DECATUR, ILL. — National Foodworks Services L.L.C., a food business incubator funded in part by Archer Daniels Midland Co., has opened its headquarters in Decatur. ADM invested $2 million to help develop a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing complex in the former Brush College School building adjacent to its James R. Randall research center.
Founded by entrepreneurs Jim Milano and Tony Caccomo, National Foodworks Services (NFS) was created to offer resources, expertise and facilities to startups seeking to innovate to address evolving consumer needs. NFS will provide a full range of Food and Drug Administration approved commercial food processing, including baking, bottling, freezing and affiliated food processing.
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| Juan Luciano, chairman and c.e.o. of ADM |
“ADM has one of the broadest ingredient portfolios in the food and beverage industry, exceptional research and development capabilities, deep experience in product commercialization, and an unparalleled logistics network,” said Juan Luciano, chairman and chief executive officer of ADM. “Our friends at NFS, meanwhile, are well-versed in helping smaller entrepreneurs bring bold new ideas to market. Together, we can help make central Illinois a prominent new center for food innovation, in the process spurring economic growth in our region.”
In conjunction with the facility’s grand opening, ADM has announced the launch of the Food Innovation Challenge. Designed to connect entrepreneurs with industry experts and investors, the competition will award a grand prize of $50,000 in seed funding and an additional $50,000 worth of services from NFS for marketing, production and commercialization. The challenge is seeking innovative products in the categories of baked foods, snack bars or condiments. The application deadline is May 16. Additional information may be found at foodinnovationchallenge.com.
