Ridiculously Tasty. Protein Packed. This catchy, informative tag line sets the stage perfectly for Grand Rapids, MI-based company The GFB. Started by two brothers looking for better tasting gluten-free food, the company has grown under its broader mission centered on quality food ingredients and sustainable production practices. The GFB is now a Certified B Corp which means the company meets verified performance, accountability, and and transparency metrics for employee benefits, input materials, and more. They offer gluten free, non-GMO verified, vegan, certified kosher and mostly organic snack bites, protein bars, and single-serve flavored oatmeal. It is a point of pride for The GFB that all of these products are made locally in a zero-waste food production facility and starting this year, all products will be made from sustainable energy sources. 

The GFB and the International Marketing Program at MDARD have regularly connected as the company continued to expand its product line and production capacity. In 2020, The GFB expressed interest in exhibiting at the Sweets and Snacks Expo. Despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sweets and Snacks Expo was held in the summer of 2021 in Indianapolis, IL.

As a direct result of their participation in the MDARD pavilion at the 2021 Sweets and Snacks Expo, The GFB has reported $50,000 in domestic sales with an anticipated $125,000 in additional sales over the next 12 months. The show also resulted in four new distributor contacts, which will aid The GFB in its continued expansion.

“We continue to be impressed by the growth and mission of the team at The GFB” said Nate Engle, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Development Division at MDARD, “From a family quest for tastier gluten-free snacks, to a booming local business with impressive credentials in sustainability, we are excited by the growth this local business has experienced and look forward to seeing what is next for The GFB. Their success at the Sweets and Snacks Expo further amplifies the value of proactively seeking out new domestic and international growth opportunities for your company.”

The mission of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's International Marketing Program is to assist Michigan food and agricultural businesses in developing domestic and international market opportunities to effectively grow their business.

In conjunction with various partners and service providers, the International Marketing Program offers Michigan businesses a variety of export marketing programs and services. Contact us at  MDARD-AgD@Michigan.gov to learn more!