From Kitchen to Shelf: Food Founder Journeys

Name: From Kitchen to Shelf: Food Founder Journeys
Start: 2024-06-26T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2024-06-26T20:00:00-05:00
Location: Kitchen Council

Schedule

Wed Jun 26 2024 at 05:30 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Kitchen Council | Council Bluffs, IA

Join us for an insightful evening focused on starting and building a packaged food brand. This event will feature a dynamic panel of early-stage CPG Founders who will tell their stories on everything from their initial idea spark, steps to getting started and wins and challenges they’ve faced along the way. From bootstrapping the business to building a facility, they’ll share it all. You'll have the chance to ask your pressing questions and gain practical advice straight from those who have done it.
After the discussion, take a tour of the Kitchen Council facility and see where innovation comes to life. We guarantee an engaging and informative experience that’s also fun! Don't miss this chance to connect with industry leaders and like-minded entrepreneurs.
PANELISTS:
Jacque Burklund, Humbl Roots
Evan Brockman, Hugo Specialty Foods & Sandwich Proper
Gladys Harrison, Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering
Tessa Porter, Sprinkk & Norma's Snacks
Moderated by Jeni Ellick, Artisan Row
AGENDA:
5:30-6:00 pm | Registration, Networking, Food + Beverages
6:00-7:30 pm | Panel Discussion + Audience Q&A
7:30-8:00 pm | Tour of Kitchen Council + Networking
REGISTER:
https://bit.ly/4aYF57P
Cost: FREE
Ticket includes admission, networking, beverages + light bites.
Special thanks to our Kitchen Council Partners:
Advance Southwest Iowa Corp.
Greater Omaha Chamber
Iowa West Foundation
About Kitchen Council:
Kitchen Council helps food startups start up. From finding affordable commercial kitchen space to navigating licensing and regulations, starting a food business is not for the faint of heart. With Kitchen Council, you are not alone. We provide access to a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, educational resources, a member community, events, mentorship and more.
Photo and Video Release:
By registering and participating in this event, you consent to the recording of your likeness, image, and/or voice and authorize Kitchen Council to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing your likeness, image, and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.
Need more information? Please contact Holly Benson Muller, managing director, at [email protected].
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PANELIST BIOS:
Jacque Burklund
Humbl Roots is a food manufacturing company based in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in Jacque Burklund’s home kitchen alongside her husband, the mission of Humbl Roots is to change the way food makes people feel. Without compromising quality and taste, familiar foods have been reinvented to accommodate dietary restrictions. Their first product is a carrot-based pasta sauce called CARINARA. It is completely nightshade-free and a simple, elegant solution for people looking to avoid heartburn or eliminate nightshades from their diet. They have blended tradition with innovation to create a flavorful pasta sauce that allows consumers to easily enjoy their favorite dishes again. Humbl Roots aims to be more than just a food manufacturing company. It is an innovative and passionate brand that brings families together and helps people feel seen with their dietary restrictions.
Evan Brockman
Evan began his career cooking in high-end restaurants in Omaha and Denver and earned his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales in Denver before entering the world of food manufacturing. He has spent the last 15 years working in culinary, product development, and operations roles for Conagra Brands, Pegasus Foods, and now Hugo Specialty Foods. He specializes in end-to-end product development and commercialization, with a special focus on frozen products. He also launched his own company in 2016 named Sandwich Proper, which operates primarily out of the Omaha Farmer’s Markets cooking fresh breakfast sandwiches to order. Sandwich Proper focuses on craftsmanship, community, and local sourcing with 80-90% of all their food procured from local farms or vendors. Last year they celebrated selling their 10,000th breakfast sandwich at the Aksarben Farmer’s Market, and this year have launched their first retail product—Roasted Pecan Butter, produced with 100% locally sourced northern pecans.
Gladys Harrison
Bio coming soon!
Tessa Porter
Tessa is the President and Founder of Sprinkk, an Omaha-based company focusing on confectionery process design and small-scale contract manufacturing. Sprinkk recently opened a candy factory in Albion, Nebraska, and a new R&D candy lab in Omaha. Tessa is also the founder of Norma’s, a new natural fruit snack brand. Before starting her own company, Tessa was the Head of Innovation and Technology at Ferrara Candy Company in Chicago. She is proud to have developed a unique and powerful R&D team, as well as many unique products ranging from RAP® Protein Gummies to the full line of Black Forest Organic® products. She has a Masters in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Tessa uses Sprinkk to amplify the voice of women in STEM, introduce confectionery science to students, and advocate for careers in the trades and manufacturing. In her free time, you’ll find her in a yoga studio, hanging out with her family, or chasing the wind around the world to go kite-surfing. You can connect with her on Instagram at @tessjport. For something sweet: Text CANDY to 55444 for a fun free marshmallow recipe to make at home!
Jeni Ellick
Jeni has over 20 years of CPG food Innovation and R&D experience spanning fortune 500, mid-sized family-owned and emerging equity-backed companies. After 15 years developing winning products, leading teams, and creating growth strategies inside companies – Conagra, Krusteaz and Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP, she founded Artisan Row, a bespoke food design and strategy agency. Artisan Row partners with pre-revenue to mid-sized, high growth brands and companies in the natural and organic space to create better food products. Jeni also serves on the BOD of Naturally MN and mentors for several food hubs and accelerators. When not feeding her passion for contributing to a better food system, you can find her cooking at home, tending the vegetable garden or biking with her son, Griffin.