What FaB Wisconsin does

FaB Wisconsin is a privately held, membership-based industry association headquartered at 301 W. Wisconsin Ave. #220 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that operates as the state's Food and Beverage Business Network. Its mission is to connect Wisconsin-based food and beverage makers, manufacturers, distributors, and their supporting suppliers and service providers to resources, expertise, and peer relationships to accelerate industry growth. The membership spans 100+ organizations including enterprise brands such as General Mills, Johnsonville, HARIBO, Molson Coors, Organic Valley, Ocean Spray, and Sargento, alongside SMBs and an ecosystem of professional service providers, higher education institutions, and government/economic development entities.

The organization's product portfolio is structured around Annual Membership, which unlocks a suite of member benefits: a searchable Member Directory, the Insight Network (a peer advisory service routing member questions to 25+ vetted Advisors across HR, food safety, operations, sustainability, and sourcing), the FaBsafe Certificate® training suite (Industry, Refresher, and Student tiers priced at $99, $59, and $49 respectively to fulfill FSMA-required annual food safety training), Monthly Regulatory Updates produced in partnership with Michael Best & Friedrich, and recurring research products such as the 2024 Talent & Wage Survey and the 2026 Total Rewards Survey. Underlying technology is commodity: a WordPress website with a business directory plugin, Constant Contact for email, Google Analytics for traffic, and MMAC ATLAS for event registration.

FaB Wisconsin generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring annual membership dues from food/beverage companies and service providers, one-time per-person training fees from the FaBsafe Certificate® program, and grant-funded workforce development delivered in partnership with MATC and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development ($198,593 award in February 2025). Distribution is direct and self-serve via fabwisconsin.com, supplemented by an event-driven engagement model (webinars, Business Before Hours networking, conferences) and content marketing including regulatory updates and industry surveys. The organization serves exclusively the Wisconsin market and is not currently pursuing geographic expansion.

Name

FaB Wisconsin

Legal name

FaB Wisconsin

Website

https://fabwisconsin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FaB Wisconsin is a Milwaukee-based membership association that operates as Wisconsin's Food and Beverage Business Network, connecting 100+ state makers, manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and educators through directory access, peer advisory, regulatory updates, and FSMA-compliant food safety training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrition, Dietary Management & Allergen/Accommodation Services (EDALADAJ)

Keywords

• Food beverage industry association
• Industry network membership
• FSMA food safety training
• Food regulatory updates
• Peer advisory network

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Recurring membership dues paid by food and beverage companies, service providers, non-profits, higher education institutions, and government entities that join the network. Membership unlocks access to the Member Directory, Insight Network, member-only events/webinars, and member-rate training.
2. FaBsafe Certificate® Training: One-time per-person training fees for the FaBsafe Certificate® program (Industry, Refresher, and Student tiers). Delivered as online training that satisfies FSMA-required annual food safety training.
3. Grant-Funded Workforce Training: Grant-funded workforce development programs delivered in partnership with educational institutions (e.g., MATC) and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The $198,593 Workforce Advancement Training grant subsidizes member company employee training in food safety, quality management, and leadership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FaB Wisconsin operates a membership-based industry association serving as Wisconsin's Food and Beverage Business Network. Its core offering is an annual membership that connects Wisconsin food and beverage makers, manufacturers, distributors, and their supporting suppliers and service providers to networking, training, peer advisory, regulatory, and workforce resources. Membership unlocks a portfolio of bundled member benefits including the FaBsafe Certificate® food safety training suite, the Insight Network peer advisory service, the Member Directory, monthly Regulatory Updates, events and webinars, and industry research surveys.

Product overview

FaB Wisconsin is a membership-based industry association (not a single software product) that serves as Wisconsin's Food and Beverage Business Network. Its overall offering is a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on Annual Membership, which unlocks a portfolio of distinct member-facing products: the FaBsafe Certificate® training suite (Industry Course, Refresher Course, and Student Course) for food safety / FSMA-required training; the Insight Network for confidential peer advisory assistance; the Member Directory for company discovery; the Events & Webinars Program for networking and education; Monthly Regulatory Updates produced in partnership with Michael Best & Friedrich; industry research products such as the 2024 Talent & Wage Survey and 2026 Total Rewards Survey; the Farm-Factory-Fork Career Discovery program for talent pipeline development; Food Safety Resources and Business Growth Resources as curated information hubs; and workforce funding programs such as the $198,593 Workforce Advancement Training grant with MATC. Together these products form a connected ecosystem where membership provides the unifying access layer and the individual branded programs (FaBsafe®, Insight Network, surveys, regulatory updates) operate as the modules serving Wisconsin's food and beverage industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FaBsafe Certificate®: An industry-recognized annual basic food and beverage safety training certificate of completion offered by FaB Wisconsin for those working in food, beverage, or ingredients manufacturing roles. Includes Industry, Refresher, and Student course versions.

