Member News & Headlines Blog

Pioneering innovative ways to address hunger by creating high quality, nutritious foods

CHICAGO, IL. - February 28, 2022 – Nonprofit Bigger Table and eight companies throughout Chicagoland joined forces to fight food insecurity with the creation of high-fiber, high-protein almond chocolate bars. Working closely with food banks and pantries, Bigger Table develops, creates, and provides new, nutrient-rich foods to address specific needs of community partners.

"We're grateful to partner with Bigger Table and receive these nutritious protein bars. Donated, high quality protein has been especially hard to come by during the pandemic, and our network is always looking to fill that need for our neighbors,” says Liz Gentile, Director of Food Procurement at Northern Illinois Food Bank. “Our thanks to Bigger Table for stepping up for our community."

Bigger Table identifies opportunities within the food and beverage industry for innovative philanthropic work. Bigger Table is creating new ways to donate consumer-ready product where and when it is needed most. Distribution of the 73,000 bars will go to five Chicagoland partner organizations dedicated to reducing food insecurity in their community: Northern Illinois Food Bank, Blessings in a Backpack, Fight to Feed, Humans for Hope, and Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.

“I'm just happy Bigger Table exists. It is answering a need that no one else is. They are collaborating not only with these local manufacturers, but also food pantries. It is just an awesome thing," said Shannon Cameron, Executive Director of the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.

All protein bar ingredients, time, and labor were in-kind contributions donated by local companies that are part of Chicagoland’s food & beverage eco-system: ADM, Blommer Chocolate, Coyle Print Group, Glanbia Nutritionals, GlobalTranz, Imbibe, National Foodworks Services, ofi Cocoa, and ofi Edible Nuts. The tasty, nutrient-rich, no added sugar bars contain 18g of protein and 10g of fiber per serving.  The delicious chocolate bar satisfies both taste and nutritional needs.

“Glanbia Nutritionals was pleased to partner with Bigger Table and the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network on this effort and donate healthy ingredients for the protein bars,” said Wilf Costello, Chief Marketing Officer of Glanbia Nutritionals. “Delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey is our mission and supporting food banks and groups such as Blessings in a Backpack when they are facing such an increased need, really brings that mission to life.”

ABOUT BIGGER TABLE: Bigger Table is a nonprofit (501c3) organization founded by the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network. Bigger Table aims to bring together the area’s food & beverage industry to collaborate and deliver on a series of charitable and economic growth initiatives. By working together, Bigger Table believes it can work more effectively, have a bigger impact on the community, and better engage employees and the communities it serves. For more information about Bigger Table, please visit biggertable.org.

BIGGER TABLE MEDIA CONTACT:  Anna Briggs Pirila, anna@chicagolandfood.org, (c) 207.602.9545

Chicago’s flagship VC & startup conference will evolve as the city’s inaugural event focused on Chicago’s thriving food & ag innovation ecosystem

CHICAGO –  Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined World Business Chicago (WBC) to announce the expansion of the Chicago Venture Summit series with a Future-of-Food event this May 25-26, 2022. The city’s inaugural food innovation conference will return to 167 Green in Chicago’s Fulton Market District. As the city’s flagship investor and startup conference – the Chicago Venture Summit connects local founders with VCs from across the country, invites investors and corporate leaders to explore the city’s startup & innovation ecosystem, and promotes Chicago as a global destination for founders, innovators, and investors.

WBC is proud to announce Cleveland Avenue, Ferrero, Ingredion, JLL, JP Morgan Private Bank, P33, and Quaker Foods as presenting sponsors for the 2022 Chicago Venture Summit Future-of-Food event. Innovation sponsors include SRS Acquiom and Valor Equity Partners. Startup sponsors include 2112, Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, Clique Studios, Food Foundry, Supply Change Capital, The Hatchery, and TSX & TSX Venture Exchange. Venture Partners include Bluestein Ventures, Hyde Park Angels, Lofty Ventures, and Sandbox Sustainability Ventures. 

Read more, here. 

We at CFBN are getting a quick start in 2022 with lots of new and exciting happenings. First, we are thrilled to welcome the new Chair of our Board of Directors, Andria Long. 

Andria has driven profitable growth for both public and private family-owned companies and now leverages her operating experience from 7 Fortune 1000 companies to be a strategic advisor and Board Director. She is an asset for businesses, owners and executives seeking guidance on driving revenue and people growth by quickly identifying insights and connections and translating them into strategic growth opportunities. We look forward to working with Andria to continue our innovative work at the Network.

We would also like to take the time to thank our outgoing Board Chair, Joel Warady. It has been quite a tumultuous two years with the pandemic in the background, but Joel's dedication and commitment to our network was unwavering. We are appreciative of the strategic leadership he offered the Network and look forward to having him stay on as a continuing member of our Board!

