Packaging Digest

John Kalkowski

Fundraiser offers great package of products
August 6, 2008

Fundraising has become big business. One of the largest and most-effective organizations helping non-profits earn money to keep their operations going is Market Day (www.marketday.com), based in Itasca, IL. 

Market Day grew out of one Ilinois woman's effort  back in 1972 to help missionaries by selling flowers grown in her garden. Trudi Temple later found that the flowers weren't enough, so she began a food co-op that sold purchased foods around the neighborhood. In 1975, her daughter asked to provide something for a school bake sale. Trudi envisioned something more effective. She began selling food items through schools and then kept expanding, splitting the profits with her partners.

Today, Market Day is selling a large variety of high-quality food products in 19 states, primarily through school programs. Since its inception, Market Day has helped schools and other organizations raise over $400 million for a host of activities from building playgrounds and buying books to providing school trips.

The company just sponsored a two-day appreciation program for the volunteers who form the backbone of their operation in the Chicago area, with nearly 2,000 teachers attending and tasting samples from a surprisingly diverse set of vendors.

Their suppliers range from food giants like Kraft to family-run business that offer only one or two products. Most of the Market Day products are prepared frozen foods that appeal to families on the go. This year, Market Day is pointing out the value and healthiness of their products -- especially compared to fast foods. They've got a winning formula. 

Any time that many food companies are in one space, there are bound to be a few good packaging stories, too. Market Day products  basically come in plastic bags placed in heavy corrugated cartons. But there are so many stories.

The corrugated cartons help insulate the frozen contents while the product is being delivered to schools for pickup by families. A company representative said the cartons keep the food frozen for at least an extra hour. All the sturdy cartons are designed so they can be turned inside out and reused for gifts, mail parcels or just storage. Family Tradition Foods (www.familytradition.com), a Canadian company supplying vegetables, used multi-colored cartons that they said contain over 70 percent post-consumer recyled content and are colored with vegetable dyes.

Amazing Food Company (www.amazingfoodmanufacturing.com), whose founders are two chefs, designed prepared meals in a windowed paper bag based on the classic French style of steaming "en papillote" or parchment bags. Their succulent meals can be microwaved in six to seven minutes.
 
There were so many things to see -- and taste. it was fascinating to talk with the many entrepreneurs who work with Market Day. Sadly, I may have gained several pounds during these discussions. But, hey! I'll probably order more when the forms come home from school.

Posted by John Kalkowski on August 6, 2008 | Comments (2)