Virtual Buyers Mission Helps Illinois Supplier Gain New Export Market

In February of 2021, Federated Group, Inc. from Arlington Heights, Illinois participated in Food Export-Midwest’s Virtual Connect Winter Buyers Mission.

The virtual Buyers Mission allowed a representative from the Federated Group to meet virtually, with 24 international buyers to promote their condiment and grain products. The virtual meetings allowed the Illinois supplier to introduce their company and their products to buyers representing retail companies in Brazil, Cayman, China, Australia, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Barbados, Bermuda, Fiji, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Post-event, in July, this snack, frozen, beverage, processed product supplier was able to report gaining sales of $3,000,000 from Brazil, Guatemala, and Peru based on these new buyer contacts, they also established 3 new distributor relationships and project to complete $300,000 more in sales over the next twelve months. Also, to note, the sale to Brazil was a first-time sale to the market for Federated Group.

Federated Group is a premier sales and marketing company in the grocery, food service, drug, and convenience store business. Working with retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers, Federated provides programs and services to drive growth in our customers’ private label programs. Based in Illinois they source ingredients from multiple other Midwest states, helping grow the economy across the Midwest.

Federated Group, Inc has participated in various Food Export programs such as the Branded Program since 2019, and the Online Product Catalog, webinars, and has attended Focused Trade Missions, and Buyers Mission (in-person and virtually).

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.