Mintel partners with The Hatchery Chicago to provide consumer and innovation insights to food and beverage startups

CHICAGO, IL – August 3, 2023 – Mintel today announces its strategic partnership with The Hatchery Chicago®, a non-profit food and beverage incubator that enables local entrepreneurs to build and grow successful businesses. 

Through this partnership, Mintel will bring its industry-leading consumer and market research, product innovation analysis, and competitive marketing intelligence to The Hatchery’s entrepreneurs, empowering them with actionable insights and a deep understanding of consumers to help remove barriers to entry and drive their future business growth.

“We are thrilled to join forces with The Hatchery Chicago to support the next generation of food and beverage innovators. This partnership gives our expert Analysts and Thought Leaders the opportunity to share their industry knowledge and expertise, and to support these incredible entrepreneurs at a pivotal time when informed decision-making is essential to their future success. Not only are we committed to fueling the inspiration, innovation, and growth behind these entrepreneurs’ next great idea, but we’re learning about their processes and opportunities and using that to inform the insights and analysis that drive better decision-making for our clients,” said Ben Dietz, President, Mintel Americas.

The Hatchery member Hoppy Plant Foods—a sustainable-food platform utilizing acheta protein for better snacks—was able to take their business from “an idea in a home kitchen” to hundreds of retail stores with the help of Mintel.

“The Hatchery and Mintel partnership has been critical to the growth of my business,” says Hoppy Planet Foods owner Matt Beck. “We use Mintel Reports to better understand our target consumers and what differentiates us in the market, as well as to articulate our scope and scale to potential investors and partners. Mintel was not only the starting point for our business planning, but the expert recommendations gave us clarity on where to go next,” said Beck.

Mintel’s Global Diversity Manager, Adiat Baker, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership, remarking, “Mintel’s partnership with The Hatchery Chicago is a unique and exciting opportunity to fulfill our purpose, which is ‘to help people and businesses grow.’ Nestled about five miles west of our Chicago office, The Hatchery has created a safe haven for entrepreneurs, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. The partnership ensures that Mintel continues to deliver best-in-class insights and recommendations to the next generation of food and drink disruptors while assisting in nurturing the economic development of communities that need it most.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Mintel team for supporting our mission and efforts to reduce barriers for entrepreneurs looking to launch and grow successful businesses,” says Natalie Shmulik, Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer for ICNC/The Hatchery Chicago. “Most startups cannot afford to access essential consumer insights to determine the viability of their business. Mintel’s generosity of resources and expertise allows us to level the playing field and create more inclusive opportunities for entrepreneurs.”

For additional information about the partnership between Mintel and The Hatchery, please reach out to the Mintel Press Office. Interviews are available upon request.

About The Hatchery Chicago

The Hatchery Chicago® is one of the largest food and beverage incubators in the United States. A joint venture between the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC) and Allies for Community Business, the 67,000-square-foot facility enables BIPOC-led, women-owned, and local entrepreneurs to build and grow successful food and beverage businesses. The facility provides a full suite of services including on-site business advising, coaching, and industry-specific support for entrepreneurs.

About Mintel

Mintel is the expert in what consumers want and why. As the world’s leading market intelligence agency, our analysis of consumers, markets, product innovation, and competitive landscapes provides a unique perspective on global and local economies. Since 1972, our predictive analytics and expert recommendations have enabled our clients to make better business decisions faster. Our purpose is to help businesses and people grow. To find out how we do that, visit www.mintel.com.