Celebrate Toledo's Specialty Foods Product Development Competition

The Center for Innovative Food Technology and the Northwest Ohio Restaurant Association are celebrating Toledo's food industry and hoping to build upon the rich history of food production through the first annual product development competition. The contest is designed to assist in advancing Toledo's signature items to market. Restaurant owners and entrepreneurs are encouraged to submit their product idea for review based on the following guidelines.

Contest Rules:

1. The business must be located in Northwest Ohio.
2. The award winner must demonstrate ability to commercialize the product.
3. It must be a viable product as determined by the panel of judges.
4. The product should be the applicant's first commercial product for market.
5. All ingredients must be FDA approved, fit for human consumption and contain no alcohol.
6. No inappropriate content will be accepted on the packaging or labeling.
7. The judges' ruling is final.
8. CIFT will be permitted to promote the winner in various publications and at events, as appropriate.

All applications received by CIFT will be reviewed and evaluated. Semi-finalists will then be selected to conduct an interview further defining the business strategies and vision for the product. A panel of judges will determine the winning entry.

A completed application form must be submitted by April 18, 2008.

The Center for Innovative Food Technology will review all applicants and select semi-finalists to meet with a panel of judges consisting of industry experts. Applicants will provide samples of the product and discuss market opportunities and business plans.

Submitted products will be judged on:

1. Viability of product
2. Soundness of commercialization vision
3. Potential for success
4. Commitment of submitter

In an effort to assist with the required steps necessary to advance a product to market, the following services will be provided to the winner:

1. Product and process development assistance
2. Nutritional analysis
3. Shelf life/stability testing
4. Review of trademark and copyright components
5. Coordination with ODA for label approval
6. Provide contact information for label design, packaging and ingredient sources
7. Business planning assistance
8. Samples of product will be produced under sanitary conditions and following local, state and federal health regulations through the assistance of CIFT.

Applications can be faxed to 419.531.8412. To obtain an application online, please click here*. For additional information, please call 419.535.6000.

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