0218 - Starting a New Food Business - Designed with the Food Entrepreneur in Mind

Course Description

For many food provides emotional support including the nourishment to the body. Providing food to the society is a noble cause and expanding availability of food through your business is simply bridging the society together for a common cause. Your food business is a place to share your favorite recipes, wonderful ideas, and a smart action on food-system innovation and entrepreneurship. Starting a successful food business is commercialization of your recipe – a journey to your food vision.

This class will provide you with a variety of services (both technical and educational) that are available to those hungry minds who decide to launch their dream food into a food business. A team of experts from the UGA Food Science and other programs including FoodPIC, The Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Small Business Development Center and more will provide you the comprehensive assistance tailored to your specific food business needs. Assistance includes:

• Product & Process Development
• Label & Nutritional Facts Development
• Information on Facility Licensing and Regulatory Compliance
• Product Classification and Process Approvals
• Resources for Co-packing facilities
• Packaging design and Sensory Testing
• Ingredient Technology and Functionality
• Food Safety and Sanitation

Course Outline

Day 1 – Product Development and Business Planning

Welcome and Introduction

Roadmaps for the Food Entrepreneur?

Food Product Development for the Food Entrepreneur

Product Development-Group Activity

Product Development

The Business Side of Starting a New Food Business

Marketing Opportunities for Small Businesses in Georgia

Georgia Grown Program

*Optional Chef Demonstration

Day 2 - Regulations and Food Safety

Flavor of Georgia Program

Technical Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Leveraging University or Georgia Resources

Marketing Your Product

An Overview of GDA Regulation

An Overview of FDA Regulation

An Overview of Intellectual Property for Food

Entrepreneurs

Co-Packing

Learner Outcomes

After attending this class you will know all of the things that every new food entrepreneur should consider: 

• Product and Process Development – How do you develop your recipe into a commercial market ready food product? What are important steps of making, packaging, and storage of your product?
• Food Regulation – What regulatory standards you will need to follow and what agencies (GDA, FDA, USDA) govern your food business? How certain regulatory provisions of USDA/FDA will affect your business?
• Food Packaging and Labeling – What are your food packaging options? What is the basis of selecting glass, plastic, or metal containers? What goes on my labels and is required by regulations on a food label?
• Food Safety Issues – What are the basics of food safety?
• Target Market – What are your target market options? What is market research and how do you use it?

Notes

Lunch and materials are included in the registration fee.

A Public Service and Outreach Unit of the University of Georgia. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.