Singapore Country Profile • Food Export Association of the Midwest USA

Gourmet Peanut Butter Brand Continues to Expand Exports

Laura Buske — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:08:22 +0000

The story of BNutty Gourmet Peanut Butter began in 2014 on a soccer field when the company founders/soccer moms were unhappy with fundraisers promoting unhealthy food choices. These moms came together with an idea and an unbeatably delicious gourmet peanut butter to help young athletes raise the money needed for their soccer team tournament expenses. The product’s popularity grew quickly, and the Indiana-based company promptly became more than just a fundraising product. BNutty expanded its flavor selections with exciting combinations like honey-roasted peanuts with pretzel and white chocolate peanut butter or toffee and milk chocolate peanut butter – all with the unique honey-roasted crunch that makes BNutty special. Demand grew, and the annual fundraiser became a monthly fundraiser, then a weekly farmer’s market booth (staffed by the soccer team), followed by placement at local grocery stores, and is now distributed nationally and appears regularly on QVC. This company is passionate about giving back to its local community, founding a scholarship program for student-athletes, and completing a fundraising campaign that built a soccer complex right down the road from its production facility. In addition to wholesale and retail, BNutty offers co-packing, food service, club sizes, and private-label products. Most importantly, they still provide fundraising opportunities for non-profits, schools, and youth sports.

This woman-owned company was referred to Food Export-Midwest by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture in 2021 for assistance in expanding its products internationally. BNutty started participating in Food Export’s Branded Program to defer costs associated with marketing their products internationally. The program helped the small company double its marketing budget with 50% reimbursement on expenses incurred with social media advertising in foreign markets, attending international trade shows, shipping product samples to potential buyers, and producing promotional marketing materials.

In 2022, BNutty Gourmet Peanut Butter participated in Food Export-Midwest’s Branded Program, intending to expand its product market share in Saudi Arabia, Japan, France, Germany, Singapore, and the Philippines. This past February, the Portage, Indiana supplier reported that with participation in the Market Access Program (MAP) funded Branded Program, they completed impactful sales to Saudi Arabia last year and project to complete double that over the next twelve months. Most notably, this sale marks a first-time export sale to the market for BNutty.

BNutty Co-Founder Carol Podolak shared, “Food Export has been a critical partner for BNutty – they make it possible for us to succeed overseas and grow our business back home. Their ability to provide technical expertise, sales opportunities, and marketing dollars on a cost-effective basis helps a company of our size stay competitive in challenging markets abroad. Groups like Food Export are important public investments allowing our businesses to exceed our goals.”

BNutty is a gourmet peanut butter company, minority/woman-owned and operated. The company was founded by two self-professed soccer moms in Northwest Indiana who wanted to raise funds for youth soccer programs. Since 2014, they have added 74 jobs, expanded from a home kitchen to a 48,000-square-foot facility, and are happy to share that Food Export has helped them grow into 13 countries. They utilize Food Export’s educational services, matchmaking platforms, and leverage the marketing dollars in our cost-share program. BNutty Gourmet Peanut Butter has been part of the Branded Program for two years and has already applied for 2023 funding.

Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.

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Focused Trade Mission to Singapore for Retail and Foodservice

Morgan Nunan — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 20:01:44 +0000

Jumpstart Your Product Export Sales to Singapore

The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been in effect since 2004. Singapore also has many bilateral and regional FTAs including with Australia, China, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka and Turkey. Singapore is a participant in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership regional trade negotiations, which include the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries plus Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India and New Zealand, and it is also a participant in the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Singapore has also concluded an FTA with the European Union which has yet to be entered into force.

USDA’s Office of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) in Singapore hereinafter referred to as “Post” reports that Singapore’s highly import dependent, multi-billion-dollar food industry is driven by robust consumer spending, high disposable incomes, and intense urbanization.

U.S. Food & Agricultural Product Imports to Singapore, By the Numbers

U.S. Consumer-Oriented Foods – US$638 million (2019)
U.S. Processed Foods – US$494.8 million (2019)

By the year 2024, Euromonitor projects the retail sales in the packaged food market in Singapore is expected to reach US$2.8 billion, a growth rate of 6.8% or US$181.2 million.

Register for Two Back-to-Back Missions!

Focused Trade Mission to Indonesia – Foodservice and Retail
October 3 – 4, 2024

Services Provided

One-on-one meetings with qualified buyers
Pre-event custom product research including market overview, importation analysis and distribution analysis
Market briefing by local USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service
Retail store tour
Table top showcase and trade reception
Translation of up to 2 pages of materials to local language
Inclusion in Trade Mission brochure containing your company profile, contact details and product lines
Identifying top leads and follow-up letter in local language
On-site assistance by Food Export’s In-Market Representative

Mission Itinerary

September 29: Arrive in Singapore

September 30: Briefing and Retail Tour

October 1: One-on-One Meetings with Buyers

October 2: Departure to Indonesia or Home

Schedule is subject to change.

