Food Starter Programme 2020

This is an online programme over 4 mornings (24th & 26th November; 8th & 10th December 2020, 9.30am-1.00pm) and is suitable for someone with a new food or drink business. It is also suitable for a new start-up food or drink business which is in the first 24 months of trading. You must partake in all 4 morning training sessions online to benefit from the programme delivery. 

Objective: To provide participants with a base knowledge of what is involved in setting up a food or drink manufacturing business.Ideally participants should have already completed the standard Start Your Own Business Programme with their Local Enterprise Office before partaking in this programme. Both programmes work very well together and provide separate content. This programme will assume participants have the required business knowledge to run a successful business i.e. you must already understand the basics of setting up a business, tax compliance rules, creating a business plan etc. 

For those considering applying for the Food Academy Programme in the future, this programme will provide an excellent opportunity to boost your chances of securing a place. *The Food Starter Programme is a pre-requisite for those planning to go on and participate in the Food Academy. 

• This programme is NOT suitable for those planning to open a cafe, restaurant or food service operation. 
• The programme content is focused on food & drink and therefore is less suitable for those producing "near foods" i.e. pet foods and health supplements.

Workshop Material: Extensive material will be emailed to participants including practice sheets and templates to back up the workshop content. 

Programme Content:

• Feedback on your product idea from the workshop facilitator
• Understanding how to conduct research for your food business and how to complete a food business feasability study
• Interpreting Irish food market trends and drivers
• Food safety overview
• Selecting the right channel to market your product
• Costing & managing finance
• State agency support & funding
• Distribution & logistics
• Identifying a unique positioning for the product
• Understanding branding & communicating the key brand messages
• Supports available for your food journey and where to next. 

Contracted trainer to deliver this programme for the LEO: James Burke of James Burke & Associates