Food Prize 2026
Food Prize 2026 is a regional food business competition and industry convening designed to support new and existing food entrepreneurs across Michigan.
The event combines a pitch competition, food product showcase, and educational summit, bringing together food business owners, support organizations, funders, and industry partners.
📅 Saturday, March 21, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Kellogg Arena & Battle Creek Innovation Hub
Program Overview:
Pitch Competition | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Two competitive tracks:
• Food Service (catering, food trucks, restaourants) — Regional
• Food Manufacturing (CPG Food & Beverage) — Statewide
• Food Service (catering, food trucks, restaourants) — Regional
• Food Manufacturing (CPG Food & Beverage) — Statewide
Up to $40,000 in cash awards will be distributed!
Food Business Summit | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Educational forums focused on the operational, regulatory, and financial needs of food businesses.
Make It:
• Commercial kitchen access, incubators, and accelerators
• Regulatory and compliance requirements
• Commercial kitchen access, incubators, and accelerators
• Regulatory and compliance requirements
Fund It:
• Capital access, including loans, grants, and investment
• Capital access, including loans, grants, and investment
Sell It:
• Scaling operations
• Co-packers, contract manufacturing, and retail pathways
• Scaling operations
• Co-packers, contract manufacturing, and retail pathways
Food Show:
Participating vendors will showcase and sell products at Kellogg Arena.
Participating vendors will showcase and sell products at Kellogg Arena.
Hosts / Co-Hosts
• Small Business Battle Creek
• Kellogg Arena
• Sprout BC
• BC Food Reimagined
• Battle Creek Innovation Hub
• Northern Initiatives
• Small Business Battle Creek
• Kellogg Arena
• Sprout BC
• BC Food Reimagined
• Battle Creek Innovation Hub
• Northern Initiatives
