Brooklyn's Progress
December 2004

The world of food came together recently and Brooklyn Goes Global was there with Brooklyn Chamber Members:  4C Foods, Erica’s Rugalach, King of The Sea, Pearls Gourmet and Steve’s Mom, at Kosherfest 2004, the largest kosher food and food service trade show, that was held in conjunction with Expo Comida Latina and the All Asia Food Expos, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan Oct. 26 to 27. 
 
Also exhibiting in the Asia show were Chamber Members, Jeffrey and Glenn Ho of Hoskie Food Incorporated and Alice Mok of TMI Trading Corp.   The producers, Diversified Business Communications and Menachem Lubinsky of Lubicom, Inc., promised that this year would be an amazing year for exhibitors and their customers and they did not disappoint. 
 
With a theme of Ethnic Diversity in the Food Industry, the best of three markets joined together under the same roof for the first time.  Brooklyn Chamber food companies were prominent in the world wide showcase. In addition to the opportunity to exhibit before visitors, buyers from the United States and countries around the globe including:  England, New Zealand, France, Italy, Israel, Switzerland, Canada, and Mexico, also attended the show.
 
Expo Comida Latina offered the best in Hispanic food and beverages and just a few steps away, one could follow the aroma to the All Asia Food Expos to find scrumptious Asian products. 
 
Kosherfest 2004 featured more than 500 booths, 350 exhibitors and seminars.  Phil Lempert, a food market expert and food trends correspondent for NBC News' Today Show, delivered the keynote address.  Seminar topics included:  “Low Carb Scene: Passing Fad or Ethnic Opportunity?" and "Grow America: Best Practices in Ethnic Marketing and Merchandising." 
 
Exhibiting for the first time was 4C Foods, displaying in both Kosherfest and the All Asia show.  Dan Schwartz, Vice President of Sales for 4C said, “Participating with the Chamber and in both trade shows afforded us an opportunity to showcase our kosher products and to debut our new global product line.” 
 
Sue Ellen and Irwin Schussel, Steve’s Mom presented their full line of specialty-baked goods and award winning recipes including cheese cakes and rugelach. 
 
King of the Sea, exhibiting for the second year with the Brooklyn Chamber, displayed a wide variety of the finest canned fish products available worldwide.  King of the Sea also offered samples of their fine products and the tuna was a clear favorite.

According to President, Moshe Freund, “We had a tremendous response from last year and find it most rewarding in joining the Chamber booth.  The show was very productive for us.” 
 
Erica Kalick of Erica’s Rugelach, who exhibited in the Latina and Asia shows had a tremendous showing.  Says Erica, “I was pleasantly surprised that my existing customers seemed to cross over to the Latina and Asia shows and I exposed my product to new buyers in a new market.  I am thrilled.”

One could see from the crowds with the desserts in their hands, that the “special recipe” baked goods were indeed a hit.
 
"This year's show afforded small and mid-size businesses alike an opportunity to showcase their products under the Brooklyn Goes Global banner. This forum gives them additional exposure and an opportunity to facilitate sales on a worldwide stage with cross marketing," Steve Kaplansky, Brooklyn Goes Global consultant, said.  "We will continue to find opportunities for our companies here and abroad.” 
 
For more information on how to participate in Brooklyn Goes Global call 718-875-1000 ext. 104.