“Meticulous, very organized and knowledgeable about the steps required to get you and your product going in the right direction. Birgit is reliable and personable so you always feel like you have a “friend” in the industry. Thank you Birgit for helping me get all the formal pieces in place and the product packaging in good form.”
Carrie Darmaga, Founder/CEO, Health Addict Inc. – Creator of Fru-V® Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Kits with Superfoods FruVsmoothie.com
“Birgit was instrumental in guiding us through our young company’s rebranding. Her breadth of knowledge and experience in the packaged foods industry combined with her professional network, makes Birgit a highly valuable resource for any growing food business.
From brand strategy, business planning, package design and regulatory requirements, Birgit’s meticulous attention to detail and emphasis on taking the time to “get it right”, helped us avoid costly mistakes down the road. She kept us on track, on budget and always went the extra mile to ensure that our goals and time lines were successfully met. Birgit was there for us every step of the way. Her expertise, professionalism and commitment to helping us develop our brand has been a rewarding journey and we are thrilled with the end results!
We highly recommend Birgit to any packaged foods brand looking for longevity and presence in the highly regulated and competitive grocery industry.”
Carolyn Plummer & Russ Weber, Co-owners of Grass Roots Kitchen Inc. – Creators of Energy Spheres™, handcrafted allergy-friendly snacks.
“Birgit provided CEDAR Juice consulting services. Her advice was insightful, thorough and detailed, and is something that we reference from time to time as we navigate supply chain opportunities in our business. Birgit has years of experience in the food & beverage industry, and is a great resource for new companies such as ours.”
Ashley Cuff, Co-Founder of The Cold Press Corp., owners of CEDAR Juice
The Cold Press Corp. was subsequently acquired by GreenSpace Brands, in a deal worth up to $6.385 million.
“Launching any new business can be daunting and challenging. Working with Birgit Blain & Associates Inc. on a flexible project basis and during the initial roll-out for the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP), turned out to be very rewarding. I fully appreciated their patience while taking the time to understand our business objectives and develop a strategy detailing a clear up-front plan and budget. Their attention to detail during the implementation phase, resulted in a successful project, which has also sustained the business to date. We would certainly recommend Birgit Blain & Associates Inc. to anyone needing a true professional and consider engaging their services in the future.”
Paul D. Valder, President, Allergen Control Group Inc.
Allergen Control Group was subsequently acquired by BRC Global Standards Americas.
“Birgit conducted an overview of the market for the GBC Food Innovation Research Studio (FIRSt), providing key intelligence and insight into how we can best meet our target markets. The work was very well done and helpful, and Birgit was able to integrate this within our context. We were very pleased with the results.”
Robert Luke, former Vice President, Research & Innovation at George Brown College
“It has been an ultimate pleasure working with Birgit. Her involvement in projects is so genuine and deep that implies the feeling of working with own staff. Detailed and result-oriented while utilizing her diligence and perseverance, Birgit has always accomplished projects to the highest level of satisfaction.
Her professionalism has connected her to a network of same level professionals which in turn have allowed all marketing expertise at her immediate reach. As a result, Birgit is not only Birgit but also a frontier of a group of experts that bring confidence and satisfaction to the end results.“
Hamid Sabahi, Principal, Noble AgroFood Inc. – Nobly Steamed Sous-Vide
“Birgit is a highly talented, results oriented person that I have worked with for many years. She really helped us to grow our business and always looked for ways to enhance our business partnership.”
Doug Cygan, former President, Jewel OSCO (a major U.S. supermarket chain)
“Birgit is motivated and cooperative, we have received insightful support from her. Working together was very pleasant, I have always received quick and reliable feedback to any of my questions. Thank you!”
Janet Anders, Head of Product Development, Wisefood in Munich, Germany – Creators of SUPERSTRAW, edible plant-based straws.
“Food Starter depends on Birgit to bring a keen ear and a discerning eye to research projects. Her insights are always well-considered and laser focused. Because we highly value her ability to see the big picture and hone strategic ideas to a fine point, we include her in gathering and analyzing research whenever possible.”
Dana McCauley, former Executive Director at Food Starter
Food Starter is now District Ventures Kitchen
“Birgit is extremely knowledgeable in the food industry. She is aware of the current trends and can help steer your company in the right direction. She uses her expertise in the industry to look at your product with objectivity and with a fresh pair of eyes and point out what you may be missing in regards to packaging, focus and marketing. Her honesty and integrity made her services good value as it alleviated the need to spend thousands of dollars on unnecessary marketing. I will definitely use Birgit in future projects.”
Tammie Sarra, CEO, Calla Food Co. (formerly Allergic Solution)
“We contacted Birgit Blain & Associates when we were planning our Canadian product launch. Our concept is a unique one with special challenges. During our initial consultation, Birgit took more than two hours to share her vast knowledge of the packaged food business with its complex systems, regulations and procedures. This conversation was invaluable to us and helped us make a truly informed decision about our Canadian roll out. If you want to maximize your chances of success in the Canadian market, Birgit is the person to call. I look forward to sharing our success with her team in the future.”
Christina Stiles Unzicker, Utterly Delectable Munchie Co.
“Highly recommend you speak to Birgit whether you are working in the food industry already or a newcomer thinking about launching a new product. She is a good listener, highly knowledgeable, can offer valuable and targeted strategic advice that will help you avoid missteps, save time and money.”
Khaled Fourati, Entrepreneur
“Birgit was recommended to us as someone who could guide us in developing a strategy for launching a functional food product in Canada. We found Birgit very knowledgeable of product trends, and the marketing environment of the retail industry in Canada. She has the ability to evaluate our targeted needs to the market realities of a product launch. We value her advice which has helped contribute to our strategy for the Canadian market.”
John Khoo, President, Nutrition Science Group Inc.
“I met Birgit at the CFRA show this past year. I was instantly impressed with her connections to and in the food industry. Birgit gave me an hour of her time to explain the fundamentals of getting a product presented, positioned and listed with one of the largest food retailers In Canada. Birgit’s line of thought is direct and precise. Birgit demonstrates her proficiency in all areas required to bring a product to market and strategically acquire market share. Thank you Birgit for your time, energy and expert recommendations. For efficient and reliable feedback on your market strategy, contact Birgit Blain & Associates.”
Danielle Franz, Founder and CEO Troinoa Inc. – Yogalicious Frozen Kefir
“While at President’s Choice International, Birgit’s product portfolio responsibilities allowed her to develop strong skills in category management, product development, package design, supply chain execution and product launch at retail. These experiences have resulted in Birgit’s ability to provide a meaningful contribution throughout the full commercialization process of building strong and healthy brands.”
Randy Bowes, former VP at President’s Choice International, a division of Loblaw Brands Limited