Chatham-Kent entrepreneurs looking to start a food-based business can now take part in a seminar series aimed at making their entrance into the industry as smooth as possible. Foodpreneur Advantage, a regional collaboration of Small Business Enterprise Centres, is offering a wealth of food industry knowledge through free online seminars being offered through Chatham-Kent Economic Development's Small Business Centre.
The program gives participants access to industry experts with detailed guides to starting a food business, marketing and branding their products, along with more in-depth aspects of the industry such as costing and pricing, packaging and labelling requirements, and navigating the world of regulatory compliance.
How to Participate
You can take part in the free seminars by visiting the Foodpreneur Advantage website and signing up.
If you need assistance or have questions, you can contact the Small Business Centre team at 1-866-542-5994 or email CKsbc@chatham-kent.ca.
Upcoming Seminars
Click on the seminar titles to register for Spring 2025!
April 24, 10am - Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance
- Creating a business model
- Doing your market research & competitive analysis
- Determining your value proposition
- Understanding municipal licensing & bylaws
- Health, building, & fire inspections for the food sector
May 1, 10am - How to Sell Your Food Product
- How to set your pricing for success
- Positioning your product in the market
- Building an audience of raving fans
- The key things you can do to secure the sale
May 15, 10am - Costing & Pricing to Make Profits
- Understanding your COGS
- Cash flow management
- Planning for profits
May 22, 10am - Marketing & Branding your Food Product
- Why you are your brand as a food/beverage business
- What to consider when creating a visual identity
- What marketing in 2025 looks like
May 29, 10am - Selling to Food Retailers
- Creating a plan for your sales call
- Overcoming objections & closing the deal
- Following up and customer service
June 5, 10am - Labelling and Packaging your Food Product
- Labelling requirements
- Packaging considerations
- Mistakes to avoid
Scale-Up Program
For food production and distribution businesses already in market, the Foodpreneur Scale-Up Program is available. This is a 10-week training, mentoring and coaching program designed for businesses that have already shown high growth potential. Successful applicants to this program may also be eligible to receive up to $5,000 as part of the training and grant program as well as additional mentorship.
- Food Packaging and Labelling
- Price and Costing
- Traceability and recall plans
- Working with wholesale distributors
- Visual merchandising and in-store marketing
- HR guidance on hiring, employee relations, training, and terminating
- Health and Safety regulations for growing businesses
To sign up for the Scale-Up Program, visit
the Scale-Up Program website.
