Food Business Basics is a series of three self-guided, online professional development courses. Each course is self-paced, with no instructor. This allows you to go through the material at a time that is convenient for you, and to take the time you need to fully review all the information and reference materials that are provided.
The Courses
Food Business Basics is broken out into three course modules.
I. Market Planning takes you through the steps of
- Product concept development,
- Market research,
- Creating identity for your product and your brand, and
- Developing a marketing plan.
II. Manufacturing provides the practical guidance you will need to
- Determine where to manufacture your product,
- Scale up your production from bench top to manufacturing
- Assure that all requirements of state, local and national regulatory agencies are met, and
- Launch a quality assurance program.
III. Business and Finance focuses on
- Choosing the business structure that is right for you
- How to write a business plan, and
- Obtaining funding.
Who Should Take These Courses
If you are an entrepreneur who is just starting—or starting to expand a food business, Food Business Basics has been designed for you. You may be a farmer interested in processing your crops or livestock into a value-added food product. Or, maybe you have developed a fantastic product that you want to sell in retail stores. You may have some familiarity with the food industry, or none at all.
Nationwide Resources
These courses are designed to meet the needs of food entrepreneurs in all 50 states. No matter where you are located, there are abundant resources to help you to identify and locate the agencies, departments and organizations that oversee the manufacture of food products, and the companies that make those products.
Materials for Further Reading
Within each module you will find dozens of resources for further reading to expand and deepen your knowledge base in each subject area. The Food Innovation Center has pre-screened these materials for you and has chosen only those that are the most useful, comprehensive, and authoritative.
Focus on Pre-Packaged, Retail Products
It is important to note that the information provided in these courses are designed for the entrepreneur who is looking to provide pre-packaged products to be sold in retail food stores, such as supermarkets and specialty food outlets. These courses are not designed for entrepreneurs seeking to develop foodservice operations such as restaurants or catering companies.
Group Rates
Online courses are available at special group rate for educators, companies, and organizations. This group rate allows you to provide unlimited access of these educational courses to your clients and/or students for four months.
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