The Food Academy Start Programme
The Food Academy Start Programme is designed for people who are looking to develop and grow small-scale food and drink production businesses. The programme is delivered through workshop style training and one-to-one mentoring sessions and is supported by SuperValu. It is aimed at those in the early stages of developing their food or drink business. Selection criteria will apply.
Programme Content
The programme consists of ten half-day workshops covering 6 modules. Three one-to-one mentoring sessions with a Food & Drinks Consultant are also included.
Workshop One (Module One and Two)
Module One – The Market and Market Analysis
- Overview of the Irish Market
- Routes to Market
- SWOT Analysis of your Business
Module Two – The Consumer
- Consumer Lifestyle Trends
- Interpreting Trends & Data
- Gap Analysis
- Supervised Visit to a local Supervalu store
Workshop Two (Module Five)
Module Five - Pricing
- Introduction to Finance
- Margin Calculation
- Promotional Pricing
- Raising Funds
- Business Plans for Food Companies
Workshop Three: Delivered by Bord Bia (Module Three)
Module Three – The Proposition
- Market Mapping
- Positioning
- Unique Selling Points (USP’s)
- USP Development
This workshop is run together with other counties at a national venue
Workshop Three (Module Six and Module Four)
Module Six - Marketing
- Marketing Plan
- Preparing for the Retailer Pitch
- Guest Speaker – Established Food Company
Module Four – The Product
- Product Launch Checklist
- Packaging & Sourcing
- Food Labelling & The Law
- Food Production & HACCP
Workshop Four Supervalu Presentations and Moving On
This is the presentation to Supervalu which the participants will have worked towards during the programme.
- Final preparations for the participants presentations
- Introduction of the Supervalu panel
- Presentation from Supervalu to the participants
- Individual presentations from the participants to the Supervalu panel
- Feedback from the panel to each participant
Moving on
This additional module prepares participants for the next steps in their journey and focusses on marketing, sales and raising brand awareness.
Each participant will receive two mentor sessions as part of the programme which will focus on individual producer needs with customised advice provided.
** Workshop content may vary slightly from that contained above.
In this short video, you will hear from Irish food producers who have completed the Food Academy programme and how it has already helped them to grow their business: Watch here
2023 Programme -
APPLY HERE - closing date
Friday 7th April 2023.
The cost to take part on the programme is €200 (inclusive of all course material, training & mentoring)
