Imbibe will be closed on October 3, 4, 17, 18, 25, and 26. Please expect delays in responses during this time.

Chicago food companies are teaming up to help feed the poor. Their debut creation: Healthier hot cocoa.

Since launching three years ago, the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network has sought to make the region the “the Silicon Valley of food and beverage” by cultivating the kind of collaborative culture that made the Bay Area a hotbed of tech innovation.

This year, the group upped the ante with a project that pushed companies that normally might compete for business to instead put their heads together to create a product for a good cause.

In partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, a group of nearly a dozen food companies created a low-sugar, high-protein hot chocolate, produced entirely with donated ingredients and know-how, for distribution to food pantries.

ADM, the Chicago-based ingredient giant, donated the soy protein isolate and soluble fiber. Imbibe, a Niles-based beverage development company, contributed the formula and the sugar substitute Stevia. Other companies gifted cocoa, packaging, food safety expertise and branding ideas. The day before Valentine’s Day, 40 volunteers from the participating organizations gathered at the food bank’s Geneva headquarters to affix the labels to the packets.

Under the brand Bigger Table, the hot cocoa is the first of what the network hopes to become a series of jointly created products that encourage the area’s food companies to share ideas, engage with the community and cut down on food waste.

“I’ve never seen an example of that kind of collaboration in the industry,” said Andy Dratt, chief commercial officer at Imbibe. “There is a platform here that could be expanded dramatically.”

Read the full article in the Chicago Tribune.

Keep Reading:

What’s Driving Beverage Innovation in 2025

What’s driving today’s beverage choices? Mood, occasion, and function top the list. Gen Z and Millennials lead the charge, with 72% of Gen Z trying new drinks monthly. Trending: low-sugar sodas and functional beverages with fiber or adaptogens.
READ MORE

Why Culture Should Be One of Your Key Ingredients

Just as a winning formula is more than the sum of its parts, our culture is an intentional blend of qualities that fuels our ability to solve complex formulation challenges, unlock whitespace innovation, and accelerate speed to market.
READ MORE

Flavor Drop: Americana – Rocket Pop & S’mores

Nostalgic flavors are driving innovation. Discover how Rocket Pop and S'mores are captivating consumers, sparking new product launches, and inspiring cross-category experimentation in food and beverages.
READ MORE
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.