Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) make up a significant portion of the U.S. meat and poultry industry. For example, more than 80 percent of American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) member firms are SMBs. On a broader scale, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 99.7 percent of all U.S. employer firms and 98 percent of firms exporting goods are considered small businesses, accounting for 46 percent of private-sector output.
But it’s not just the economic impact of SMBs that is significant. These manufacturers often lead the way in processing and packaging innovation. To help them continue to grow, PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013 (September 23-25; Las Vegas Convention Center) has launched SMB FastTrack, a program that provides special planning tools and resources for SMBs with annual revenues between $50 million and $500 million.