Let us handle the introductionsLaissez-nous faire les présentations
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 [email protected]
