The Hatchery Chicago to Host Pitch Contest
The Hatchery Chicago, a nonprofit food and beverage incubator, will host its Private Kitchen Pitch Contest Presented by Midwest Dairy this spring.
The contest supports emerging brands by providing access to commercial kitchen space and wraparound services for business growth.
The event will be hosted in partnership with Midwest Dairy, a dairy farmer-funded organization that works to build trust in and sales of dairy products. Finalists will have the chance to win six months of private kitchen space to accelerate their growth. All applicant businesses must use 30 percent or more of cow’s dairy milk in their ingredient base.
The pitch will take place this spring onsite at The Hatchery, located in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood. Contestants will present their business ideas to a panel of industry experts with a pitch presentation and tasting samples.
Entrepreneurs interested in pitching must apply by 5 p.m. CST on Friday, March 29. Visit https://bit.ly/thehatcherymidwestdairy2024 for more information.
“Thanks to Midwest Dairy and The Hatchery, BAKR has been able to produce over 20,000 cookies,” said the company’s owner and previous contest winner Alexa Ryan, “which enabled increased fulfillment of our DTC orders, upcoming retail expansion to 100 stores, even a collaboration with three Michelin-starred restaurant, Alinea! BAKR is just getting started, and we are so grateful for the space we have at The Hatchery.”
This year’s winner will receive one year of free rent in a private kitchen space within The Hatchery’s state-of-the-art, 67,000-square-foot facility. They will also have access to large co-working and private meeting spaces, dry, cold, or freezer storage, on-site business planning, and incubation services for accelerated business growth. Other prizes include one year of free membership, $1,000 in equipment credits, and ongoing mentorship with The Hatchery and Midwest Dairy teams.
"Midwest Dairy is excited to continue this partnership with the Hatchery to fuel dairy innovation and sales,” said the Midwest Dairy, in a statement. “Checkoff has enjoyed experiencing the impressive food and beverage entrepreneurs who truly value dairy products in their ingredients and continue to grow their business while supporting the hard-working dairy farmers of the Midwest."
The pitch will take place this spring onsite at The Hatchery, located in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood. Contestants will present their business ideas to a panel of industry experts with a pitch presentation and tasting samples.
All entrepreneurs interested in pitching must apply by 5 PM CST on Friday, March 29. Visit https://bit.ly/thehatcherymidwestdairy2024 for more information.