Crain's Chicago Business by Brigid Sweeney

"Innovative startups and larger companies with enormous resources and talent are coming together here in an unprecedented way," says Alan Reed, a former executive vice president at trade association Dairy Management who now oversees the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, which links entrepreneurs with mentors and opportunities from big companies. He says Chicago's ingrained expertise—the area is already home to 4,500 food and beverage companies that employ more than 130,000 people—makes it stand out. "The coasts don't have the infrastructure and talent that we do."

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