Dee and Angie Cowger, owners of Custard Stand Food Products in Webster Springs, WV, will meet with national and international retail buyers and distributors Sunday through Tuesday, June 26-28, 2016, at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.
“Our SHARK TANK appearance definitely sparked more interest in Custard Stand Hot Dog Chili,” says Angie Cowger. “This is our third time at this event but those five little words – ‘as seen on SHARK TANK’ – are already bringing opportunities we didn’t have earlier, including interviews with buyers from Poland and France and exporting internationally.”
Custard Stand Food Products will be in Booth 5013 on Level 1, as part of a block of booths featuring Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) members. “We appreciate SUSTA’s support over the years. They are part of the network that helped us grow to a strong regional brand and will be there when we we become a national brand,” says Dee Cowger.
The Cowgers’ pitch to the Sharks aired on Feb. 21, as part of a special SHARK TANK Made In America episode on ABC. While the Sharks didn’t bite on a deal, the investors enjoyed the chili and praised the Cowgers’ entrepreneurial spirit. “You are everything that everybody watching this show aspires to be,” said Mark Cuban, billionaire investor and owner of Dallas Mavericks.
The Specialty Food Association’s annual summer show at Javits Center is America’s largest specialty food and beverage Show, drawing more than 46,000 industry professionals, and the premier showcase for industry innovation.
In other news
- Forbes featured Custard Stand Hot Dog Chili in “A Shark Tank July 4th: 25 Foods, Drinks and Condiments You Need For Your BBQ.”
- To West Virginia Day, June 21, Kroger in Kanawha City, WV, served hundreds of free hot dogs with Custard Stand Hot Dog Chili to customers.
- Dee “Chili Man” Cowger talked with Forbes for a report on “Dadpreneurs” about some of the lessons he learned! Read the full story here. While he’s Dad #9 on the Dadpreneurs list, he’s Dad #1 around Chili HQ! Check out the slideshow on Forbes.com, too.