As we look ahead to 2022, we have some important upgrades in store for our members -- we just offered our first successful hybrid (in person and virtual) event, we are in the midst of rolling out a brand new look for our website, and we are working from our new West Loop office space at the CoLaboratory. Keep an eye out for updates on all these exciting happenings.

Logistics issues and a cyberattack have made cream cheese hard to come by. Add it to the list of ingredients and supplies restaurants and food makers find difficult to source right now. By Katherine Davis

Alan Reed, executive director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, says food shortages are the new normal.

“When we talk about supply chain challenges, this is just an example of the kinds of things that food and beverage companies are dealing with all the time now,” Reed says. “Supply chains are just different.”

The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network has about 500 members, which include Kraft Heinz, Kellogg and Tyson, as well as local food startups like Farmer’s Fridge and Simple Mills. Reed says he’s heard from members across size and niche that they’ve had issues sourcing several ingredients over the last several months. Besides cream cheese, other hard-to-find foods over the last year include beans, sugar and chocolate, he says.

Reed blamed supply chain issues on labor shortages and what he called a “changing definition of work” in manufacturing industries.

“I hear from a lot of companies that it’s really hard to get somebody to work over the weekend or work on third shift,” Reed says. “There’s both good and bad to that. There’s a shift back to making sure that workers have everything they need and a little bit of work-life balance. In some ways, that’s healthy, but we’re a culture that’s not used to that.”

The change in work habits is forcing businesses to alter how and when they order ingredients form manufacturers. As opposed to ordering ingredients on a just-in-time schedule, procurement teams should start planning and ordering further in advance, and branching out to new suppliers, Reed says. Sourcing ingredients locally could also help businesses avoid delays, he added.

“Every once in a while, until things adjust, we’re going to have outages,” Reed says. “The supply chains we have are quite fragile.”

Read more, here. 

 Central Illinois Food Bank Executive Director Pam Molitoris, National Foodworks Services President Matt Dausman, ADM Technical Director Leda Strand - Examining the protein bars (photo courtesy of Central Illinois Food Bank)

Through Bigger Table’s partnership with Feeding America and its member the Central Illinois Food Bank, 40,000 bars were recently provided to help meet food insecurity needs in Illinois’ capital region. The next round of bars is slated for Chicago-area food banks and pantries.

Thank you to ADM for its leadership on this effort, and thanks to Blommer Chocolate, Coyle Print Group, Glanbia Nutritionals, Imbibe, Olam Cocoa, and Olam Edible Nuts for their donations and work on this project.

As the weather turns colder, I find myself raking leaves, thinking of pumpkin pie, and watching snow flurries.  It’s also time to start thinking back on the year with gratitude.  2021 has certainly required us all to be flexible and pivot often, and to consider what is most important in our businesses and in our communities.  Personally, I continue to be grateful for all of you -- the incredible food & beverage industry of Chicagoland (and beyond!) -- and the ways that you continue to support our mission and the communities we serve.  Thank You. 

So, as we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we at CFBN hope you are able to take the time to slow down, appreciate, and celebrate the people around you; the people in your community, family, and workplace.

We think there is no better way to celebrate than sharing FOOD with friends and family and breaking bread together. However, with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it can be difficult to find time to make a tasty meal. So, we found a few AMAZING local places for you to pick up your holiday dishes and treats. Whether it is for the office or the family to enjoy at home, we have you covered!  A few of my local personal favorites:

• Small Batch Barbeque Thanksgiving Menu
• Carnivore Holiday Menu
• Big Guys Sausage Stand

Plus, check out these 25 additional Chicagoland options: here!

But, however you plan to celebrate, we hope you can do it surrounded by those that mean the most to you.  Happy Thanksgiving! 

With Gratitude,

Alan Reed, CFBN Executive Director

John Shapiro

Partner, Freeborn & Peters LLP

Board Member, Bigger Table

As we head toward a second set of pandemic-impacted year-end holidays, many see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.  But for so many in our communities that glimmer remains elusive.  The numbers are staggering.  More than 10% of U.S. households are food insecure – at risk of going hungry or without access to nutritious foods. This equates to more than 42 million people, including 13 million children, in the US who may face food insecurity in 2021. 

Locally, the Greater Chicago Food Depository estimates that about one in seven people in Cook County will experience food insecurity this year.  And throughout Illinois an estimated 1.4 million people – nearly half a million of whom are children – face hunger every day.  Reports indicate that COVID-19 pandemic related factors and economic consequences, such as job loss, have made it even more difficult for many to obtain nutritious food.  

To start to address this issue, Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (CFBN) and Bigger Table (https://www.biggertable.org/), CFBN’s 501(c)(3) affiliate, have taken this challenge head on:

• By reimagining the way in which ingredients can be repurposed into wholesome shelf-stable food products
• By creating a first-of-its-kind workforce development program designed to provide jobs in the food and beverage industries   
• By bringing food companies, service providers and others together 
• By tapping into companies’ know-how, capabilities, culture of generosity, and willingness to share in order to accomplish more meaningful progress together

There is incredible potential in building partnerships that bring industry, service providers and communities, along with their diverse perspectives and capabilities, together.  At Bigger Table and CFBN, we demonstrate each day that we accomplish more when we work together.  Please join us!

