The Eighth Annual Making It In Michigan Conference Provides Food and
Agricultural Entrepreneurs Ingredients for Success
One-Day Event Hosts Educational Sessions and Trade Show Featuring Over 160
Michigan-made Food and Agricultural Products
The MSU Product Center is pleased to announce the eighth annual Making It In
Michigan Conference and Premier Specialty Food Marketplace Trade Show to be
held Tuesday, November 10th from 7:30AM – 4:00PM at the Lansing Center.
“In supporting this year’s theme of ‘Ingredients for Success’ we will be
presenting the most comprehensive series of educational sessions covering
the components and processes that companies need for safe, sound and smart
product development,” states Matthew Birbeck, Senior Project Director, Food
Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC) at the MSU Product Center. “In
addition, we are excited to present leading Michigan retailers and
entrepreneurs that will be moderating sessions on breaking into the retail
market,” says Birbeck.
This year’s keynote panel will feature leading industry food technologists
and engineers discussing “do’s and don’ts” of product development and
production.
The one-day event features morning educational sessions that will bring
together industry experts to help guide attendees in refining and growing
their businesses in the following areas:
Processing know-how for shelf-stable products
Understanding the nuts and bolts of risk reduction
Taking the business to the next level
Preparing for an unannounced food inspection visit
Understanding legal basics for starting a food business
Keeping your food business sales growing
Learning how to build the right team
Breaking into the retail market
Being recall ready
Discovering your competitive advantage in the specialty food market
The $79 per person conference registration fee includes breakfast, lunch,
and educational sessions, digital copies of all presentations and reference
materials and admission to the Marketplace trade show.
The Marketplace trade show in the afternoon will feature over 160 new and
existing businesses that will be showcasing and sampling their Michigan-made
food and agricultural products to the general public and Michigan-based food
buyers. The trade show is free to the general public.
Conference participants will also have time to network with the winners of
this year’s MSU Product Center awards and learn from their success stories.
Awards will be presented for Entrepreneur of the Year, Start-up to Watch,
Best Barrier Buster, Value-Added Agriculture and the Director’s Award. MSU
Product Center innovation counselors and staff members, Product Center
clients, business consultants, regulatory officials and food and farming
groups will also be available to provide in-depth information and counseling.
More information and conference registration is available at
www.productcenter.msu.edu/miim. Those interested in attending can also call
Greta McKinney at 517-353-7185 or send an email to [log in to unmask]
About the MSU Product Center
Founded in 2003, the MSU Product Center helps Michigan entrepreneurs develop
and commercialize high-value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in
the agriculture, natural resources and bioeconomy sectors. The Center’s
statewide network of innovation counselors provides business counseling
support to Michigan residents interested in starting or expanding a business
or product line.
The Product Center’s assistance in launching 455 known new businesses and
business expansions has had the following estimated economic impacts:
• Increased annual sales: $328.2 million (cumulative first year sales only)
• Value of increased investment: $330.9 million
• Jobs created: 1,273
• Jobs retained: 676
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