Marketing

The future of Pennsylvania's food processing and manufacturing industry depends upon the industry's ability, especially the small and medium sized companies, to grow their sales beyond the Commonwealth's borders, to compete domestically and take advantage of export opportunities.

International

Addressing members export interests, until recently, has been the prime objective of the Cooperative. Several of the members are experienced exporters; others are new-to-exporting.

In its initial stages and with limited resources, the Cooperative found it to be most cost effective to target the international market by exhibiting at trade shows and participating in U. S. Department of Agriculture sponsored buyer mission meetings, to meet a maximum number of qualified buyers at minimum cost.

The Cooperative has contracted with an export trading company, Bell Exports Foods Group (Bell), to participate in these international trade events, provide international promotional services, follow-up on trade leads and conclude sales. Bell has over 30 years of international trading experience in frozen, chilled and shelf stable food and beverage products.

Members select which products and in which markets they want the Cooperative to represent them.

A significant advantage for members is that export sales thru the Cooperative are like a domestic sale. Bell takes possession of the product, pays the members, assumes importer payment risks and handles all shipment and paperwork.

Domestic

Recently, the Cooperative has embarked on developing a U.S. domestic marketing program. As with the exporting program, participation is voluntary. Members designate which of their products they want to Cooperative to promote domestically and can exclude geographic regions and/or accounts where they have a current presence.

The members have selected Innovative Food Sales (IFS) to represent their food service and retail products across the U.S.

IFS meets with each member to develop a marketing plan and is responsible for advising the Cooperative on potential joint member promotional activities, including trade show participation recommendations, and endeavors to service the overall interests of the Cooperative by formulating joint member promotions under the Cooperative banner.