Emerging Industries

The food industry in Indianapolis is as varied as our taste palettes. There are many niche segments that are growing and full of opportunity. Our location - within a day's drive to more than 75 percent of U.S. and Canadian populations - is vital to an industry where speed, freshness and shelf life are everything. Plus, as a literal
"crossroads" in America, the market is perfect to when you need a cross-section of the population to taste-test a product.

Meaderies, Wineries and Breweries

Indianapolis is proud to be home to New Day Meadery, one of the fastest-growing meaderies in the country. We're also home to several specialty breweries, including Sun King Brewery, whose locally brewed Craft Beer is gaining momentum in the marketplace. In addition to many other smaller breweries or wineries, Indy serves as the headquarter or regional facility for several beer distributers, including Monarch Beverage Company, Olinger Distriuting Co., Cavalier Distributing, Zink Distributing, Southern Wine and Spirits and National Wine and Spirits.

Top National Brands

The world's top beverage companies also have chosen Indianapolis for regional manufacturing or distribution facilities. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated is the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. And Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers, which produces and distributes Pepsi, Gatorade and other well-known brands, also has a plant here. Additionally, several other food manufacturers have chosen Indy as the location of their regional manufacturing and/or distribution facilities: 

• Frito-O-Lay
•  Blue Bell Ice Cream
•  Con Agra
•  Seyfert Foods
•  Royal Food Products
•  Millenium Foods
•  Sysco Foods

Local Food Producers

We're also proud of locally-based companies that serve states across the U.S.:
McFarling Brothers is

• one of the region's full-line distributers of poultry, beef, pork, lamb and veal, as well as fruits, vegetable and dairy products.
• Caito Foods specializes in fresh produce distribution and delivers fruits and vegetables to more than ten states on a daily basis.
• Piazza Produce supplies a wide array of food service leaders with the freshest, safest and most enjoyable fruits and vegetables on the market today.

Agriculture
It's impossible to describe Indy's food industry without mentioning our state's long and rich agricultural heritage, which today includes more than 61,000 farms plus hundreds of organic farms and farmer's markets. Exporting $3.778 B in ag commodities annually*, Indiana is:
4th in soybean

• production
• 5th in production of corn for grain
• 2nd in tomato processing and production
• 4th in cantaloupe production
• 6th in watermelon production
• 4th in peppermint production
• 5th in spearmint production
• 3rd in total egg production
• 5th in pork production

*2008