FREEPORT, MAINE (October 22, 2024) – The Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association (MGFPA) is proud to announce Fork Food Lab, now of South Portland, as the honoree of the MGFPA 2024 Impact Award. Bill Seretta, Executive Director, alongside Corinne Tompkins, Deputy Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the lab. Their commitment to supporting Maine’s food manufacturing entrepreneurs was recognized in a celebration attended by colleagues and New England business leaders. This event coincided with the release of a commemorative video at SUMMIT 2024, which took place on October 17th in Freeport, Maine. Hosted at L.L. Bean’s Corporate Headquarters, SUMMIT 2024 is a collaborative conference organized by MGFPA, the Retail Association of Maine, and the New Hampshire Retail Association.
Previously known as the Grocer, Associate, and Food Producer of the Year Awards, this honor is now exclusively awarded to a single recipient each year. The winner is chosen by industry peers to recognize outstanding contributions to MGFPA’s advocacy mission, community service, and business excellence. This includes fostering a positive workplace, driving overall sales, and supporting the industry through legislative and educational initiatives. Furthermore, the annual award recipient exemplifies a commitment to creating growth opportunities for other businesses in Maine.
Dedication to the prosperity of Maine’s food-related businesses is a critical part of MGFPA’s mission and advocacy. Fork Food Lab, under Bill and Corinne’s leadership, offers unwavering commitment to nurturing business development through technical assistance, a tangible and cost-effective location for businesses to manufacture, and provides a full-package experience for Maine’s food manufacturers. Spanning the spectrum of food businesses, Fork Food Lab members include consumer packaged goods, specialty food producers, mobile food units (food trucks, trailers, carts, etc.), bakeries, catering companies, prepared meal businesses, and more. Together, Fork has aggregated the most expensive parts of a food business. “They’ve created a solid foundation to get folks started and to foster growth to scale,” notes Corinne.
Fork has helped more than 140 businesses grow and succeed. Bill prides himself in being a serial social entrepreneur with over 50 years of experience launching new enterprises and rebuilding old ones in the profit and non-profit sectors. He noted that at Fork, “They’ve seen a renaissance of food, food production, quality and growing local. As local food systems, including a regional and state level Maine food plan develop, Fork Food Lab is a place where people can start businesses and has been a key cornerstone since 2018.”
MGFPA is deeply honored to have a strong working relationship with Bill for his institutional knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit, and steadfast passion to see the Maine food brand prosper. He’s a dedicated partner of a collaborative effort, the Selling More Maine Foods series, and a credible soundboard for projects and legislation.
Christine Cummings, Executive Director of MGFPA stated, “We are thrilled to recognize Fork Food Labs as the recipient of the 2024 MGFPA Impact Award. Their unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the food industry has not only empowered local entrepreneurs but has also contributed significantly to our community’s growth and sustainability. Fork Food Labs exemplifies the spirit of impact through their dedication to making food access and entrepreneurship more inclusive for all.”
About Fork Food Lab
Fork Food Lab’s mission is to support a just, diverse, and sustainable food economy in Maine, where food entrepreneurs are supported in their quest to produce high-quality and sustainable products utilizing locally sourced ingredients. They proudly offer a membership-based shared facility, with all the commercial equipment needed for food production. With over 70 members (and growing!) they diligently work side-by-side with companies looking to start or scale their companies.
About the Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association
The Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association is a non-profit business trade association composed of independent grocery stores and supermarkets, food and beverage producers and manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, and associated service businesses. They are dedicated to the prosperity of Maine’s grocery and food producer industry through excellence in advocacy, networking and education.
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