Products and services

• Annual Membership Tiered annual membership that connects Wisconsin food and beverage makers, manufacturers, distributors, and their suppliers/service providers to the FaB Wisconsin network, unlocking the Insight Network, Member Directory, events/webinars, regulatory updates, surveys, and member-rate training discounts.
• FaBsafe Certificate® Industry Course Online annual food and beverage safety training course providing a foundation of food safety training applicable to any food or beverage manufacturing environment, including GMPs, hazard analysis, and regulatory basics. Listed at $99.
• FaBsafe Certificate® Refresher Course Refresher course for previously certified industry professionals to fulfill FSMA-required annual training, focused on the basics of food safety in food manufacturing including Good Manufacturing Practices. Listed at $59.
• FaBsafe Certificate® Student Course Educational version of the FaBsafe Certificate for high school and college students considering or pursuing careers in food, beverage, or ingredients manufacturing. Covers GMPs, hazard analysis, and regulatory basics. Listed at $49.
• Insight Network Peer Advisory Service Members-only benefit connecting member company employees with vetted, experienced food and beverage industry professionals who provide confidential guidance on HR, food safety, operations, sourcing, sustainability, and team engagement. Free with membership; questions routed to an Advisor within a few business days.
• Monthly Regulatory Updates Monthly member resource produced in partnership with Michael Best & Friedrich that summarizes FDA/USDA regulatory actions, warning letters, lawsuits, and state-level food legislation affecting food and beverage manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• $198,593 Workforce Advancement Training grant awarded in 2025 by Wisconsin DWD to support member training discounts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• MATC (Milwaukee Area Technical College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-recipient of a $198,593 Workforce Advancement Training grant from Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development (announced February 2025). Partnership delivers workforce development in manufacturing through discounted employee training programs for FaB Wisconsin member companies in areas including food safety, quality management, and leadership.
• Michael Best & FriedrichflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium Member law firm and exclusive partner producing FaB Wisconsin's Monthly Regulatory Updates summarizing FDA/USDA actions, lawsuits, warning letters, and state legislation affecting food and beverage businesses. Authors Paul Benson, Taylor Fritsch, and Leah Ziemba are the named contributors.
• MRA – The Management AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaB Wisconsin partnered with MRA and member companies to develop the 2026 Total Rewards Survey benchmarking compensation, benefits, and retention strategies. MRA hosts the results deep-dive event on September 24, 2026 at its Waukesha, WI headquarters and shares workforce trend perspectives.
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerState regulatory partner featuring DATCP experts Stefan Boerboom (Environmental Health Technical Specialist) and Jayne Krull (Director, Ag Resource & Promotion) in the July 14, 2026 member webinar on Cannabinoid Compliance and Something Special from Wisconsin™ program.
• Valentine Coffee Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of the August 6, 2026 Business Before Hours networking event in Milwaukee alongside MMAC and FaB Wisconsin.
• MMAC (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of the Business Before Hours networking events in collaboration with FaB Wisconsin and venue partners (e.g., Valentine Coffee Co.).
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner; WEDC is referenced as a FaB Wisconsin member and a resource for business growth, expansion, and relocation support for Wisconsin food and beverage companies.
• Food Finance Institute (FFI)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResource partner for FaB Wisconsin members — provides training, tools, mentorship, and an online learning center (Food Finance Learning Center) to help build profitable food-focused businesses.
• Food Export-MidwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner organization of 13 Midwestern state agricultural promotion agencies; FaB Wisconsin references Food Export-Midwest as a resource for export education, global connections, and marketing financial assistance.
• Milwaukee 7 Partnership for Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partner referenced as a resource for company expansion and relocation in the Milwaukee region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Food Marketing Institute (FMI) – The Food Industry Association: Large national trade association for the food retail and wholesale industry offering member research, events, and education. Overlaps FaB Wisconsin's audience at a national scale but serves retailers/wholesalers rather than Wisconsin manufacturers specifically.
• Consumer Brands Association (formerly GMA): National trade association representing major consumer packaged goods brands. Comparable as a food/beverage industry association with dues, advocacy, and research, but operates at a much larger national scale and primarily serves CPG manufacturers and retailers rather than regional makers.

Direct peers

• SQF Institute: Food safety and quality certification body offering the SQF food safety program recognized by GFSI. Direct peer in the food safety training and certification space where FaBsafe competes for FSMA-related training spend, though SQF is a globally recognized certification scheme.
• Brewers Association: Not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent U.S. brewers with membership dues, events, publications, and a supplier directory. Mirrors FaB Wisconsin's model of a vertical-specific industry association built around an annual member network and content library.
• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT): Global non-profit scientific society for food professionals offering membership, certifications, events, and a member directory. Closely analogous business model to FaB Wisconsin at a national scale and the most direct peer in food-industry association structure.
• Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC): Wisconsin's statewide chamber of commerce and manufacturers' trade association. Most structurally comparable to FaB Wisconsin as a Wisconsin-based industry association collecting dues, hosting events, and advocating for member businesses, though it covers all manufacturing rather than food and beverage specifically.
• Specialty Food Association (SFA): Membership-based trade association for the specialty food industry running the Fancy Food Shows, member education, and a member directory. Directly comparable dues + events + content association model, though national in scope rather than Wisconsin-specific.
• Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC): Regional business association serving metro Milwaukee that co-hosts FaB Wisconsin events and operates the ATLAS events platform FaB uses for registration. Comparable membership dues + event-driven GTM model, but broader across industries rather than food/beverage-specific.
• Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Wisconsin-focused dairy promotion organization funded by farmer checkoff dollars. Highly comparable state-level, vertical-specific association structure serving Wisconsin dairy stakeholders with marketing, research, and education programs.

Regional players

• Food Export Association of the Midwest: Non-profit partner organization of Midwestern state agricultural promotion agencies helping U.S. suppliers enter international markets. Already a FaB Wisconsin resource partner; comparable regional non-profit structure serving Midwest food/beverage exporters with member services and funding support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fab-wisconsin
• Xx.com/FaBWisconsin
• Facebookfacebook.com/FabWisconsin

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FaB Wisconsin