Two local businesses among Michigan 50 Companies to Watch
Kudos to Food For Thought, Inc. and Grand Traverse Pie Company for being recognized as two of the Michigan 50 Companies To Watch, an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation. They will be honored at an awards ceremony during the third annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 24 in Lansing.
The awards program highlights second-stage companies, according to Mark Lange, executive director of the Edward Lowe Foundation. "When it comes to a robust economy, second-stage entrepreneurs play a critical role because they generate new jobs and sustainable growth," Lange says. "And yet, they're not often recognized or appreciated for the impact they have on the economy or the community."
Food For Thought is based on an organic farm in northwest Michigan where they produce award winning Fair Trade and organic specialty foods. Their Organic Cherry Salsa was recently featured on the Food Network and also received an award from Vegetarian Times Magazine. In addition to their line of specialty foods, Food For Thought offers private label packaging for more than 30 companies making gourmet organic barbeque sauces, preserves, salad dressings and salsas.
"We serve a range of customers," states founder and president Timothy Young, "from the small entrepreneurial start-up to large global companies like Eden Foods, to the farmer down the road that shows up with a pickup load or strawberries or tomatoes."
Their Private Label cherry preserves were awarded first place in a sampling conducted by the Detroit News, beating out household names like Smuckers, Dickensons, Knotts and others.
Grand Traverse Pie Company is a full service Bakery Cafe in the growing "fast casual" sector occupied by Panera and Corner Bakery. The big difference is that in addition to creative breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings, it's all about pie at GTPC. More than 30 varieties of fruit, cream, meringue and key lime pies are available every day, made from scratch, on-site at each bakery cafe. The company will employ more than 400 Michiganders by the end of 2008, with $12 million in gross sales throughout the state. In addition, the company uses only Michigan fruits, including cherries, apples, and blueberries. More than 1 million pounds of fruit will be used in 2008.
"The agriculture economic impact alone is significant not only to Northern Michigan, but the entire state," states GTPC creator Mike Busley. "Michigan is the Grand Traverse Pie Company's discriminator. Our customers not only are loyal to us because of our hand-crafted pies and well prepared cafe cuisine, but because we are passionate about growing in Michigan!"
Filed under Award Winners
