Displaying items tagged: foodagri
Long Road Distillers plans Cadillac tasting room
About a year ago, Jon O’Connor and his team at Long Road Distillers LLC explored potential locations in Cadillac but were not able to find the right fit.
MLCC rules in favor of breweries hosting free bingo games
Breweries, wineries and restaurants may now legally offer free bingo to patrons without fear of punishment by the state following a recent ruling by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
Fruit growers optimistic after two-day frost scare
As West Michigan fruit growers braced for two nights of hard frost in late April that would threaten their already developing buds, many in the industry and downstream economy feared a repeat of a disastrous 2012 season.
AG Nessel files suit against out-of-state wineries, retailer over wine shipments
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed lawsuits against two out-of-state wineries and one wine retailer for allegedly shipping wine into Michigan illegally.
$28.6 billion in relief grants now available for Michigan restaurants
Restaurant owners can start applying today for $28.6 billion available under the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
Blacklist Bagels looks to transition from ghost kitchen to storefront
GRAND RAPIDS — When the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold of the country last year, Kevin Chaperon took the at-home bread baking trend to the next level and opened a ghost kitchen concept called Blacklist Bagels LLC.
FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
Entrepreneur to launch Michigan’s first gluten-free brewery in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — Jessica Stricklen plans to open the first gluten-free microbrewery in the state of Michigan in Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Park neighborhood.
Restaurant service provider 86 Repairs raises $2 million in funding round
GRAND RAPIDS — 86 Repairs Inc., a company based in both Grand Rapids and Chicago that partners with restaurants to provide end-to-end repairs and maintenance for kitchen equipment, recently closed a $2 million round of seed funding.
West Michigan food processing incubator opens in Muskegon
MUSKEGON — An 8,000-square-foot food processing business incubator in Muskegon is now open and accepting new tenants.
SpartanNash announces new CFO amid shake-up in financial leadership
BYRON CENTER — Food distributor and grocery store retailer SpartanNash Co. recently announced its new chief financial officer who will take over the post on Monday.
West Michigan restaurants bend categories to survive tumultuous 2020
Jeff Lobdell’s portfolio of restaurants took a nearly 40-percent hit to its top line revenue during a COVID-19 pandemic-rattled 2020 that took a hefty toll on the hospitality industry.
State awards $1.8 million to preserve more than 700 acres of farmland
State officials have awarded $1.8 million in grants that will eventually lead to the preservation of 730 acres of farmland.
FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
MLCC launches new online liquor ordering system for licensees
The Michigan Liquor Control Commission took measures this week to streamline the ordering process for its 14,000 liquor licensees across the state.
SpartanNash sees uptick in distribution and retail sales for 2020; expects a dip in 2021
BYRON CENTER — The latest earnings report from SpartanNash Co. reflects a surge in demand for food distribution and retail throughout 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
GreenStone Farm Credit Services announces grants for young, beginner and small farmers
For the fourth year, one of Michigan’s largest agriculture lenders is committing grant dollars to fund educational opportunities for the industry’s next generation.
Pop-up concepts, staffing challenges, uncertain demand fill chefs’ outlook
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed restaurants to adapt and innovate in order to survive. As the architects of the restaurant industry, chefs across West Michigan have tested various experiments to stay afloat during the pandemic and beyond.
GRNoir Wine and Jazz bar launches as indoor dining ban lifts with restrictions
GRAND RAPIDS — GRNoir Wine and Jazz owners Shatawn and Nadia Brigham welcomed the first dine-in customers to their new Grand Rapids club Monday after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Standard opening recreational-only cannabis dispensary in Sand Lake
SAND LAKE — The first cannabis dispensary in Sand Lake is opening Friday to sell exclusively recreational cannabis.
Founders announces sponsorship with NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers
With a relatively strong foothold already in the Philadelphia market, Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co. recently announced that it has become an official sponsor for NBA team the Philadelphia 76ers.
Trade policy, labor availability among key agriculture issues in 2021
As an industry that bounced back relatively quickly after the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture in Michigan and across the U.S. faces key issues that will shape its fate in 2021, experts say.
Stoney Ridge Vineyards & Winery ‘weathering’ a pandemic opening
SPARTA TOWNSHIP — Stoney Ridge Winery LLC officially opened in June 2020 after a few soft opening events at the start of the pandemic.
Gage continues retail cannabis growth in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — Gage Cannabis Co. plans to open a medical cannabis dispensary in Grand Rapids later this week, marking its sixth retail store in Michigan.
Despite wide bipartisan support, Whitmer vetoes legislation to ease restrictions on distilleries
Legislation designed to put Michigan’s distillers on a more even footing with cider, beer and wine producers died on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk this week.
As craft beverage waits out the pandemic, lingering supply chain and policy concerns remain
The COVID-19 pandemic has not doused Justin Buiter’s optimism in his future plans for his brewery. However, when Buiter looks ahead, he said 2021 will likely be spent regaining the footing his company lost during a gauntlet of a year.
Kalsec earns B Corp status
Dr. Scott Nykaza always considered his company to be both environmentally and socially responsible through its 60-year history. Now it has a credible stamp of approval to back up those claims.
Tantrick Brewing unveils new production, taproom plans in downtown Allegan
ALLEGAN — In addition to dealing with the massive disruptions to her business brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanya Schafer is also juggling two construction projects.
State, federal lawmakers reach agreement on COVID-19 relief packages
State and federal lawmakers have each reached consensus on COVID-19 relief that will support small businesses like restaurants and venues still confronting pandemic-related restrictions.
Grocery exec: Pandemic forces long-term shift in consumer habits
Consumers relied on grocery stores and supermarkets like never before during the pandemic. As the state transitioned through various stages of shutdowns, these businesses had to keep their shelves stocked amid challenges like panic buying and stockpiling. Tony Sarsam took over as CEO at SpartanNash Co. in September as the industry was six months into the new dynamic. The former CEO of Texas-based Borden Dairy Co. shares his views on the challenges that await his company with 155 corporate-owned retail stores and a distribution business that delivers to 2,100 independent locations.
Restaurateur’s portfolio shrinks under pandemic restrictions
With already thin profit margins, dine-in restaurants have faced the brunt of COVID-19 restrictions in Michigan, and many won’t emerge on the other side. Some owners — including Jeff Lobdell, president of Restaurant Partners Management Inc. — feel their businesses have been unfairly targeted as state officials sought to stem the surge of cases over the past month. Lobdell owns restaurants across the state, including several in the Grand Rapids area like Bagel Beanery, Sundance Grill & Bar, Beltline Bar, The Omelette Shoppe, Rockwell Republic and Noble Restaurant. Lobdell started the year operating 20 restaurants, nearly half of which have closed at least temporarily.
Ag sector ‘more or less’ back to normal, although labor challenges persist
In addition to farming his own 1,800 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in Ionia County, Jeff Sanborn is also active in both the Michigan and National Corn Growers associations. In fact, he has represented Michigan on the NCGA board and was a chairman on the NCGA Ethanol Committee. Sandborn shared insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic, new administration and other issues are poised to affect the agriculture industry in 2021.