In case you missed it!
On April 1st, 2020, the CFBN hosted a Virtual Event: The F&B-45. This free episode series was hosted by Joel Warady! This conversational series provided a platform for Joel and his guests to shares thoughts on pertinent topics and issues impacting Food and Beverage companies across Chicagoland, and beyond, right now.
We got to hear insights from a cross-section of perspectives from industry leaders helping to find solutions and innovations to help us all push forward and find post-COVID solutions to getting our industry back up and running.
Specifically, we heard insights from those on the front lines of the supply chain production process as they tackled questions on panic buying, seasonal produce, decrease in fuel costs, creating dedicated solutions, international shipments, and defining essential needs.
"People have long memories and if you gouge them now, they will remember it later" said Dan Creinin.
John Ferguson shared his expertise from what he is seeing from the transportation industry. "The demand curve doesn't just go straight and to the right. It's up. It's down. It's very fluid."
The Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network would love to thank our panelists for sharing their insights:
Thank you to everyone who virtually attended. Stay updated on our upcoming virtual events here.
Members can access the presentations shared in your Member Perks.
The F&B-45 is a new, FREE, weekly webinar series brought to you by CFBN.
On April 1st, 2020 in partnership with Illinois Tech Department of Food Science and Nutrition, the CFBN hosted a Virtual Event: Career Series! This free series featured presentations by food and beverage industry leaders.
Our presenters shared insights on career information for students and job-seekers specifically geared toward future jobs, internships and opportunities in the food and beverage industry.
Recap Highlights:
Laurie Hyllberg, VP of Kinsa Group shared insights about the importance of setting career goals and setting yourself up for success. She offered tips on resumes and cover letters. She discussed interview tips for both in-person and virtual interviews. As more interviews will move towards being virtual, she discussed ways to display your best appearance on camera including smiling and being mindful of your background.
Charley Orwig, VP of Marketing at DMA shared insights about LinkedIn serving as the best resource right now for professional online networking. During his Q&A a participant of the virtual event asked "how do you handle rejection when you're reaching out and not getting a response?”. Charley responded by offering the advice to counteract it with numbers and not to take it personally. Charley mentioned that “if you reach out to three people and get three no's, next time send out six applications.”
Javier Haro from SERCO Cook County American Job Center shared hot jobs currently hiring in the food and beverage industry. He mentioned that although this is a tough time, food is an essential need and therefore some companies are actively hiring and actually succeeding during this time. Javier shared companies that are currently hiring right now and resources about where to search for jobs.
The Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network would love to thank our presenters for sharing their wisdom:
This virtual event was presented in partnership with CFBN Industry Partner:
"These 50 Notable Women Executives Over 50 have jumped hurdles to reach the highest levels of business, medicine, higher education and nonprofits. A number defied the odds in rising to influential positions in male-dominated fields such as banking and financial services, law and manufacturing. Congratulations to all of the CFBN Members highlighted!" Read more here.
Check out this recent article from Food Business News!
"Sources have indicated that food at home now constitutes approximately 80% of consumer spending on food today compared to 50% before the pandemic. Grocery chains have reported similar trends, with Target announcing that food and beverage sales are up 50% in the month of March." Read more here.
By Sam Sosland
On March 19th, 2020 in partnership with Bigger Table the CFBN hosted a virtual webinar to explore social governance and the impact that food and beverage companies can have on the communities that they work, live, and build in. This was the first event in CFBN’s Finance Series – “Investing in Your Community”.
Our amazing panelist shared insights on how companies are forging these new paths between business and social investment, and how other companies or brands could embrace these ideas too.
The Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network would love to thank our panelists for engaging in insightful conversations:
This special Finance Series event was co-sponsored by:
This event was hosted in partnership with:
Meals on Wheels Chicago is looking for much needed food items for the influx of seniors that are in Chicago and homebound. Many of these seniors have family members that are in other states and are unable to get to them and are asking for help. Given this unusual circumstance please consider donating product for these immediate needs. It is their goal to provide every senior with some kind of food, and currently the need has risen in Chicago.
If you are interested, here is a form to capture details and a member of the MoWC team with contact you about logistics.
In recognition of your contribution, Meals on Wheels would like to publicly thank you or your company in our Power of Community Hero Spotlights on social media.
To the Members of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network:
We want to thank you for the exemplary leadership you have shown over the last few weeks as we face this unprecedented challenge in the form of COVID-19. Throughout a period when information shared by our elected leaders was often confusing, and consumers started to “panic-buy” as a result of the unknown, our member companies continued to produce the food needed to feed the nation. Member companies and the service-providers who assist them were ready to provide the necessary support when needed. We could not be prouder of our Network and the role that you play. But it is just the beginning.
With new challenges and complications presenting themselves daily, one of the consistent concerns we hear from consumers, our local and state elected officials, and the White House is whether or not there will be enough food and beverage to fill the shelves of our nation’s supermarkets over a prolonged period. As we know from countries such as Italy and France, and our own San Francisco, when the geographic areas go into a lock-down situation, only the supermarkets and the pharmacies remain open, along with the hospitals. This makes clear that we have a similar responsibility as the healthcare community -- to assist in keeping our communities and our country alive and well.
During these challenging times, we want to share how we at CFBN are pivoting as an organization:
In summary, we are here for you and we will continue to provide the programming, support the knowledge-sharing, connect the industry, and serve as a resource during these turbulent times. We will continue to proudly serve as the leading city for the Food & Beverage community.
Joel Warady, Chairman, CFBN
Alan Reed, Executive Director, CFBN
KeHE has launched, elevate™, an emerging brand program created to nurture leading-edge brands and maximize their growth and success potential in the marketplace. The program will support the company’s retail partners by continually foraging for early-stage brands while enabling developing brands to reach their full potential and better serve the needs of customers in the marketplace.
The high-touch program provides brands with a platform for growth, allowing them to flourish and reach more shelves nationwide. KeHE’s Category Management team will act as trusted advisors, educating brands on the evolving landscape and propel sales & points of distribution through elevate™. The network of brands is designed to be small and intimate, not exceeding 200. Candidates can visit KeHE’s RangeMe website to submit their products.
- Kasia Kedzierska, Marketing Coordinator
As a founding member, Bader Rutter is proud of our long partnership with CFBN. We helped introduce the organization, developed various marketing initiatives and recently, helped launch Bigger Table. We created the name, logo and website and look forward to volunteering on this important work.
Long recognized for our B2B expertise, we provide advertising, PR, social, design, experiential, and the full suite of digital and data services. We’ve enjoyed 46 years of growth, with no plans to stop.
Our Chicago office focuses on food and beverage marketing and houses The Intel Distillery: our team of industry experts who systematically analyze the industry every day, uncovering the latest trends and topics in food production. Sign up here, today!
Bader-Rutter
Tax reform made big headlines in 2017, but a less publicized bill was signed at the end of 2019 that can provide far reaching benefits for your business. The 2020 Appropriations Bill was signed and with it came extensions for certain tax credits and incentives that are particularly applicable to the food & beverage industry. These extensions can generate tax savings that you can put back into your operations.
The incentives are available for a variety areas including wage credits for employees who live/work in qualified areas, credits for hiring certain categories of employees, providing family and medical leave to your employees and investing in facilities in low income communities.
To take advantage of these incentives and credits for your business and employees, you must take certain actions within a specific period of time. Don’t miss out! Learn more about how these credits and incentives can help your business here.
Nicholas S. Romanelli, CPA, MST
Principal, Tax CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)
Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network 1 W Monroe Street 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60603 Tel (312) 525-9653
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