MSU Product Center clients recognized by retail grocery partners at the 2023 Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show

Parker Jones<jonesp28@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - May 30, 2023

The 2023 Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show hosted grocery store buyers from across the state, with several Product Center clients winning both shelf space and awards from retailers.

For decorative purposes. — Buyers interacting with food manufacturers at the Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show.

The 14th annual Making It In Michigan Conference and Trade Show was held at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, on April 20, 2023. The day featured dynamic educational panels, a sold-out trade show, buyer-supplier events, and a pitch competition. The Michigan State University Extension Product Center team, however, is most proud of the individual successes of entrepreneurs. Here are a few entrepreneurs who won awards from retail grocery partners at the event.

The Next SKU Could Be You Award

Westborn Market presented “The Next SKU Could be You Award” to Aruba Freeze, Tennessee’s Hot Crackers and Tor’s Tonics. Aruba Freeze is an ice cream and smoothie company based in Detroit. Tennessee's Hot Crackers is a gourmet cracker company based in St. Clair Shores. Tor's Tonics crafts tea and botanical infusions out of Grand Rapids.

The Golden Ticket Award

Meijer's Capital City Market presented “The Golden Ticket Award” to Evergreen’s Bakery and Café and JT’s Deli. Evergreen's Bakery and Cafe is the originator of the Bagel Bomb, based in Oxford. JT's Deli is an Ann Arbor based company that sells vegan deli alternatives.

First Time at Fresh Thyme Award

Fresh Thyme Grand Rapids presented the “First Time at Fresh Thyme Award” to Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecakes and Papa’s Kitchen. Leslie's Cheesecakes is a bakery company based in Lansing. Papa's Kitchen is a dressing company based in Troy.

Green and White Award

The MSU Dairy Store presented the “Green and White Award” to In Booze. In Booze is an alcohol infusion kit business located near Grand Rapids. The business has been featured in Oprah Magazine and Cosmopolitan.

A special thank you to the entrepreneurs and retail partners who made Making It In Michigan a success. Register for next year’s conference to scale your food business and find innovative new products.

MSU Product Center

MSU Extension and the MSU Product Center assist entrepreneurs and businesses to develop products and services in the food and agriculture markets. Its team of experts consults with clients on a one-on-one basis, helping new entrepreneurs navigate from concept development to launch and beyond. The MSU Product Center also offers specialized services such as labeling, packaging, and nutritional analysis. If you are interested in business counseling from the MSU Product Center, please visit the website.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).