Brooklyn's Progress
July 2001

Nathan Rudgers, Commisioner from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets introduced Brooklyn’s Kitchen to Ann Veneman, the newly appointed secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as “the most active Chamber of Commerce in promoting business,” during the Food Marketing Institute Supermarket Show. Brooklyn’s Kitchen, a part of Brooklyn Goes Global, the international trade service of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, represented Brooklyn Bottling, Damascus, Joyva, Steve’s Mom and Tower Isle’s Frozen Foods at the FMI Supermarket Show in Chicago, May 4-6. FMI is the country’s leading supermarket exhibition. It provided a rare opportunity to introduce Brooklyn-made quality products to the world's top retail executives and food industry professionals. The Brooklyn’s Kitchen team – program director Lisa Kralovic, sales consultant Sherrie Krupnick and marketing assistant Ela Kijowska – introduced an array of specialty, grocery, ethnic and kosher Brooklyn-made food and beverages to 35,000 domestic and international show visitors. The buyers came from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and the New York metro region; they represented mainly retail, brokerage and distribution sectors. The taste, various flavors and high quality of the products satisfied everyone looking for ethnic, specialty and kosher products. Tower Isle’s Jamaican-style beef patties received the quality stamp from the Jamaican visitor, who assured the team that he had not tasted patties so authentic and delicious since he left his country. Because of Steve’s Mom Rugelach some visitors became regulars, the early birds appeared each morning looking for the delicious snack and stayed a bit longer. Joyva’s sesame crunch bars and jelly rings brought many booth visitors back to their childhoods. Brooklyn Bottling’s Squeez’r juices and their colorful labels caught buyers’ eyes and made them stop for a taste. Damascus’ pitas and wraps were even more appealing once dipped in Joyva’s tahini. See www.iBrooklyn.com for Brooklyn’s Kitchen’s latest tradeshow updates. Click on “What’s New” and scroll down to “Thinking about doing a tradeshow?” Unfortunately, booth space is SOLD OUT for the NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show. However limited, space is still available for the National Prepared Food Festival Brooklyn’s Kitchen’s September 20 tradeshow. A half booth (5 feet wide by 7 feet deep) is $600. A full booth (10 feet wide by 7 feet deep) is $900. If you are a Brooklyn manufacturer and would like to exhibit at Kosherfest 2001 call Lisa Kralovic at 718.875.1000 ext. 120 ASAP!