Startups

After a newfangled 2021, you may be wondering what's in store for the food, farming, and food systems industries in 2022. To kick off the new year's Quarterly Trends Talks, FFI staff and special guests will share with you the major highlights expected for 2022. Your business or clients will benefit by staying ahead of the curve. Attendance is free!

Matt D'Amour of Yumbutter talks about the importance of having multiple things that distinguish your food brand so you can remain defensibly unique and mitigate the risk of competition. They joined the food scene when their category (nut butters) was not crowded yet and they were positioned well to overcome roadblocks.

What "local" means is not universally agreed upon. Most Wisconsin consumers (86%) agree that food grown in Wisconsin is local. Many (75%) consumers also feel that food grown within 50 miles and/or a one-hour drive from them is local.

Startup food businesses have a multitude of things to consider and do before they every make their product commercially for customers. This guide walks new and aspiring food and beverage business owners through these essential considerations, everything from finding a good mentor to insurance to pricing.

Union Kitchen is a shared-use kitchen and food business accelerator in in Washington D.C. While having a shared-use kitchen eliminates the need for capital for kitchen equipment, there are many other things food businesses need to raise capital for, which is why they have distribution and retail outlets as part of their model.

Sometimes certain products or certain classes of products make more sense in certain markets than others. For example, heavy or perishable food items make less sense to sell online due to the shipping costs and logistics involved. But unconventional markets could make sense if location or customer data suggests it is a good idea.

If you can determine that the consultants you are looking at can ask the right questions and challenge you, including about your business model and financial plan, you can form a meaningful partnership with that consultant.

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #57, Tera speaks with Abby and David Bachhuber from Lovefood Farm, a small, profitable, diversified organic vegetable farm in the Madison,...

In this crazy new world we’re living in, small businesses nationwide are torn on how to proceed, especially those suffering significant sales losses due...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every food and farm business in some way. But for all the roadblocks this situation has caused, it has also opened up new opportunities. That is why FFI has been talking about shifting business strategies in response to the pandemic and predicted recession. Could alternate sales channels, product offerings, or distribution models keep your company rocking?