Food processors can use MI MarketMaker to identify new customers

Food processors can use the online tool, MI MarketMaker, to help potential customers find them. A business profile can be set up quickly and easily to attract new business.

MarketMaker is a web-based resource that provides a link between producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurateurs, farmers’ markets, food service providers and end consumers in the food supply chain. The purpose of MarketMaker is to link customers interested in food products to the producers of those products. MI MarketMaker was introduced to assist Michigan’s agri-food businesses improve market penetration. How can MI MarketMaker help food processors reach new customers?

How MarketMaker works

MarketMaker is an on-line database with almost 33,000 businesses in its listing developed from a list management firm such as infoGROUP. Most of those are a basic listing of company name, address, phone number, web site, line of business, and sales and employment numbers. The basic listing does not communicate to potential customers what you really do. If you process frozen blueberries but do not include that in your profile, a buyer who is looking for frozen blueberries will not find you. If you are a food processor who has a basic listing on MI MarketMaker, you can register to create your own profile to help potential customers find you more easily.

Create your personal profile

Creating your personal profile on MI MarketMaker is simple.

  • Go to the MI MarketMaker website at http://www.mimarketmaker.msu.edu/.
  • In the Register Your Business panel, click on Log In.
  • Click on Request Account Access.
  • Enter your business name, contact name, e-mail address and phone number, then click submit.

The MarketMaker administrators will send you a user name and password to access your profile. Once you have the password you can create your profile.

  • Go to the MI MarketMaker website at http://www.mimarketmaker.msu.edu/.
  • In the Register Your Business panel, click on Log In.
  • Login using the username and password provided by MarketMaker.
  • Complete your business profile for the products you process, the product attributes, methods of sale, markets served and other business details (look for the tabs at the top of the profile page for Fruit & Vegetable, Bakery, Beverages, Meat & Poultry, Grain & Oilseed, Dairy, Fish/Shellfish/Seafood, Sugar and Confectionary, and Miscellaneous).
  • Once you have completed your profile, click on Continue at the bottom of the page.
  • Add photos of your business, if you wish.
  • Complete your General Business Information and specific contact information.
  • Check if you affiliated with any of the groups listed in MI MarketMaker.
  • Review your profile and make any corrections, then click Submit.

Why register?

You will have access to your business profile so you can update it as your products and the seasons change. You can personalize the profile of your business to communicate to potential buyers or customers exactly what you do. This will allow potential customers or buyers to find you more easily using the search functions on MI MarketMaker. And, most importantly, it’s free.

Did you find this article useful?