For me, silver linings that have come out of the pandemic include a catalyst for collaboration, renewed spirit of community action, and an enhanced desire to assist those less fortunate.  When we work together, the potential to address hunger, food insecurity and other societal ills increases greatly.  I urge you to get involved and make a difference. 

< DONATE TO BIGGER TABLE >

Mid-September was the time that many in the Chicagoland industry had been anxiously anticipating for a Return to Work, and a return to a sense of some normalcy. We at CFBN were especially looking forward to hosting in-person networking events again. But, as we all know, the Delta Variant came along to change everyone’s plans. And, like many others, CFBN was forced to make some changes to our schedule. 

Yet, CFBN remains dedicated to bringing our Industry together and continuing to build the incredible food & beverage ecosystem we enjoy here in Chicagoland. We are currently planning to return to regular in-person events in early 2022.

In the meantime, we are proud to offer additional high-quality virtual events, including our always-popular Innovation Series. As you may recall, these events started as Innovation Breakfasts originally hosted at our partner Fifty Gazelles in the West Loop.  As always, this series tackles innovation topics of interest across the industry. This time around, we are focusing on the Technology Behind the Scenes with two great panels – one on Taste & Flavor Technology, and another on Enabling Technologies that help bring our products to life. Don’t miss this unique exploration into the innovations that we sometimes forget or take for granted.

We are also excited to welcome CFBN member Amped Kitchens to their new home in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood. Amped Kitchen’s opening is a great reminder that our local industry – and especially its entrepreneurs – continues to innovate, build their business, and change the way the world eats. Amped is dedicated to providing a better alternative for growing food companies. Each of their exclusive spaces is adaptable to evolving product lines and expanding operations. They are a welcome addition to Chicago, and we have plans to officially welcome them in style in the coming weeks. 

Thank you for your ongoing support, engagement, and collaboration. Chicagoland’s Food & Beverage industry remains vibrant, innovative, and exciting because of you, our network of member organizations, partners, and followers. We are proud to connect you with helpful resources, information, and insights. 

Best Regards,

Alan Reed 

CFBN Executive Director

Want to learn more about becoming a Member? Visit our website for more information. Already a member? Don’t forget to take advantage of all your CFBN Member Perks.

CFBN Board Member Andria Long recently sat down with our Communications Lead Anna Briggs Pirila to discuss the consumer and company trends the food and beverage industry has seen this year. This article provides a summary of the key trends that we see are impacting our industry.

Safety continues to be a top priority for consumers. As the pandemic continues, businesses will need to continue to showcase their commitment to keeping their products and operations covid-safe. Small gestures -- such as having hand sanitizer readily available and employees wearing masks -- go a long way with consumers. Some consumers are even willing to make temporary trade-offs on sustainability benefits to ensure that products are safe: a great example is the rise of individually packaged single-use items. 

The pandemic has driven more flexible shopping options for consumers. Brands now have to pivot as they cater to the new shopping experience. More recognizable brands will have to shift the money they spend on in-store marketing to more online efforts. However, niche brands have already been savvy about utilizing social media to highlight their products to consumers.

The out-of-stock supply of some major brands has allowed consumers to try other options. The products that serve consumers' needs better will become the new staples in their homes. With the rising trend of being able to quickly re-order last week's grocery list, the competition to be the consumers' go-to product is fiercer than ever.

Immediate buying options becoming more prominent in advertising. For example, a commercial might have a QR code to the product's website. On Amazon Prime Video, some ads have an option to add the displayed product directly into your Amazon shopping cart.

A key value of CFBN during the pandemic is the sharing of best practices.  Andria Long believes that CFBN provides a forum for sharing the learnings that each company, small and large, has figured out along the way. Andria shared an example about organizations engaging in drive-up consumer tests - an innovative way to make food testing covid-safe - being an example of something she hadn't yet considered.

Today, no business has a playbook for these unprecedented times. So, hearing about the learnings from industry leaders and innovative brands is invaluable.  Join CFBN at upcoming events (see below) to maximize the value of your membership!

We’re Bringing Innovation to the Shelf

Food is life, but it isn’t an easy business. Perhaps that’s why so many new packaged food products fail.

Although there’s no silver bullet for success, food brands of all sizes can tip the scales in their favor by taking a measured and strategic approach to food innovation. In this white paper, you’ll learn what steps to take, what mistakes to avoid and which milestones to mark in your journey to transform a food or beverage idea into a satisfying product that sells.

< GET WHITE PAPER HERE >

About JPG: We’re a diverse team of 50+ dedicated food and beverage professionals who’ve helped to successfully develop more than 2,500 products—including startups of our own. We’ve been there. We’ve done that. Food and beverage isn’t just our business, for us it’s a way of life.