We are a Fresh Idea for the Food and Beverage Community.
We are a Cluster with a Purpose…
Food’NBev Connect was designed to save entrepreneurs and CEOs time and help bring more success to the region’s start-up and emerging brands. We are forging a strong network for innovation and sharing between large and small firms, and bringing on-going education and training to help executives and employees at our food and beverage brands gain knowledge about our industry and become more valuable employees and leaders. Food’NBev Connect is specifically for food and beverage brands and food tech and software firms seeking to improve and grow their capability and knowledge.
Our company members are focused on better food and beverage choices for you and your family – healthier ingredients, simpler recipes, no preservatives and sustainable processes. That’s the Food and Beverage future and we are creating a cluster for this new market opportunity.
OUR REGION NEEDS TO BE MORE PROMINENT
The Northeast, particularly Connecticut and Fairfield County, has a strong history of starting and building new food and beverage brands – and we also have a number of key players in distribution, retail and grocery and related businesses. The food and beverage sectors are also growing from NYC north up to Boston and across the country, as consumers look for fresh, simpler, natural ingredients and recipes, and new to market, authentic brands.
Processed ingredients and formulaic marketing are passé…fresh and simple is in. This consumer driven mandate is driving changes at all levels — manufacturing and production, distribution and grocery — even as
direct-to-consumer distribution and food kits and other e-commerce based distribution is exploding.
Our region has all the resources, but making easy and fast connections and getting the right training and education to improve product concepts, distribution effectiveness and funding, as well as marketing, merchandising, packaging and other digital strategies is one of the big benefits we can bring as a cluster to our growth companies and to help our established brands innovate.
Our Brand Members
Brand Buzz . . .
Summer 2023 — Real Cookies has announced that their Cookie Poppers have been named Best Mini-Cookie in the 2023 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack awards category!
Summer 2023 — Kelly’s Four Plus has expanded distribution with UNFI to three new warehouses. They will also be available in 60 new Big Y stores in the Northeast and their sales on Amazon have increased 100% YTD. They are also now adding their Snack Pack line and a 6-pack option on-line to drive more growth.
Spring 2023 — As a brand partner with Edible Arrangements, Noteworthy Chocolates will be expanding its product line with two new gift items. They were made available on the EA website in April 2023 and will offer two new price points.
Spring 2023 — Real Cookies has launched its new Poppers line of grain-free snack cookies in re-sealable pouches. Available in three flavors – Blueberry Lemon, Peanut Butter and Chocolate, and Chocolate Chip, they are a perfect family snack!
Spring 2023 — Maia Yogurt’s new Grass-Fed Organic Butter and Peach flavored Grass-Fed Maia Yogurt are launching on FreshDirect and at other select retailers this Spring. Early trial and repeat in Texas at Central Market was very favorable, and new packaging will also launch this Spring.
Spring 2023 — FireOx is pleased to announce that they have secured a new lead investor and are now focusing on closing the remainder of their pre-seed round by July. They have also expanded into more Morton Williams stores and are now slotted in 9 stores in Manhattan and Jersey City and continue to grow their FreshDirect sales.
January 2022 — Harridan Vodka has announced that they just won the Wine and Spirits Wholesaler of America Brand Battle competition for vodka and gin and will be advancing to the finals in Orlando in April. Harridan has also expanded distribution and is now carried in nearly 200 accounts across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, including four Michelin Star establishments.
