Sponsors
Food’NBev Connect Initiative and Event Sponsor firms make the work we do, and the businesses we serve, more effective and sustainable. Thank you!
Initiative Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
The Department of Economic and Community Development is the state’s lead agency responsible for strengthening Connecticut’s competitive position in the rapidly changing, knowledge-based global economy. The agency takes a comprehensive approach to economic development that incorporates community development, transportation, education, and arts and culture. Specifically, the department:
• Supports existing businesses and attracts new businesses and jobs with a wide range of programs and services to help companies prosper;
• Promotes Connecticut industries and businesses here at home, throughout the country and across the globe;
• Strengthens Connecticut’s communities by providing funding and technical support for local community and economic development projects;
• Works to make tourism a leading economic contributor and a source of pride for Connecticut;
• Develops and strengthens the arts in Connecticut and makes artistic experiences widely available to residents and visitors; and
• Helps to eliminate brownfield properties by promoting smart growth principles, strengthening public/private partnerships and providing a one-stop resource for expertise.
For more information, visit: portal.ct.gov/decd
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
For more information, visit: Diageo
Diamond Sponsor
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,400 retail financial centers, approximately 16,100 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with more than 36 million active users, including nearly 26 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more information, visit: Bank of America
Gold Sponsors
Altium is a financial advisory firm based in Purchase, NY, serving clients across the United States. We work with successful individuals and families to organize and bring clarity to their financial picture. Our proprietary consulting process, Vantage PointTM, is ideal for founders and executives who are interested in building wealth, preparing for their future and balancing short and longer term goals. We strive to improve current performance through four interdependent elements of service, providing our clients with the transparency and confidence that their wealth is solidly aligned with their purpose. At Altium, we don’t simply accommodate people like you, we built our entire organization with you in mind. Whether you’ve built your own business, lead in a corporate setting, or in any other way made “excellence” your pursuit… we’re here to serve you and your unique purpose.
For more information, visit: https://www.altiumwealth.com/.
CBIZ, Inc. is a leading professional services advisor to middle market businesses and organizations nationwide. With unmatched industry knowledge and expertise in accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance, and technology, CBIZ delivers forward-thinking insights and actionable solutions to help clients anticipate what’s next and discover new ways to accelerate growth. CBIZ has more than 10,000 team members across more than 160 locations in 21 major markets coast to coast.
For more information, visit: cbiz.com
Robinson+Cole is an Am Law 200 firm serving regional, national, and international clients from nine offices throughout the Northeast, Florida, and California. Our 200-plus lawyers and other professionals share a simple, common goal: We’ll work hard to know you, your industry, and your business so that we can provide the service and representation that best fits your needs.Led by a dedicated team of lawyers, Robinson+Cole brings an innovative approach to helping businesses reach their full potential, while addressing the legal challenges that all consumer product companies face. Our food and beverage lawyers have extensive experience in the industry, regularly work with food and beverage companies of all sizes, consistently coordinate with applicable firm members and always provide direct access to partners at the firm. We believe the best way to successfully build your business is to focus on the key areas of development: protection, compliance, and growth.
For more information, visit: Robinson + Cole’s Food + Beverage Group
FreshDirect is a leading online grocer and is committed to delivering the highest quality, freshest food. Founded in 2002, the company creates food experiences and drives simple, healthy solutions to make every day better for their customers. By working directly with growers, producers, and local food innovators, FreshDirect provides the best in culinary exploration. From the latest NYC restaurant fare to sustainably sourced products from here and around the globe, we find food treasures and everyday grocery needs and deliver them to your door right when you need them. As a homegrown New York City brand, FreshDirect is integral to the fabric of food culture in the city. Headquartered in the Bronx, NY, and named one of America’s Best Midsize Employers of 2023 by Forbes, FreshDirect provides service to the greater New York tri-state area and is part of the Ahold Delhaize family of companies.
For more information, visit: www.freshdirect.com
Gold N Fish Marketing is a marketing agency created to make a difference for our clients’ brands. We can provide you with an incredible breadth and depth of strategic thinking working on both established businesses and new product launches.
We create fully-integrated marketing programs for our clients where, the centerpiece of many of our marketing programs is experiential in nature. supported by other disciplines that work in concert with one another.
For more information, visit: gnfmarketing.com
We’ve been building brand equity for over 30 years.
Since 1989, L Catterton’s funds have made more than 200 investments in leading consumer brands across all segments of the consumer industry. With over $20 billion of equity capital dedicated to growing middle market companies and emerging high-growth enterprises, we are the largest and most experienced consumer-focused private equity group in the world.
For more information, visit: www.lcatterton.com
After losing his job to the Depression, Salvatore Cingari bought an old school bus, loaded it with fresh produce and became a successful grocer, calling his business Grade A Market. In 1943, he moved to his first building and soon his sons joined him in the business. In 1991 the Cingari’s stores became members of the Wakefern/ShopRite cooperative. Today, four generations of Cingari’s own and operate 10 ShopRite locations in Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut.
For more information, visit: shop.shoprite.com
Founded in 2009, Votto Vines Importing is a dynamic family-operated business with offices in CT, NYC and MA, focusing on the importation, marketing and distribution of fine wines produced by leading vineyards around the world, as well as the development of innovative private label and proprietary brands. Votto Vines has been named by Forbes as one of America’s Most Promising Companies, Entrepreneur Magazine as One of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America, nominated by Wine Enthusiast as Importer of the Year and earned a place on the Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in America seven times. The entrepreneurial spirit and diverse professional backgrounds of the executives have allowed them to apply their forward-thinking ideas and vision to the international wine trade.
For more information, visit: vottovines.com