Apply for Pitch & Plate

The Pitch & Plate event provides food and beverage processors with the opportunity to learn about and build their readiness for the institutional food service market channel. Businesses receive training, 1:1 coaching sessions, and have the chance to then pitch their products to BC post-secondary institutions, Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools and districts, hospitals, healthcare authorities, broadline distributors, and service providers interested in new and innovative products for their institutions.

Pitch and Plate is a Feed BC initiative, delivered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in collaboration with food industry educators, Good to Grow and B.C. public sector institutions.

STAY TUNED FOR NEW EVENTS!

Please read the information below before you apply. The application form is linked at the bottom of this page.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• • Products are produced and/or final products are processed within BC.
  • Products are identified as a “product or product feature of interest” by BC institutions.
  • Business and product readiness for institutional food service market
  • Preference may be given to businesses that have not participated in a previous Pitch & Plate.

PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT FEATURES OF INTEREST

Good to Grow works closely with representatives from post-secondary institutions, K – 12 schools and districts, and healthcare authorities to inform us of the types of products and product features they are looking for as well as their procurement requirements.

We welcome all interested businesses to apply. Please note preference will be given to those that meet the identified products and/or product features below as well as the event selection criteria below.

The products and product features of interest are:

Product Features:

• Ready-to-Eat
  • Prepared meals / entrees
  • Flexibility with individual packs and bulk
• Ready-to-Bake
• Grab-n-Go / Snack items / Single Serve
  • Retail, food service, vending
  • Perishable, non-perishable, or frozen
• Dietary Needs:
  • Plant-Based / Vegan
  • Sugar-Free / Low-Sugar / Diabetic Friendly
  • Gluten-Free
  • Allergen Free
  • Halal
  • Beverages that contain at least 25% Daily Value of calcium and fortified with at least 10% Daily Value for Vitamin D
• Indigenous-Owned / Operated Businesses
• Traditional Indigenous Foods / Ingredients
• Use BC products / ingredients
• Sustainable Packaging (e.g. 100% recyclable, compostable)

Product Categories & Interest

• High Interest:
  • Plant-Based Proteins
  • Beverages
  • Breads & Bakery Products
  • Fruits & Vegetables
• Medium Interest:
  • Fish & Seafood
  • Meat & Poultry
  • Nuts & Seeds
  • Prepared Foods
  • Dairy Alternatives
  • Cereal & Grains
  • Confectionary Products
  • Sauces, Dressings, & Seasonings
• Low Interest:
  • Dairy Products & Eggs

MANDATORY PARTICIPANT TRAINING

To help prepare the participants for the Pitch events, Good to Grow delivers several mandatory educational training sessions for each event:

• Prep Workshop: An online workshop to review the institutional food service market channel and its requirements, sales materials, preparing your pitch, and event day logistics
• One-on-One Coaching Sessions: Each participant will have two or three online one-on-one sessions with Good to Grow to review their sales materials and practice their pitch (number is dependent on event).

COST OF PARTICIPATION

Pitch & Plate is a free event. However, the following costs are the responsibility of the pitching companies:

• Samples for online attendees (approximately 30 retail size samples)
• Samples for in-person attendees (approximately 60 “bite-size” samples)
• Sell sheets (approximately 60 of each retail and food service printed)
• Any needed travel and accommodation required to attend the event