Entry deadline approaches for Michigan snack competition that rewards local, small businesses

The MI Snack Competition — a contest open to snack makers headquartered in Michigan that have 10 or fewer employees — is accepting entries until August 12.

Formerly known as the MI New Favorite Snack competition, the contest will award more than $50,000 in cash prizes at the MI Snack Competition exhibition in Port Huron on September 14. The top award recipient also will receive a distribution agreement with All Star Services, a break-room services company based in Port Huron.

A panel of industry experts will judge the retail-ready products at the live event, according to Jon Holden of All Star Services. Entrants will compete in one of four categories — sweet sensations, crunchy cravings, mindful munchies and confectionary creations — from which the judges will select the winning retail-ready snacks for cash prizes of up to $5,000 per category. The four category winners move on to a final round of judging to compete for an additional $10,000 and the title "MI Snack Competition 2024."

There is a $200 fee per entry for companies located outside of St. Clair County, Mich. The snack contest organizers have eliminated the pre-selection committee used in previous events, which means that all completed entries can compete at the live event. All contestants are encouraged to attend the live judging event, hand out free samples of their snacks and sell their full line of products in Port Huron on September 14.

In addition, snack makers based in St. Clair County, Mich., can enter a special contest just for businesses located in that county. Those companies can compete with other local snack makers and pay a $100 fee per entry. St. Clair County companies also can extend their entries to the statewide competition by paying an additional $100 fee per entry.

All St. Clair County competitors will also compete for additional cash prizes of up to $1,000 in each of four categories. There is also a $1,000 prize for the "St. Clair County People's Choice" award.

“Last year, more than 50 snack makers from across both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan competed for the prize money,” said Thelma Castillo, president and CEO of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce. “We encourage those who did not win last year to return, and we look forward to seeing what new snacks have been dreamed up in kitchens across the state of Michigan.”