Two decades ago, IN Food owner Anita Nelson was searching for a way to bring together all the talented, creative food professionals she had come to know in the Twin Cities — a Mecca for top food companies like General Mills, Cargill, and Schwan’s. Anita recognized that the food industry thrived on collaboration, networking, and the exchange of ideas and saw an opportunity to foster meaningful dialogue among the region’s most forward-thinking food professionals. From that spirit of community building, Food Connections was born.
The agency hosts the meetings 6 times per year, starting at 8:30 am and ending at 10:00 am. Each meeting starts with breakfast, coffee, and networking. From there, the group engages in a roundtable discussion about a current topic in the food industry, with each participant having an opportunity to share an update and any asks or needs that the group can help with.
With over 50 regular attendees and over 400 in the LinkedIn group, there’s always a chance to meet someone new. “Over the years, I’ve heard so many stories about how people have met at a Food Connections meeting and went on to collaborate on a project. One person got a multi-year contract through an introduction from someone in the group. I love helping to foster those connections,” said Anita.
“I’m in the commercial real estate business with a strong focus on restaurants. She [Lori Gerdts Moening] invited me to one of the meetings. I hit it off with the group and it went from there. And they’ve been great. I love the different folks they bring into the group. It’s a great mix.”
—Craig Weber, Commercial Real Estate Strategist, Coldwell Banker Commercial
Over the years, Food Connections has become a hub for some of the Twin Cities’ most creative and entrepreneurial food professionals. Here, you can discover the stories behind a selection of these talented individuals who continue to drive innovation in our local food community.
- Dennis Becker, Photographer
- Julie Kendrick, Freelance Journalist
- Shelagh Mullen, Chief Cook & Designer of SheCooks.Design
Interested in joining this dynamic community? We’d love to have you. Visit our Food Connections page for more details, to join our LinkedIn group, and to see the upcoming meeting date.
