Thank you to the organizations and individuals that made the 2025 Big Connecticut Food Event a delicious success!

The five pitch competition participants and broader group of brands in attendance made it clear that our state's food entrepreneurship ecosystem is on the up. If you are interested in joining our effort to strengthen Connecticut's food entrepreneurship pipeline and help organize next year's event please submit a participation request.

Pitch competition results:

• 1st place ($25k): Mama Hu’s

• 2nd place ($10k): 860 Kombucha

• 3rd place ($7.5k): Bare Life

• Runners-up ($2.5k each): Kinney Lane Foods, Da Last Drip

• Audience choice ($2.5k): Mama Hu’s

Key metrics

• 300+ attendees

• 50+ applications from emerging Connecticut food & bev brands interested in participating in the pitch competition

• 30+ Connecticut food & bev brands sampling & tabling at event

• $50k in pitch competition & tabling prizes

• 10 major grocers & distributors with procurement leadership in attendance