Displaying items tagged: foodagri
Bronconess Wines offers WMU students hands-on business experience
KALAMAZOO — A pair of Western Michigan University students will have a chance to get hands-on business experience by running professional beverage brand Bronconess Wine.
Gordon Food Service moves into Texas market with 6 new stores
Foodservice distribution giant Gordon Food Service Inc. has expanded to the Lone Star State with the addition of six new retail locations.
FlavorSum plans $10M expansion to double Kalamazoo operations
KALAMAZOO — Flavor manufacturer FlavorSum LLC plans to begin construction on an expansion project that will double the size of its West Michigan location.
Young urban farmers fight for limited land as Grand Rapids grows around them
GRAND RAPIDS — When the Great Recession roiled Michigan in 2008, Takidia Jenkins-Smith started a garden at her home in southeast Grand Rapids to stretch her grocery budget. She was 24 years old at the time with three young sons to feed, so she kept at it, eventually growing food for friends and extended family.
‘Spare me the outrage and show me reform’: Migrant worker advocates call for system changes in wake of child labor report
Michigan advocates for migrant workers welcome a new federal task force to address child labor violations, but say more policy change is needed to address systemic problems with the migrant labor system across industries, including food and agriculture.
Michigan ag interests reach national stage in 2023 Farm Bill
Michigan farmers and agriculture experts say the state is poised to play a key role in the upcoming national Farm Bill, influencing both the political process as well as provisions involving climate change and insurance programs.
Meritage expects ‘transformational growth’ for 2023 amid continued M&A, new restaurant openings
GRAND RAPIDS — Franchise restaurant operator Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. leveraged new store openings and price increases to deliver record sales for 2022.
Training program launches second year of boosting agribiz leadership pipeline
Astatewide training program has launched its second cohort to build on efforts of bolstering Michigan’s pipeline of agribusiness leaders.
Next generation takes over leadership at family-owned Ferris Coffee & Nut
GRAND RAPIDS — Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., a family-owned and Grand Rapids-based coffee and nut roasting business, has completed a succession plan that passes leadership to the next generation.
West Michigan startup selected for Gordon Food Service-backed accelerator program
A new venture from West Michigan serial entrepreneur Garrick Pohl has been selected to join a Chicago-based accelerator program launched by Wyoming-based Gordon Food Service and its innovation and investment arm Relish Works.
Battle Creek food and drink consultant expands to the East Coast
A Battle Creek food and beverage consulting firm has acquired a research and development team in Brooklyn that it hopes will expand its East Coast foothold and bring new ideas to Michigan.
Michigan Turkey Producers awarded $1.5M federal grant to bolster processing capacity
GRAND RAPIDS — Michigan Turkey Producers Co-Op Inc. has received $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bolster its meat processing capacity.
SpartanNash acquires Upper Peninsula grocery wholesaler
BYRON CENTER — Food distribution and retail company SpartanNash Co. is expanding its distribution capacity with the acquisition of an independent grocery wholesaler in the Upper Peninsula.
Family-owned Hudsonville Ice Cream hires former Smucker exec as new CEO
HOLLAND — Veteran food exec Tina Floyd will join family-owned Hudsonville Creamery and Ice Cream Company LLC on Feb. 13 as its next CEO, taking over for co-owner Denny Ellens.
Lakeshore companies experienced growth despite talent, supply chain challenges in 2022
Executives from 120 companies in Allegan and Ottawa counties overwhelmingly reported positive growth in 2022, despite continuing challenges they face when it comes to attracting talent and supply chain disruptions.
Eastern Kille to break ground on new Plainfield Twp. distillery, bar, restaurant
PLAINFIELD TWP. — Eastern Kille Distillery will kick off the new year with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new headquarters, distillery operations, bar and restaurant in Plainfield Charter Township.
Food producers, farmers expect continued buffeting from inflationary pressures
Consumers and producers alike have felt the strain as inflation has driven the cost of food higher, and they’re bracing for more of the same in the year ahead.
Raising minimum, tipped wages expected to cause ‘monumental shift’ for restaurants
Michigan’s minimum and tipped minimum wages are both set to increase in 2023, while pending litigation could cause even more significant changes for the hospitality industry that proponents say are overdue and some operators fear.
Meritage inks deal for portfolio of 43 Midwest Wendy’s stores
GRAND RAPIDS — Franchise restaurant operator Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. is expanding its portfolio of Wendy’s restaurants with a deal to acquire a group of restaurants in the Midwest.
Non-alcoholic spirits shop opens on Grand Rapids’ west side
GRAND RAPIDS — The mixologists behind a non-alcoholic beverage shop in Grand Rapids’ Downtown Market recently opened a retail storefront with a wide selection of zero-proof cocktail mixers, spirits, beer and wines.
Pair of West Michigan food banks plan ARPA-funded expansions
As food prices surge to record highs, a pair of West Michigan food banks — Comstock Park-based Feeding America West Michigan and Ottawa Food in Holland Charter Township — have secured public funding to expand their services and meet growing demands.
Perrin Brewing Co. partners with Grand Rapids Gold, plans beer garden at Van Andel Arena
GRAND RAPIDS — Alpine Township-based Perrin Brewing Co. plans to open a new beer garden at Van Andel Arena under the terms of a sponsorship deal with the Grand Rapids Gold G-League basketball team.
D&W, Family Fare groceries available for delivery under new SpartanNash, Uber deal
BYRON CENTER — A new partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. will allow customers of SpartanNash Co. stores to have their groceries delivered on demand.
New Shelby pet food plant, Holland cold storage facility expansion receive state grant backing
SHELBY — Perdue Farms, a Salisbury, Md.-based food and agricultural firm, will invest more than $27 million to renovate a former food processing facility in Oceana County.
Old Mission Peninsula wineries contend zoning rewrite would edge out family farms, create ‘millionaires club’
As Michigan Agritourism Month draws to a close, a group of Northern Michigan wineries are left to wonder why the statewide recognition of the industry’s economic and social benefits continues to escape local policymakers.
Battle Creek Unlimited awarded $522K for food startup programs
BATTLE CREEK — The federal Economic Development Administration has awarded economic development organization Battle Creek Unlimited more than $522,000 in grants to bolster a pair of food startup programs.
West Mich. wastewater pipeline lands $60M in state funding to support agribiz expansion
A wastewater pipeline expansion project that local leaders and company executives say is crucial for agribusiness expansion in Ottawa and Muskegon counties has received $60 million in state funding.
State board takes first step to approve $225M bond for potash mining facility
The Michigan Strategic Fund has taken an initial step in approving a $225 million bond for a company pursuing a large-scale potash mining operation in Osceola County.
Michigan Craft Beverage Council seeks applications from distillers to qualify for reduced state markup on products
The Michigan Craft Beverage Council has opened applications for a new qualified distillers program, as well as for its annual research grant funding.
Moonshine and spirits company Sip Shine to purchase Harmony Hall space for new GR lounge
GRAND RAPIDS — Sip Shine LLC, a marketer of moonshine and canned cocktails, plans to open its first tasting room and restaurant in the Harmony Hall building on Grand Rapids’ west side.