Joel Warady

Instant focus in a pouch. Zero nicotine.

Welcome to the PRETZELUTION! Where pretzels join forces with classic snacks to create TWO FAVORITE SNACKS IN ONE.

Maine Crisps are delectable crackers meticulously handcrafted from simple natural ingredients inspired by the coast-to-coast culinary adventures (and obsessions!) of founders Karen and Steve Getz. Made from naturally gluten-free buckwheat, studded with a special mix of organic seeds, berries and nuts, they’re awesomely crispy, chewy and nutty. We are committed to finding the most delicious ingredients for our crisps and to supporting responsible farming, starting with the natural buckwheat from a small farm up the road in Maine that we use in every crisp. (Don’t let the name distract you -- buckwheat is a gluten-free, protein-packed seed!) Each deliberately chosen ingredient reflects our mission to delight you. In a cracker! Some of America’s best chefs serve Maine Crisps on their cheese boards. They love them because the balanced flavors and terrific texture pair perfectly with fine cheese and charcuterie. That the crackers are gluten-free is a happy benefit -- all diners can enjoy them. The chefs know a good thing when they taste it. So will you. Maine Crisps are not just for cheese! They make a great snack on their own. Tuck them in Lunch boxes. Backpacks. Purses, and Picnic baskets.

Helaina is a biotech company pushing the boundaries of what food can do for health.

Elavi is a certified woman-owned food company delivering low sugar, high protein sweet snacks designed by fitness trainers.

At OLIPOP, we’re on a mission to positively impact consumer health at scale, and we’re doing it through something simple: soda. But not just any soda, a new kind of soda that’s delicious, refreshing, and actually good for you. OLIPOP combines the classic soda flavor you know and love with a functional ingredient blend to support your microbiome and digestive health. This mission shapes everything we do; from the ingredients we source to the culture we foster. We’re committed to proving that business (and beverage!) can be a force for good, and that soda has the power to bring people together. Today, OLIPOP is available in over 65,000 retailers nationwide, and our momentum is only growing. Join us, and let’s write a new American soda story together. One we can all feel good about. One OLIPOP at a time. Friendly reminder: Any note from our team will come from an @drinkolipop.com email. Before replying, take a moment to confirm the address is ours.

Clover Vitality is a growth equity fund that invests primarily in emerging food and beverage brands

Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (www.chicagolandfood.org) is the region’s food and beverage cluster organization. We are charged with driving inclusive economic growth in the Chicagoland area by bringing together the local food & beverage industry to collaborate on opportunities in workforce development, food safety, innovation & technology, and business services. We believe that a growing, innovative food & beverage industry is vital to a prosperous Chicago metro area. We will help to unlock growth and innovation by providing a collaborative platform and network among food and beverage companies, service providers, government, academia, and a wide range of stakeholders.

Enjoy Life Foods is the leading brand in the growing Free-From category, featuring a robust portfolio of Certified Gluten Free and Non-GMO Project Verified products that are free-from 14 common allergens – wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Founded with the goal to create great-tasting, allergy friendly foods, the Enjoy Life line includes cookies, snack bars, chocolate bars, baking chocolate, baking mixes, seed and fruit mixes, protein bites and lentil chips, all available in natural and conventional grocers and mass retailers throughout the United States and Canada. Enjoy Life Foods’ expanding portfolio of allergy friendly foods feature bright teal packaging as an effort to shed a positive spotlight on food allergies. Acknowledging that teal is the recognized color of food allergy awareness, the colorful and consistent design creates a cohesive brand block on shelf, making it easy for ingredient-conscious shoppers to find the brand’s 70+ products within the traditional supermarket aisles. In 2018, Enjoy Life achieved FODMAP Friendly Certification for over 25 of its allergy friendly and Certified Gluten Free products from the FODMAP Friendly Food Program, the largest registered certification trademark worldwide certifying FODMAP friendly packaged foods. Enjoy Life’s mission and brand promise is to deliver safe, better-for-you products free-from food allergens, but not free-from taste so everyone can Enjoy Life and Eat Freely!

Instant focus in a pouch. Zero nicotine.

Welcome to the PRETZELUTION! Where pretzels join forces with classic snacks to create TWO FAVORITE SNACKS IN ONE.

Maine Crisps are delectable crackers meticulously handcrafted from simple natural ingredients inspired by the coast-to-coast culinary adventures (and obsessions!) of founders Karen and Steve Getz. Made from naturally gluten-free buckwheat, studded with a special mix of organic seeds, berries and nuts, they’re awesomely crispy, chewy and nutty. We are committed to finding the most delicious ingredients for our crisps and to supporting responsible farming, starting with the natural buckwheat from a small farm up the road in Maine that we use in every crisp. (Don’t let the name distract you -- buckwheat is a gluten-free, protein-packed seed!) Each deliberately chosen ingredient reflects our mission to delight you. In a cracker! Some of America’s best chefs serve Maine Crisps on their cheese boards. They love them because the balanced flavors and terrific texture pair perfectly with fine cheese and charcuterie. That the crackers are gluten-free is a happy benefit -- all diners can enjoy them. The chefs know a good thing when they taste it. So will you. Maine Crisps are not just for cheese! They make a great snack on their own. Tuck them in Lunch boxes. Backpacks. Purses, and Picnic baskets.

Helaina is a biotech company pushing the boundaries of what food can do for health.

Elavi is a certified woman-owned food company delivering low sugar, high protein sweet snacks designed by fitness trainers.