WORLD-LINK GROUP, INC. Specializing in Food & Beverage Sales & Marketing In the United States

WORLD-LINK GROUP, INC. Specializing in Food & Beverage Sales & Marketing In the United States

The U.S. Retail Food Market -- Share of Food Sales Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Food Marketing Institute

The U.S. Specialty Food Retail Market In the U.S., specialty food products are foods, beverages or confections that are of the highest grade, style and/or quality in their category. Their specialty nature derives from their uniqueness, exotic origin, ingredients, processing, design, limited supply, unusual application or use, and/or extraordinary packaging. These products are sold through supermarkets (special sections), gourmet stores and natural food retailers, Specialty food is among the fastest growing industries in the U.S., with sales up 22% between 2010 and 2012. Total specialty food sales in 2012 topped $85.87 billion. Ninety-five percent of specialty food manufacturers recorded sales increases in 2012. The U.S. specialty food store industry includes about 25,000 stores, with the average store over 5,000 sq. ft. And carrying 1,366 SKUs. Source: National Association of the Specialty Food Trade

Optimism among U.S. Gourmet Retailers Three-quarters of gourmet retailers say they are as or more optimistic about sales than year-ago. Three-quarters of gourmet retailers say the number of shopping trips are the same or greater than year-ago. Three-quarters of gourmet retailers say the average transaction size is the same as or greater than year-ago. Source: Gourmet Retailer 2012 >>One in five U.S. adults seeks out gourmet products when food shopping<< Source: Packaged Facts: Gourmet, Specialty and Premium Foods, Beverages and Consumer Trends in the U.S

The U.S. Restaurant Market Sales are approaching $700 billion, with eating places (restaurants) accounting for two-thirds of sales Restaurant sales continue long-term strong sales growth Restaurant sales account for nearly half of consumers total food dollars Source: National Restaurant Association

Top Restaurant Trends

The U.S. Wellness Consumer Health and wellness is no longer being a niche food market dominated by a small group of consumers. Consumers across the full spectrum of involvement in wellness can articulate quality of life as the meaning of wellness. These products are sold through supermarkets (special sections), gourmet stores and natural food retailers, Over half of all consumers (54%) say they have recently changed their views on health & wellness. Younger consumers, for example, cite stress (51%) and energy levels (47%) as triggers for changing their views on health & wellness. Both Generation Y (born after 1980) and X (born 1965-1980) have significant interest in avoiding certain conditions which ties to their health drivers and eating habits. Opportunities abound for marketers who present plausible product and brand platforms with supporting evidence to an increasingly open-minded consumer base. Sources: Hartman Group Reimaging Health & Wellness, Natural Marketing Institute, Food Product Design

The U.S. Wellness Consumer Wellness consumers Well Beings and Food Actives -- make up half of all U.S. households. Adding the health-management-focused Magic Bullets brings the total to 61% of U.S. Households. Well-Beings Health first Most health proactive Early adopters Price and brand image less important 23 million U.S. households Food Actives Health thru food Mainstream healthy Late adopting opinion followers Seek long-term solutions 30 million U.S. households Eat, Drink Be Merry, 21% Fence Sitters, 18% Magic Bullets, 12% Well Beings, 23% Food Actives, 26% that s 53 million U.S. households who are pro-active about their health. Source: NMI 2010 Health & Wellness Trends Report

Who We Are Incorporated in Chicago in1987 by principals with long experience in U.S. food and beverage industry Participation in major national, regional, and international trade fairs and ECRM events Focus on consumer products for the U.S. Mass market Specialty food market Foodservice market Focus on food companies for U.S. and international markets Industrial products (ingredients, etc.) Technology transfers

Who We Are We sell to mass and specialty channels in North America: Mass merchandisers Club stores Supermarkets Drug chains Convenience stores Vending Foodservice We have ongoing relationships with major multinational food companies including: Unilever Kraft Foods General Mills Nestlé Campbell Soup and others

Who We Are We offer a full range of services, including: Analysis and planning Development Design Management Additional services include: Establishing companies in U.S. HQ Manufacturing (contract manufacturing/pl or in-house) Logistics Sales & Marketing Selling multinational food - beverage companies for industrial products and technology transfers

Our Services Phase & Activity What It s Used For Phase I. Analysis & Planning A. Market analysis/opportunity assessment To determine size of market, competition, and to identify opportunities/barriers to entry B. Business plan To use in raising capital C. Capital generation/funding To generate capital

Our Services Phase & Activity What It s Used For Phase II. Development D. Concept development To develop new ideas/expand on current ideas E. Product development To develop new products/formulations F. Consumer research To test new concepts/products with consumers G. Trade research To determine trends/evaluate products/opportunities H. Trademark coordination/liaison To clear and file trademark I. Patent coordination/liaison To determine feasibility and file patent J. UCC coordination/liaison To get manufacturer number for bar codes K. Commercialization plan To develop marketing and sales plan L. Contract manufacturer/partner sourcing for technology transfer To qualify and source U.S. manufacturing M. Contract manufacturer coordination/liaison To manage/supervise outside manufacturing

Our Services Phase & Activity What It s Used For Phase II. Development N. Forecasting and financial analysis To create forecast, P&Ls, cash flow, balance sheet O. Sourcing of brokers and distributors To source brokers and distributors P. Distributor/broker coordination/liaison To manage brokers and distributors Q. Sourcing of logistic support To source other required support R. Logistic support coordination/liaison To manage other required support S. Compliance/analytical testing To test products for NFPs and ingredient formatting

Our Services Phase & Activity What It s Used For Phase III. Design T. Package structural specs To design unit structure/master shipping cases U. Package graphic design and production To design unit package graphics and print V. Selling materials design and production To design and print sales materials

Our Services Phase & Activity What It s Used For Phase IV. Management W. Sales and marketing management To manage day-to-day sales and marketing X. Order desk/customer service To manage customer order desk/service Y. Trade show coordination/management To coordinate and manage trade shows Z. Import management To coordinate importing into the U.S.

Selected Food & Beverage Clients Client Product Range Scope of Our Work Kraft Foods (International) Frozen Novelties, Meat Snacks, tech Market research, strategic planning, technology transfer Barilla (Italy) Organic Snacks Market research, positioning, planning LT Overseas (India/USA) Basmati Rice Mixes Full service* AX Ltd. (Argentina) Beverages (Packaging) Technology transfer Unilever (Germany) Meat Snacks Full service* Subyou-X (New Zealand/Germany) Energy Drinks Full service* Hormel (USA) Meals Strategic planning, Nestlé (USA) Salty Snacks, tech Market research, strategic planning, technology transfer Chic (China/USA) Fruits & New Fruit Technology Strategic planning, sales Jotis (Greece) Desserts Market analysis, strategic planning Zentis (Germany) Fruit Preserves and Preparations Full service* Creta Farm (Greece) Meats (Deli, Refrigerated, Frozen) Full service* and technology transfer Mamma Mia (France) Microwave Pasta Cups (Packaging) Technology transfer General Mills (International) Meals and Ethnic Products Technology transfer * Full-service consulting includes all or most of these services: market analysis, concept development and testing, product development and testing, sourcing, strategic planning, financial analysis and sales forecasting, analytic testing, package design, marketing and sales, and project management

WORLD-LINK GROUP, INC. +1 312 315 2510 +1 919 943 5643 http://www.world-linkgroup.com rw@world-linkgroup.com