was I wrong! Coming to the show completed my business plan of having locally produced retail products for my coffee shop. I wanted a retail area with all these types of products and would've had to spend a lot of time tracking each one if these businesses down and getting samples and pricing. I am so glad I didn't pass up the opportunity to come and see all these awesome businesses I am now going to have in my coffee shop. ” -- Owner Jeremy Voss, Fish House Coffee Shop

It’s working for experienced buyers

“Midwest Pantry provides easy, local access to a bevy of local food producers. To be able to go booth to booth under one roof, meet the manufacturers and have an opportunity to possibly support them … is what we’re looking for. It’s nice to have something locally focused.” -- Buyer Joe Moore, Kowalski’s

…and it’s working for our partners“We are a small business disrupting a entrenched industry with similar values [to Midwest Pantry]. As Johnson-Turner works to make the practice of law more accessible to businesses and people in our region, we are finding tremendous value by placing our brand at Midwest Pantry’s shows.” -- Owner Erin Turner, Johnson-Turner Law

We aim to help food creators with networking, mentoring, education, and sales events & opportunities.

As a member based organization, we continuously seek to increase the

value of our events and maintain prices attainable for startup budgets.

Showcase your products…

Local Food & Gift Trade Show Monday, March 14th, 2016

Minneapolis, MN

https://goo.gl/lhR8Kl

Join us at https://goo.gl/TGwMzQ

Plug into the food community & enjoy member event discounts!

We’re Midwest Pantry!