Food Export-Midwest sponsored Food Show PLUS!^TM tradeshow enhancement services at the February 2009 Japan Self Service Association (JSSA) show in Tokyo.  Five U.S. Suppliers from Nebraska, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin participated and made actual on-site sales of $4,102,000 which included two first-times sales to the market. Projected sales for the next year were estimated at $11,000,000. The companies made 21 contacts with new buyers and established 29 new distributorships.

Thatcher’s Gourmet Specialties, Inc. of North Loup, NE in the 3rd Congressional District, met a Japanese buyer at the show and sold $24,000 in product to the buyer three weeks later. This sale and future projected sales to this buyer prompted Thatcher’s to hire six more employees in March 2009.

Thatcher’s Gourmet Specialties, Inc. was founded in 1983 and produces a wide variety of gourmet popcorn. Flavors include: Caramel Corn, Caramel & Nuts, Fat Free Caramel. Sugar Free Caramel, Chocolate Drizzled Caramel, White Cheddar Cheese, Jalapeño, Sour Cream & Onion, Cinnamon Toast, Cookies ‘n’ Cream and more.

Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are private, non-profit associations of Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to promote the export of Midwestern and Northeastern food and agricultural products. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast administer many services through Market Access Program (MAP) funding from the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service.