The French Food Connection wrapped up a three-stop tour across the United States. The showcase of French gourmet food products traveled to Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco, April 11-15. Each stop on the tour included presentations and tastings of baked goods, beverages (non-alcoholic), cheeses, condiments, chocolates, and sweet and savory snacks..
According to a statement from UBIFRANCE- French Trade Commission, this fifth edition of the event saw great success in terms of attendance and quality of available items from the exhibitors, and several orders were placed during the tour. More than 170 importers, distributors, buyers, retailers, chefs and journalists attended, including 66 in Chicago, 50 in Las Vegas and 55 in San Francisco.
The 29 participating French companies were:
-Albert Menes, maker of almost 400 products of authentic regional specialties and French gourmet cuisine such as condiments, cookies and jams
-André Laurent, a French manufacturer of sauerkraut
-Bonbons Barnier, family company providing boiled sugar products: hard and soft fruit candies, soft butter caramels, lollipops, mini candies and unwrapped candies
-Bovetti, a company combining modern and traditional methods with handmade chocolates in innovative packaging
-Choc Mod, creamy chocolate truffles that have been on the U.S. market for about 20 years
- Chocolaterie de l’Opéra, a family company that produces chocolates and praline pastes for B2B professionals
-Corsica Gastronomia, a purveyor of Corsican specialties such as jams, chutneys and nougats
-Covinor, one of the leading vinegar-makers in France, which also provides sauces, mayonnaises and mustards
-Crusty Bakery, 100-percent natural French bakery products.
-Des Lis Chocolat, famous for its thin chocolate bars with flowers, fruit or vegetable purees in the center
-Deveurop, a new natural energy drink made from 100-percent natural ingredients
-Fallot, a traditional mustard manufacturer since 1840, featuring Dijon mustard, seed-style mustard and more than 10 aromatized mustards
-French Cheese Club, an association of five family-owned French dairies specializing in the production of traditional French cheeses
-Jean Hénaff, a maker of authentic pâtés and other meat-based products such as duck mousse and farmhouse terrines
-Interval, a 30 year-old company exporting 3,000 tons of specialty cheeses and butters
-Isigny Sainte-Mère, maker of authentic gourmet butter and cheeses such as the traditional Camembert, Brie and Mimolette
-Produits Jock, offering a wide range of ready-to-bake cakes batters
-Biscuiterie La Mère Poulard, traditional French gourmet cookies from Normandy
-Les Chevaliers d’Argouges, maker of year-round, seasonal and organic chocolates from quality ingredients
-Le Manoir des Abeilles, offering a selection of honeys for three generations
-Confiserie Léonard Parli, with a 130-year traditional know-how of famous Calissons d'Aix, crystallized fruits, nougat, Kirschbescue (fruit cake made with kirsch) and crème of Calissons
-Leroux, chicory made in France with a roasted and caramelized taste
-Les Trois Abeilles, family company specializing in original nougat from Montelimar and Calissons from Provence
-Mag’m, maker of frozen French macaroons and puff pastries
-Malongo, a high-end coffee specialist
-Michel et Augustin, offering a large range of all-natural cookies
-SMA Diffusion, maker of colorful syrups, flavored oils and vinegars, salt and pepper mills, lemonades, and salty or sweet mustards in tubs
-Thiercelin, featuring natural oils, vinegars, syrups, spices and ingredients
-nov’Chataigne, producer of cooked and peeled chestnuts
The French Food Connection is a professional food event organized by UBIFRANCE-French Trade Commission to help French food producers find the right partners and develop their business in the United States. Overall, French food sales in the U.S. totaled $3.6 billion in 2010. The top selling French products are goat cheese ($165 million), followed by mineral water ($89 million) and chocolate ($39 million). For information, visit www.frenchfoodconnection.com.
Source: UBIFRANCE- French Trade Commission
