Brooklyn's Progress
August 2003

Food companies from more than 50 countries gathered at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Brooklyn Goes Global was there, after a short absence from previous years, with Chamber Members Tower Isles, Voila Bakeries, Vernon’s Jamaica Jerk Sauce, Erica’s Rugelach and Baking, Co, Inc. and The Manhattan Soup Company.  The International Fancy Food Show, held June 29-July 1 at the Javits Center, is a worldwide gathering of food companies to showcase their products.

This year, the Brooklyn aroma permeated the Jacob Javits Center for three days with delicious foods, dessert items, soups, sauces and more! Every year the trade show affords food businesses an opportunity to showcase their products with tastings and displays and it affords buyers of food store chains, Mom & Pops, gourmet suppliers, gift stores and other specialty shops an opportunity to see, touch and taste the latest products and brands.  The company brands showcased will ultimately end up on store shelves, in gift baskets and on consumers’ tables within months of the show, during the end of the year holiday season and beyond.

Brooklyn Goes Global and its Chamber contingency was part of the New York State Pavilion coordinated by the New York State Department of Marketing and Agriculture and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  Chamber Members took advantaged of the special programs afforded to them through For Food Manufacturers Only (FMO) and Brooklyn Goes Global, which enabled them to attend the show at discounted rates and meet thousands of buyers face to face.

According to Allan Vernon of Vernon’s Jamaican Jerk Sauce, “we made solid deals after only the first day of the show, this is tremendous!”  Steve Dew of Voila Bakeries, Inc. was thrilled when even before the tradeshow was in full force, he made contact with another exhibiting company and discussed a private labeling deal.

Both Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams and FMO’s Steven Kaplansky agree that the 2003 show was a fantastic follow-up to the opening FMO seminar series and a tremendous success.

Said Kaplansky, “Brooklyn companies received inquiries from over 400 direct buyers who were interested in the Brooklyn products.  We are pleased that the participating companies receive such an immediate response from qualified decision makers during this years show. The staff of the Fancy Food Show, and everyone who helped facilitate our Brooklyn presentation made the 2003 Summer show very productive.”

On behalf of the Brooklyn Chamber, gratitude is extended to the Brooklyn delegation of the New York State Assembly, as well as The New York City Council and Speaker Gifford Miller, The United States Department of Commerce and Abigail L.Cadle, for their continued support of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce programs.  A special thanks to New York State Department of Marketing and Agriculture staff, Bill Kimball, Gina McNally, Kathryn Bamberger and Felise Gross; Brooklyn Goes Global’s Karen Auster; Brooklyn Chamber Members Catherine Laporte of World Vision and Ruth Weiss of AdLib; volunteer, Amy Brenner and student intern Kai Nakashima. 

For information about future trade shows or For Food Manufactures Only  programs, contact Steve Kaplansky at (718) 875-1000, ext 104.