Gorilly Goods Selected for FaB (Food and Beverage) Accelerator

(Milwaukee WI): FaB (Food and Beverage) Wisconsin’s new food finance and business accelerator program, FaBcap, is designed to grow the capacity and capitalization of food and beverage companies. The 10 companies selected, referred to as Cappers, highlight the industry innovation and entrepreneurial stamina required to meet growing demands for food and beverage that is cleaner, fresher, safer – better.

Over the course of the accelerator program, the Cappers’ business models, funding, operations and market strategies will be explored to determine new pathways to sustainable capitalization and growth. Additionally, Cappers will have facilitated access to industry and technical experts, and will each earn a $10,000 cash award at the year-end closing ceremony.

FaB began accepting applications on August 7. Selection criteria targeted Wisconsin-based companies with 5-200 employees and in the area of food, beverage, ingredients, equipment or packaging manufacturing or technologies.

“Funding and operating a growing food or beverage company is more difficult than people think, in particular at a time when consumer demands, and food safety and regulations, are transforming the industry,” said Shelley Jurewicz, executive director, FaB Wisconsin. “The 10 companies we’ve selected understand this and feel it, and they’re taking advantage of new and evolving market opportunities.”

1. FaBcap Class of 2015 (Alphabetical order)
2. City Lights Brewery: Formerly 4 Brothers Blended Beer Co., Milwaukee-based brewer of blended craft beers. (Started 2012)
3. Clock Shadow Creamery: Milwaukee-based maker of locally-focused fresh specialty cheeses (Started 2013)
4. East Shore Specialty Foods: Hartland-based maker of gourmet mustards, sauces and pretzels (Started 1986)
5. LaPavia Beverage, Inc.: Milwaukee-based maker of premium tonic concentrated drink mixers under the brand Top Note Tonics (Started 2014)
6. MobCraft Beer LLC: Madison-based brewer of crowdsourced craft beer (Started 2012)
7. Nikki’s Cookies: Milwaukee-based maker of all natural cookies (Started 1985)
8. Noble View Cheese Company, Inc.: Adell-based maker of artisan cheese (Started 2013)
9. Quigistics LLC: Middleton-based technology firm offering an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for small to medium food and beverage makers to integrate procedures and documentation required by the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (Started 2014)
10. Reallygoods: Jackson-based maker of organic raw fruits, nuts, seeds and green snacks under the brand of Gorilly Goods (Started 2012)
11. Valentine Coffee: Milwaukee-based roaster of specialty coffees (Started 2009)

“We feel these companies are ripe for growth,” said Brad Rostowfske, FaB’s Director of Innovation & Finance. Rostowfske will serve as the personal financial and business coach to the Cappers and comes to the
role with 30 years of industry experience. “Given an opportunity to look at what you’re doing, and how you’re doing, with an outside-in perspective, can be exactly what it takes to position your company for the next
level.”

About FaB Wisconsin: FaB Wisconsin is a statewide cluster consortium supporting food and beverage industry growth and awareness. With a mission focused on food and beverage manufacturers, the FaB cluster welcomes the full value chain of industry suppliers and service providers from farm to factory to fork, as well as educators, economic development, government and community institutions and organizations. FaB’s membership has attracted more than 145 food and beverage companies, supporting suppliers and service providers and nearly 700 industry leaders and professionals. For more information about FaB Wisconsin, visit www.fabwisconsin.com. FaB is housed and supported by Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Milwaukee 7.