In March 2021, Karl Brown, President of Pretzel Pete, Inc., received a trade lead from Food Export-Northeast from a buyer in South Korea who was interested in the pretzel product line, Pretzel Pete. Food Export’s Trade Lead program/service is a free service for suppliers registered with Food Export that connects international buyers with suppliers distributing products they are specifically searching for. Food Export’s network of In-Market Representatives and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) offices meet with qualified buyers throughout the year and provide leads to Food Export. Food Export then searches their Online Product Catalog for the products specified in the received Trade Lead and share the matched information with the supplier and the buyer.
After receiving interested in Pretzel Pete products in 2021, Mr. Brown continued dialogue and correspondence with the buyer and, throughout 2022, sent six containers of pretzel balls to South Korea, at a total of $575,937.
According to Mr. Brown, “We were thrilled to receive this new business in Korea. This business has continued beyond the initial order of six containers and has proven to be steady ongoing business that has been most welcome in these otherwise uncertain times.”
Pretzel Pete, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of gourmet pretzel products in the specialty and gourmet retail segments. While previously under a different company name, this Hatboro, Pennsylvania supplier has participated in Food Export programs since 1999 taking advantage of the Branded Program, In-Store Promotion events, Buyers Missions, and the Online Product Catalog.
Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.
Over 20% Increase in Sales
Online Product Catalog
Utilization Success
Top Market for U.S. Agriculture Products
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Each year, hundreds of U.S. suppliers participate in the Food Export–Midwest and Food Export–Northeast's programs. As a result, companies are successful at generating new export sales, establishing new distributorship, expanding their production facilities,
and hiring additional employees. Read the Success Stories to learn more!
Minority, Family-Owned Indiana Company Benefits from Focused Trade Mission to Canada
Participation in Food Export's 2022 Focused Trade Mission to Toronto helped Indiana based, El Popular gain export sales that will double within the next twelve months.
Market Access Program Funding Helps Iowa Supplier Expand Exports to Qatar
American Pop Corn Co., makers of JOLLY TIME® Pop Corn is a 107-year-old, fourth and fifth generation, family-owned company who has participated in Food Export-Midwest's Branded Program for 25 years!
Pet Food Company Increases Sales Using Food Export's Market Builder Program
In October 2022, Chicken Soup for the Soul, located in Cos Cob, Connecticut, participated in Food Export-Northeast’s Market Builder program where they met a new distributor in South Korea.
