Agribusiness Council Visits One of Utah's Fastest Growing Businesses

With sales figures taking off like a rocket, Bear Creek Country Kitchens has attracted the attention of Utah's Agribusiness Council. The council will take its regular meeting on the road this Thursday, June 4, 1998 to Bear Creek, to tour one of Utah's fastest growing businesses. Bear Creek, a family owned business since 1992, reports a 1997 sales volume of $34 million. The company's rapid increase in sales has been impressive:

Bear Creek Country Kitchen Sales Volume

Year		Sales Volume
1992	        $   220,000
1993	        $   320,000
1994	        $   506,000
1995	        $ 1,800,000
1996           	$13,800,000
1997           	$34,000,000

Bear Creek Country Kitchens was one of seven Utah companies to put their products on display before 6,500 foreign and domestic food buyers at the U.S. Food Export Showcase in Chicago, May 3 - 5, 1998. The showcase is an opportunity for smaller food companies to meet foreign buyers with the hopes of expanding their sales to lucrative overseas markets. The showcase is also an economical way for companies to make contact with foreign buyers without traveling overseas.

The Agribusiness Council will view a videotape of the Utah pavilion at the Chicago Showcase. The tape shows each of the seven companies interacting with representatives from major food chains from around the world.

The seven Utah companies who attended this year's Chicago Showcase report their contacts could develop into $6.5 million in sales in the next six to 12 months.

The Agribusiness Council is expected to consider approaching the Utah Legislature for additional funding to further develop the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food's (UDAF) international marketing efforts. Commissioner of Food and Agriculture, Cary G. Peterson, in recent years has developed an international marketing program under the direction of Randy Parker.

The funding increase request is timely since Utah farmers in 1997 produced more raw goods for potential export than in any year in the past eight years. Utah's agricultural crop production index (a measure of volume of total crop production in the state) in 1997 reached 138 points, up eight points from 1996.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food offers various programs to Utah companies to assist them in developing sales in foreign countries. One of those programs will be an Export Readiness seminar offered to Utah companies this June 10 and 11 at the UDAF Building in Salt Lake City. The two-day seminar is open to 12 companies. Contact the UDAF's Marketing office at (801) 538-7108 for more information.

Bear Creek Country Kitchens is located in Heber City, Utah, at 875 South Industrial Parkway. (800) 516-7286.

Posted 3 June, 1998