Friday, 9 February, 2024
1pm – 6pm
Kroon Hall, Yale University
New Haven, CT 06511
For more information
A pitch competition and networking event for the Connecticut food & beverage industry.
About the Event
Connecticut has made substantial progress in developing infrastructure for entrepreneurs in the state’s food and beverage industry. Multiple commercial kitchens, incubators and funding programs now span our small state and have generated interest within the regional industry.
Work remains to remove friction in the Connecticut food entrepreneurship pipeline, including stronger links with wholesale buyers and solutions providers, and more effective support for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs and businesses pursuing sustainable or regenerative processes.
The Big Connecticut Food Event is designed to provide opportunities for emerging food and beverage brands to connect with the expertise that they’re going to need on their journeys, and for strategic and industry partners to meet the growing community of promising brands.
Our goal is to support the development of Connecticut’s entrepreneurship pipeline so it produces multiple food and beverage brands every year that each exceed $2 million in annual sales.
Event Schedule, Fri 2/9
12:45pm: Doors open
1:15pm: Opening remarks
- Anthony M. Anthony, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
1:30pm: Panel discussion: What buyers wish more emerging brands knew
- Moderator: Reed Immer, CT Food Launchpad/Chabaso Bakery/Atticus
- Deane Sullivan, Stop & Shop
- John Fraro, Big Y
- Seth Nieman, Wakefern
- John Lawson, Whole Foods
2:30pm: Connecting the dots: Cross-sector partnerships in the entrepreneurship pipeline
- Moderator: Onyeka Obiocha, CTNext
- Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Dean Indrajeet Chaubey, UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources
- Katrice Claudio, reSET
- Charlie Negaro, Chabaso Bakery / Atticus / CT Food Launchpad
Event Schedule, Fri 2/9
3:15-4:15pm: Sampling, tabling and expert coaching
Brand participants will be announced week of 1/29
4:15-5:15pm: Pitch competition
Judges: Deane Sullivan (Stop & Shop), John Fraro (Big Y), Seth Nieman (Wakefern), Charlotte Myer (Fresh Direct)
Brand participants will be announced week of 1/29
5:15-6pm: Announcement of pitch competition winners, sampling, tabling