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The Land of 10,000 Lakes, Cornhuskers, and the Movie Fargo: Why You Shouldn’t Fly Over the US-Upper Midwest

(especially if you sell food)

Christina ConnellyTrade Commissioner, Agri-Food

Consulate General of Canada in MinneapolisFeb 2020

MNPLS

Minnesota: Early Economy

• Historically: natural resources and agriculture– Fur trading, mining, timber, crops

• “The Mill City”– Washburn and Pillsbury families– Origins of the food processing industry in Minnesota

• Farming – large producers and small family farms– #1 producer of sugar beets and turkeys– #2 in sweet corn, hogs, oats, wild rice– #3 in soybeans, spring wheat, processed green peas

• Value-added processing – ingredients and final goods

Agriculture → Food Processing

US-UMW Food Processing Industry Today

Food Retailing & Distribution

Retail• Grab-and-go/convenience/snacking

• Local (known) sourcing

• Non-GMO, Organic, Natural

• Gluten-free

• Choices (not just among products, but stores too)

• “New” super foods

• Low sugar

• Innovation

These times, they are a changin’ …

Foodservice• Local over “fancy”

• Neighborhood over popular

• Delivery and take-out – not just pizza anymore!

• In-home dining

• On-site brewing/distilling

• Global flavors specific to the region

• The Experience

• Malt-O-Meal = MOM Brands = POST Consumer Brands

• General Mills – Green Giant (B&G)

• ConAgra (Omaha) + Ralcorp –Ralcorp→ Chicago

• General Mills + Blue Buffalo

• SunOpta + Niagara Naturals(Canadian!)

• Cargill + EWOS + Konspol + DiamondV + Smet

• Cargill – pork

• Agropur (Canadian!) + Davisco

• UNFI (RI) + Supervalu (Mpls)

• Fortune Fish & Gourmet (Chicago) + Coastal Seafoods (Mpls) + ClassicProvisions (Mpls)

Change = the new normal!M&As, Movement, Rebranding, etc.

Becoming a well-known

foodie destination

From….

To….

• National broadline distributors: – US Foods– Sysco– Reinhart, etc.

• Regional and local broadline distributors: – Apperts– Henry’s– Mason Brothers– McLane– Upper Lakes Foods

• Local specialty distributors:– Many serve both grocery and foodservice – Better option for specialty/niche product

• Institutional and catering:– Taher, Sodexho, Aramark– May request suppliers use specific local, regional or broadline distributor

depending on product type.

Foodservice Distribution

Twin Cities = food entrepreneur hub

Accelerators & InvestorsAg/food gaining traction…

• Ideal entry-point – bigger than you think, but small enough to be manageable

• Ease of logistics – centrally-located, on the border

• Foodie mentality growing – opportunity not saturated

• Common culture and values, familiar – Canada beloved by many

• Resources – strong knowledge-base, government support, academic institutions, collaborative community, growing innovation and start-up hub

• “The Good Life” – culture, wellness, work/life balance, economic stability, environment, etc…

Why Canadians food

manufacturers choose Minnesota

• Minnesota– Food retailing

– Food processing & co-packing

– Meat processing

– Foodservice

– FoodTech + AgTech

• Iowa– Convenience

– Food processing/ingredients

– AgTech (Des Moines)

• Nebraska– Animal agriculture

– Meat processing

Where are my best bets?In Christina’s humble opinion….

• South Dakota– Ingredients

– Dairy

– Innovation partnerships

• North Dakota– Ingredients

– AgTech (Fargo)

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service

Le Service des délégués commerciaux du Canada

For more information contact us at

Pour plus d’informationscontactez-nous à

Christina Connellychristina.Connelly@international.gc.ca612-492-2915