Calling All Foodies “Support Local - Fight The Chains!”
Introducing FoodTrekker.com...
PORTLAND, Oregon, USA - March 16, 2012 - FoodTrekker.com has announced the launch of “Support Local - Fight the Chains!” - calling all foodies to support a crowd-sourced fundraising drive in support of its effort to preserve and promote culinary cultures, local food and drink businesses, culinarians and groups, and foodie destinations. “Nobody we know wants to be eating and drinking the same global burgers and coffees for the rest of their lives. We must fight back and support independent businesses.” says Erik Wolf, Founder and CEO of the International Culinary tourism Association and FoodTrekker.com. Interested parties can support the campaign directly at www.indiegogo.com/foodtrekker.
Funds raised from this campaign will go towards building key technology tools including FoodTrekker's Tasting Team module, which enables its Tasting Team - independent food/drink journalists and chefs like Aliza Green and Harry Pagancoss (two of FoodTrekker's advisors) - to maintain an online portfolio, connect with their audiences, and showcase their original food/drink editorial, photo and video content in multiple languages. This is just one of the ways FoodTrekker helps support independent food and drink businesses.
Why Chains Actually Hurt Local Economies
Multi-national chains swallow customers from independent food and drink businesses. Since 2008, according to leading market research firm The NPD Group, a shocking 87% of restaurant industry traffic lost has been at independent restaurants. In other words, people are eating more at chains, and less at independent food and drink establishments. “The independents don't have the same deep pockets as the chains. It's harder for us to survive,” says Tommy Klauber, a serial entrepreneur and owner of Pattigeorge's Restaurant, Polo Grill & Bar and other independent foodservice businesses in Florida. Chains tend to export profits to corporate headquarters, leaving a smaller local economic impact than residents realize.
Erik Wolf
Celebrity Chefs & Authors Furnish Rewards
Campaign donors can choose cool rewards such as cookbooks by James Beard-award winning author Aliza Green or celebrity chef & Association spokesperson Harry Pagancoss; a customized culinary tour in the US city of your choice; or even a personal celebrity chef cooking lesson in Portland, Oregon - home to the hottest culinary scene in the USA.
Why CrowdSourcing Works
Crowdsourcing is a new concept for funding projects to help them grow. Crowdsourced projects are all the rage now - with some garnering over US$3 million in a single campaign. Crowdsourcing works because it is funded by millions of raving fans.
About FoodTrekker.com
FoodTrekker.com is new sales and marketing platform for all kinds of independent food and drink businesses. It covers a lot more than just restaurants - think the long tail of the food industry, including cooking schools, wineries & breweries, small food producers, farms & farmers' markets, culinary magazines, chefs, food writers and much more. Unique to the site is proprietary matchmaking technology, which pairs foodies perfectly to the kinds of culinary experiences they'll truly love. FoodTrekker just soft launched in its hometown of Portland, Oregon, with more cities and features coming soon.
About International Culinary Tourism Association
About International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA) and FoodTrekker The ICTA is the world's leading authority on culinary travel, with 16,000 members in 120 countries. The Association offers education and product development solutions to the world's food and travel industries. FoodTrekker is a consumer-facing site that focuses on the preservation and promotion of the world's culinary cultures. Visit www.culinarytourism.org and www.foodtrekker.com for more information.
For more information contact:
Erik Wolf
CEO & Founder
FoodTrekker.com
[email protected]
503-213-3700
@foodtrekker
Facebook.com/Foodtrekker
Youtube.com/FoodietheFox
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
