At Walker Food Group, “Helping You to Buy Local” is more than a slogan- it’s a passion! Recognizing the public’s growing interest in supporting local businesses, industry veteran, Bob Walker teamed with Jonett Haberfield, a long-time champion of local Ohio business, to introduce the “A TASTE OF OHIO” to retailers in the Buckeye State during the Fall of 2007. The program confirmed: Local people want to buy local products!
The “A TASTE OF OHIO” retail program provides sales and marketing support for local food manufacturers from all corners of the state. High-quality, artisan food products are being produced right here in Ohio; and this program offers these companies, large and small, expertise developed from over one hundred years of experience in the distribution and sales business. Walker Food Group works hand in hand with their vendor partners by offering suggestions on packaging styles, input on label design, or help in creating an effective marketing approach. The program also offers the retailer affordable prices, consolidated delivery service, customized promotional programs, and product demonstrations. Additionally, a wide array of point of purchase materials has been created, flagging “A TASTE OF OHIO” products as local and telling consumers exactly where in Ohio each item is produced.
Program Director, Pam Pribanick, also enjoys a close relationship with Lori Panda and the staff at OHIO PROUD, providing Ohio food producers and retailers the most extensive local foods focus in the United States.
Years of field research have confirmed that today’s consumers are passionate about supporting local businesses. During the past couple of years, this program has been featured at such high traffic areas as the Cleveland Clinic, at Consumer festivals, and on numerous college campuses throughout Ohio. During these events, the “A TASTE OF OHIO” staff is visible, vocal and busy providing samples, passing out literature, and talking to consumers about the importance of buying local and showing support for Ohio farmers and neighboring businesses here in the Buckeye State.
In the Summer and Fall of 2007 the organization participated in numerous consumer festivals all over Ohio, such as the Yankee Peddler in Canal Fulton, Vintage Ohio in Kirtland, and The Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland. The Walker Food Group spoke with over 300,000 consumers about the importance of buying local in 2007, and they plan to repeat this effort in 2008, with a goal of targeting 500,000 people!
Consumer response during these shows and festivals has been tremendous! And the most common question asked is: “Where can I buy these products after the festival?” This is where your opportunity as an Ohio retailer presents itself!
At each event in 2008, Walker Food Group will provide an updated list of retail stores that support the "A TASTE OF OHIO" program in order to direct consumers on where they can find these products.
This program, that began in October of 2007 with our first store, Heini’s Gourmet Market in Sugarcreek Ohio, has quickly grown to include over 25 local food producers and the list of fabulous, a r t i s a n products and retailers offering the program grows everyday.
B u y i n g local is not just the latest fad in the grocery industry. This is a trend, and one that won’t be going away. Consumers are reading labels- not only for the nutritional information; they want to know where their food is being produced. As the cost of transportation continues to rise, it just doesn’t make sense to bring food in from out of state when we are producing the same product right here in Ohio! It’s time to support our local economy. It’s time to keep Ohio money and jobs right here in the State of Ohio. Working together, we can make a difference.