Culinary Entrepreneurs Celebrate Success at Specialty Food Show with NJBAC Support

The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) achieved great success during its debut at the renowned Summer Fancy Food Show, one of North America’s largest trade shows in the gourmet food industry. Hosted by the Specialty Food Association at the Javits Convention Center in New York City from June 25 to 27, the event featured NJBAC’s state pavilion, showcasing a dozen local businesses that exemplify the diverse culinary scene of the Garden State.

These participating ventures received crucial support from the New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program (NJSTEP). As a U.S. Small Business Administration-sponsored initiative, NJSTEP empowers underserved businesses with the potential for global export and provides them with essential financial awards.

To qualify for the program, entities must meet the SBA’s criteria for small business communities, including categories such as socially and economically disadvantaged, women-owned or controlled, rural, and veterans and/or service-connected disabled veterans.

The Summer Fancy Food Show, a major international event, attracted over 34,000 attendees and featured more than 2,000 exhibitors, making it a prime platform for product discovery, trendspotting, and networking within the specialty food and beverage industry.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 26, Secretary of State Tenesha Way delivered opening remarks and engaged with each of the 12 businesses sponsored by NJBAC and its Office of Export Promotion (OEP), who were showcasing their products at the event.

The entrepreneurs who participated in the NJBAC-sponsored pavilion represented a diverse range of culinary offerings:

1. B’cuz Snacks LLC, Lakewood – vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO kosher granola bites
2. Djerdan Burek Corp., South Hackensack – frozen savory pies
3. Fabalish Inc., Carlstadt – organic veggie bits and condiments
4. Flows Tasty Treats, Newark – coconut and peanut snacks
5. Health Enhanced Foods Inc., Rockaway – natural flour mixes
6. Heno Group, Hamilton – honey water
7. Kekoa Foods, West Orange – organic food purees for children
8. New Nissi Corp., Paterson – nut and seed crunch bars
9. Onset Worldwide LLC, Frenchtown – flour made from watermelon seeds
10. Perfect Line Nutrition, West Orange – peanut, navy bean, and rice health snacks
11. Pure Indian Foods Corp., Princeton Junction – ghee
12. Route 66 International Inc., Hackensack – roasted seaweed

Secretary Way stated, “The businesses showcased in our state’s pavilion represent more than a variety of consumable products – they demonstrate how NJSTEP creates opportunities for success and business expansion. Thanks to their partnership with NJBAC’s OEP and participation in the NJ State Trade Expansion Program, these 12 businesses from across the state have the potential to expand their operations through exports.”

Reflecting on the event, Danny Auld, founder of Kekoa Foods, expressed gratitude for NJBAC’s support, stating that they had been instrumental in the growth of their business. Auld added, “NJBAC and the Office of Export Promotion took our vision for our business and helped us bring it to a wider audience who we know will enjoy and benefit from it.”

Caroline Egbelu, founder and managing director of Health Advanced Foods, highlighted the opportunity to share her products with a broader market and help people with dietary restrictions enjoy the foods they love. As a minority-owned business, Egbelu expressed appreciation for NJBAC’s role in opening doors to countless opportunities and possibilities that they may not have had otherwise, including the chance to exhibit at the Fancy Food Show.

The success achieved at the Summer Fancy Food Show underscores the valuable support provided by NJBAC to small businesses in New Jersey, allowing them to thrive and make their mark in the competitive culinary industry.