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Multiple Food Export Programs Help Seafood Company Increase Exports

Morgan Nunan — Mon, 01 May 2023 21:10:15 +0000

In 2022, Bristol Seafood LLC, participated in Food Export-Northeast’s Branded Program to gain brand awareness and international exposure while exhibiting at the 2022 Seafood Expo North America. Their show participation helped the Portland, Maine based supplier meet 15 new foreign buyer contacts and ultimately gained 1 agent relationship resulting in export sales of $300,000. Bristol Seafood, LLC also participated in Food Export’s “Raise Your Market Intelligence – Meet with International In-Market Reps at Seafood Expo North America” event. During this event, they met buyers from Europe, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia as well took the opportunity to learn more about export markets from Food Export’s In-Market Representatives. This activity resulted in a new agent relationship and first-time export sale of $31,000 to Singapore. This company also projects an additional $775,000 in export sales in the next twelve months from both programs.

Bristol Seafood, LLC is a processor of sea scallops and frozen ready to cook seafood. Bristol is committed to sustainable business practices and is the first Fair Trade certified seafood company in the United States. Also, the company is certified to the MSC’s chain of custody standard and operates an SQF certified processing plant. Bristol is also a certified B Corp^TM, a global movement certifying businesses who are using business as a force for good, leaders for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.

Bristol Seafood, LLC has taken part in Food Export programs since 2018 participating in Export Essentials Online, webinars, Market Builder, the Branded Program, Online Product Catalog, and has attended Buyers Missions, Focused Trade Missions, and Food Show PLUS! events.

Food Export uses funding from the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) and the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports and help small, American run and owned businesses succeed.

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Past Participant Returns to Food Export’s Branded Program

Morgan Nunan — Mon, 01 May 2023 20:41:45 +0000

Little Bay Lobster Co. is a premium wholesale lobster company located in Newington, New Hampshire. The company prides itself “in being an industry leader in marine stewardship who continually strives to develop humane ways to harvest, store, grade and pack lobster thereby ensuring the freshest caught and healthiest lobsters to be delivered with the least mortality anywhere in the world.”

In 2022, Little Bay Lobster Co. participated in Food Export-Northeast’s Branded Program after not taking part in the program since 2015. The New Hampshire supplier used their allocated funding to market their products in Singapore to establish new accounts. Their funding from the Branded Program helped defer the costs associated with exhibiting at the Seafood Expo Asia Show in September and to produce promotional giveaway items to create brand awareness.

This past December Little Bay Lobster Co. was able to report gaining over $300,000 in sales while also gaining 33 new foreign buyer contacts and establishing 2 new distributor relationships. The company also projects to complete over $1.5M more in sales over the next twelve months.

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Online Product Catalog Opens New Export Market for Maine Lobster Supplier

Morgan Nunan — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 20:42:20 +0000

In 2021, Cozy Harbor participated in Food Export-Northeast’s Online Product Catalog to build their market presence. The Online Catalog generated $52,000 in sales to Singapore for the Portland, Maine-based American Lobster supplier. Cozy Harbor projects $225,000 more in sales in the next twelve months in the Singapore market while also initiating contact with 20 foreign buyers around the globe and establishing 1 new distributorship.

Cozy Harbor has been in operation since 1980 and sells both domestically and globally in Canada, Asia, and Europe. The company is one of the largest and most experienced lobster processors in the United States, working directly with fishermen to source premium live lobster for processing and flash freezing. Cozy Harbor’s BRC AA Certification attests to their exceptional quality control and food safety practices. All Cozy Harbor lobster products are also MSC certified.

Cozy Harbor has participated in Food Export programs since 2004 using the Branded Program, the Online Product Catalog and has attended a number of Buyers Missions and Focused Trade Missions both nationally and internationally.

Food Export’s Online Product Catalog is a free service for registered supplier’s to list their full line of products available for export. The Online Catalog is accessed by Food Export staff when an qualified international buyer has inquiries regarding products they are interested in importing. This service connects U.S. Suppliers with international buyers all over the world!

Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) and Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) Program to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.

Seafood Supplier Success

New Foreign Buyer Contacts

Online Product Catalog Success

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New Jersey Supplier Expands Exports of Nutraceutical Ingredients

Morgan Nunan — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 17:46:25 +0000

In 2021, Ecuadorian Rainforest LLC participated in Food Export-Northeast’s Branded Program to promote their products in Mexico, Singapore, and Switzerland. They used their allocated funds to advertise in printed, online, and social media; attend foreign trade shows and trade missions; pay for freight charges for sample shipments, and for the production and distribution of promotional giveaways. As a result of their export market promotion efforts, Steve Siegel, Vice President at Ecuadorian Rainforest LLC, reported over $500,000 in new export sales to these countries. They also anticipate a 35% increase in exports in the next twelve months.

Ecuadorian Rainforest, LLC, based in Clifton, New Jersey offers wholesale bulk powders and powdered extracts of nearly 1,000 fruit, vegetable, herb, marine, and spices. With over 25 years in the business, it remains as one of the industry’s most reliable supplier of nutraceutical ingredients. Certifications include USDA-accredited Quality Assurance International (QAI) organic certification; cGMP-certified facility; American Halal Foundation Halal certified; and Star-K Kosher-certified. Ecuadorian Rainforest also recently scored high marks on the NSF Supplier Assurance Audit. This audit shows a supplier’s commitment to food safety standards and practices.

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