Can-Do Kitchen fledglings to show off feathers in expo

Entrepreneurs growing their businesses in Kalamazoo’s Can-Do Kitchen will be showing off the food products they have been perfecting in the local business incubator.

Local and regional food retailers, distributors and food lovers in general are invited to the Can-Do Market Expo, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20 at the Girl Scouts Building, 601 West Maple St. in Kalamazoo.

Businesses taking part are: Mike’s Famous Michigan Bean Dip, Hot Mamas, Karabread, Buzzelli Foods, Adventures of Barb & Tammy, Happy Mouth Vegan Treats, Hap’n Stance Food Company and Naples Gourmet.

Participants will be able to taste such products as bean dip, chips and salsa, fresh mozzarella, granola, breads, cookies, donuts, olive tapenade and more.

“Our goal is to make sure grocery buyers large and small are familiar with Can-Do Kitchen entrepreneurs,” says Program Manager Lucy Bland.

More than 20 businesses regularly use the Can-Do Kitchen. They sell their goods at a number of retailers throughout Southwest Michigan, including the People’s Food Co-op, Natural Health Center, Tiffany’s, Sawall and D&W. Clients use fresh, local ingredients whenever possible.

The Can-Do Kitchen provides both commercial kitchen space and business incubator services to area food entrepreneurs, who are then able to bring their locally made products to local markets.

It is the only such program in the region, and it recently celebrated its first “graduate” — Kurry Guru, maker of ready-to-eat vegetarian Indian cuisine.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Lucy Bland, Can-Do Kitchen