|
Thursday, 08 April 2004 00:00 |
JUNEAU – Food Network’s “Food Finds” series will showcase four Alaska manufacturers on April 20, 21 and May 1, featuring high quality regional food products.
Alaskan Brewing Company (Juneau), Birch Boy Alaskan Syrups (Haines), Horst’s Seafood (Juneau), and Theobroma Chocolates (Sitka) will be highlighted on the Alaska episode. Host Sandra Pinckney broadcasts to 80 million viewers the merits of local and regional artisan food products.
“Alaska has a growing sector of small business manufacturers and I’m glad to see gourmet food manufacturers in this state receive such tremendous recognition of quality,” says Susan Humphrey, co-founder of Birch Boy Syrups.
Ed Iwamoto, owner and founder of Theobroma Chocolate Company echoes that sentiment, “To be able to share our community, our little corner of the world and the fabulous chocolates we produce here is very exciting.”
The show’s producers have encouraged all the featured businesses to be prepared for an influx of orders, website visits and phone calls. Preparations vary but generally include adding phone lines, increasing production, upgrading website capabilities and bringing on extra personnel.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for exposure,” Horst Schramm of Horst’s Alaskan Seafood. “The history of response from this program is such that we have put in a phone bank and stepped up production to deal with the anticipated order demand.”
Susan Humphrey’s initial research into the demand that might be generated led her to contact similar businesses included in past shows. She discovered that many businesses generated more than 1400 orders daily following the shows debut.
Even more important than the potential sales related to the exposure is the opportunity to represent home communities that have offered support through the years. “Alaskans have known for years the challenges that we all have to overcome to do business here but now the country will know about the world class products we produce,” says Alaskan Brewing’s co-founder, Marcy Larson. “It’s an honor to be included and help showcase quality in the state of Alaska.”
“We were chosen due to the artisan nature of our products and our packaging faithfully represents our lifestyle and the place where we live,” says Birch Boy’s Susan Humphrey. “So anyone getting a box of Birch Boy Syrup in the mail is going to be getting a little bit of Alaska.”
Food Finds’ Alaska episode will air on the Food Network to cable subscribers. Updated TV listings can be found at www.foodnetwork.com.
#####
© Copyright 1997 - 2003 by the Alaskan Brewing Company |
