With just 2 feet of display space, Jim Reddekopp had to work hard to impress the buyers at last week's American Logistics Hawaii Food Show at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

Reddekopp must have made an impression because his Hawaiian Vanilla Co. was one of 17 first-time expo companies that were picked to sell their products in O'ahu's commissaries and exchanges.

The annual expo was put on by the Defense Commissary Agency to give local companies an opportunity to show off their goods to the buyers, who are responsible for selecting items for commissaries and exchanges worldwide.

Hawaiian Vanilla had 45 products to display, but had to share a 6-foot-long table with two other companies. Reddekopp said he was confident his items would do well, but only if he got the attention of the buyers.

"I stood out in front of my booth," he said. "If I'm only going to have 2 feet to sell, I learned really quickly who the right buyers were."

Hawaiian Vanilla, the first commercial grower of vanilla in the United States, cultivates 2 acres of vanilla on Reddekopp's family's 25-acre farm in Pa'auilo on the Big Island. Reddekopp said he decided to enter last week's show to expand his business.

"The company's come to a point where we were ready to branch out," he said. "My goal going to the commissary show this year was to see whether there would be any interest. We hope to market and distribute our product on the Mainland and in other commissaries in other parts of the world. That's the goal."

Thirty-seven companies were chosen by the Defense Commissary Agency to sell their products in the commissaries.

Of the nearly 2,000 items that were on display at the expo, 251 new products were selected by DCA buyers for commissary shelves.

Sharon Zambo-Fan, owner of Favorite Foods of Hawaii and chairwoman of the American Logistics Association Hawai'i conference, said the expo was a "phenomenal" success.

"Especially now during economic hard times, for the small companies to have an opportunity to boost their sales is important," Zambo-Fan said.

Other companies that were picked after taking part in their first expo included Noni Connection, Jade Food, Classic Sales, Aikane Plantation Coffee Co., Auntie's Ono Gourmet Cookies and Diamond Head Distributors. A complete list was not available yesterday.

Last week's 11th American Logistics Hawaii Food Show drew a record 81 vendors, 40 that were making their first expo appearance. Hawai'i businesses account for more than $200 million in sales in commissaries, which bring in about $5.5 billion in gross sales annually worldwide.