Foodpreneur Start-Up Seminars
ON, Canada
Start-up support for entrepreneurs in southwestern Ontario
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|noCondition
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateNovember 12, 2021
grant_single|financingType
Expert Advice
Other Support
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Accommodation and food services
grant_single|grantors
- Foodpreneur Advantage
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grant_card_status|open
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If you are developing a food venture, or are ready to expand and scale your operation, join a monthly series of free online seminars and training opportunities in the food and beverage industry.
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The grants are targeting businesses in the early stages of development in the food and beverage industry, offering support in various areas to aid their growth and compliance with industry regulations.
- Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance
- Creating a Business Model
- Doing Market Research
- Analyzing the Competition
- Understanding Fire Code Compliance & Building Permits
- Understanding Zoning Requirements, Municipal Bylaws & Licensing
- Complying with Food Safety Requirements
- Selling Your Food Product
- Setting Your Pricing for Success
- Positioning Your Product on the Market
- Building an Audience
- Costing & Pricing Products to Make Profits
- Understanding COGS
- Cash Flow Management
- Planning for Profits
- Marketing & Branding Your Food Product
- Creating a Visual Identity
- Packaging Considerations
- Labelling Requirements
- Avoiding Labelling and Packaging Mistakes
- Selling to Food Retailers
- Breaking Down a Sales Call
- Creating a Sales Call Plan
- Overcoming Objections
- Closing the Deal and Following Up
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$8,000
Launching an organic smoothie bar with focus on compliance and market positioning
$7,500
Developing a gluten-free snack line with focus on branding and packaging
$7,000
Expanding a vegan bakery to comply with safety and fire codes
$8,000
Launching a craft brewery with a focus on market research and sales planning
$9,000
Creating a farm-to-table restaurant focusing on compliance and market positioning
$6,500
Enhancing a local cheese factory’s compliance and marketing activities
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The seminars offered do not specify explicit eligibility criteria for attending; however, they seem targeted towards certain audiences based on business development stage and goals.
- Individuals in the early stages of developing a food business interested in regulatory compliance and market entry.
- Entrepreneurs looking to understand and improve their food product sales strategies.
- Business owners seeking guidance on costing and pricing for profitability.
- Food business owners who need to develop their brand and marketing strategies.
- Individuals requiring understanding of food product labelling and packaging regulations.
- Those intending to sell consumer packaged goods (CPG) to retail stores for the first time.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
This grant assists start-ups in the food and beverage industry to gain essential knowledge for successfully launching and managing their businesses. The eligible activities focus on regulatory compliance, marketing strategies, financial management, and product sales.
- Starting a food business and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Creating, managing, and marketing a food product.
- Costing and pricing strategies for profitability.
- Branding and marketing food products effectively.
- Labelling and packaging food products with compliance.
- Developing successful sales strategies to retail and direct customers.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The eligible geographic zones for this grant include various regions in Canada.
- Canada-wide
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Sign up for the seminar you're interested in, based on the topic you want to learn about and the scheduled date.
- Step 2: Attend the seminar to gain valuable insights and knowledge about starting and running a food business.
- Step 3: Apply the knowledge gained from the seminar to prepare your business plan and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Step 4: Utilize the provided resources, such as financial forecasting spreadsheets, to develop a viable business model.
- Step 5: Implement the strategies and insights on marketing, branding, pricing, labelling, packaging, and sales to optimize your business operations.
- Step 6: Follow up with the seminar instructors or consultants for any further guidance or clarification needed to enhance your business plan.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for the start-up seminars:
- Participants will have the opportunity to interact with industry experts during the seminars.
- Seminars are designed to foster practical skills and provide actionable insights for attendees.
- Each session includes a Q&A segment for attendees to ask specific questions on the topics covered.
Apply to this program
Empower Your Food Business Journey with Strategic Insights
This seminar series offers invaluable guidance for food and beverage start-ups, covering everything from business foundations to market success strategies. Designed to navigate new entrepreneurs through compliance, branding, pricing, and sales, the sessions aim to equip attendees with crucial knowledge for thriving in the food industry landscape.
Detailed Breakdown of the Seminar Series for Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs
Embarking on a journey in the food and beverage industry requires a blend of creativity, diligence, and a strong grasp of business fundamentals. This carefully curated seminar series is tailored for those at the nascent stages of their food business venture, aiming to demystify the various facets critical to success in this sector. Through a comprehensive lineup of sessions, participants will garner insights that are both practical and strategic, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle industry challenges.
The seminar series kicks off with "Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance," a session dedicated to grounding participants in the essential foundations of business modeling and market research. This session emphasizes understanding industry regulations such as zoning requirements, fire codes, and food safety mandates, which are pivotal to laying down a solid business framework. The focus is to ensure that emerging entrepreneurs can navigate the regulatory landscape effectively, avoiding potential pitfalls that could stall their progress.
Following this, "How to Sell Your Food Product" hones in on the strategies needed to turn a culinary idea into a viable market contender. Led by industry expert Nicole Haney, the session explores the dynamics of pricing, audience targeting, and the art of securing sales, whether it's through online channels, retail partnerships, or local markets. Attendees are equipped with the skills necessary to craft compelling sales pitches and create marketing strategies that resonate with consumers.
Next, the "Costing & Pricing to Make Profits" seminar delves into the financial aspects of running a food business. By educating participants on the intricacies of cost of goods sold (COGS), cash flow management, and profit planning, the session aims to build financial literacy that is crucial for sustainability. Participants will receive tools such as an Excel Financial Forecasting spreadsheet to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, providing a roadmap to fiscal responsibility and profitability.
A significant component of the series, "Marketing & Branding your Food Product," focuses on creating a strong brand identity that reflects the unique selling proposition of the product. Amanda DeVries brings her branding expertise to teach budding entrepreneurs the importance of aligning their product's visual identity with consumer expectations in various selling environments—be it store shelves, food markets, or digital platforms. The session is key to helping attendees understand the psychological impact of branding on consumer perception and buying behavior.
Proper presentation of food products is further discussed in "Labelling & Packaging your Food Product," where participants learn about the intersection of creative packaging with compliance requirements. Nicole Haney once again lends her expertise on essential labelling elements and strategic packaging choices that entice consumers while adhering to regulatory standards. Avoiding common packaging mistakes can greatly enhance a product's appeal and facilitate a straightforward route to market acceptance.
Concluding the series, "Selling to Food Retailers" offers detailed guidance on approaching retail accounts with confidence. Led by sales expert Paul Dromgole, the session outlines a structured sales process, from preparation to closing deals, emphasizing the nuances of handling objections and the importance of post-sale customer service. Understanding the retail ecosystem is crucial for scaling a food business, as retail partnerships drive significant revenue and brand expansion opportunities.
This educational series is an unparalleled opportunity for food and beverage entrepreneurs to build their expertise across various domains essential to business success. By immersing themselves in these detailed sessions, participants will not only enhance their operational know-how but also become part of a community of like-minded innovators ready to transform their culinary concepts into thriving enterprises.
