Food Starter Programme February 2026
The Food Starter Programme is designed for early-stage retail pre-packaged food businesses wanting to upskill.
The Programme is targeted at either pre-start up or those within the first 24 months of trading.
The maximum capacity per course is 15 participants.
The Programme content is targeted at new start up retail food and drink brands and is a precursor and a prerequisite for the subsequent Supervalu Food Academy programme.
During this Programme each producer will be assessed for the subsequent Food Academy Programme.
The content for this programme includes:
- Successful Small Business Stories, Videos and Case Studies
- Outline of Business Feasibility Study
- Consumer and Market Research
- Market Trends and Drivers, Consumer and Trade Customer Profiles
- Primary Market Research
- Measuring Market Gaps
- The Importance of Food Safety and Legislation
- Packaging
- Considerations for Developing your Product for Launch
- Selecting the Right Channel/Route to Market
- Costings and Managing Finance
- A Case Study – A practical illustration
- Information on State Agency Supports and Sources of Funds
- Meeting the Store Manager/Chef
- Distribution and Logistics
- Identifying Your Unique Selling Points
- Understanding Branding
- Brand and Packaging Review Exercise
- Communicating Your Brand - Marketing and PR
- Next Steps, Supplier Development Programmes and Q&A.
Target Audience:
The Programme content is targeted as food and drink producers. People thinking of starting their own food business or in the early stages of start-up and this includes people who are hoping to progress their food hobby into a full-time sustainable business, who can demonstrate that they have a well-researched business idea that they are capable of commercialising.
The programme content is not suitable for those planning to open a cafe, restaurant or foodservice operation (business owners from these categories should discuss options with their LEO). The programme content is focused on food and drink, and is therefore less suitable for those producing "near foods" such as pet foods, health supplements, etc. (Producers from near food categories should be advised that the programme content may have shortcomings, but it is still possible for producers from these categories to participate in the Food Starter programme).
Programme Objectives:
On successful completion of the programme participants will:
- Have a sound knowledge of the rudiments of food business start-up.
- Have identified the costs associated with establishing and operating the business and how these costs will be funded.
- Be in a position to go about their start-up in an effective way.
Programme Dates:
- WS1: 2nd February @ 9.30am – 12:45pm via Zoom
- WS2: 9th February @ 9.30am – 12:45pm via Zoom
- WS3: 16th February @ 9.30am – 12:45pm via Zoom
- WS4: 23rd Februaryr @ 9.30am – 12:45pm via Zoom
Workshop Schedule:
09.30am – 11:00am – Training / Breakout rooms ( 1.5 Hrs )
11.00am - 11:15am – Virtual Coffee Break
11.15am - 12:45pm – Training / Breakout Rooms ( 1.5 Hrs )
- Day One and Two:
The content will include:
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 feasibility study
Interpreting Irish food market trends and drivers
Food safety overview
Selecting the right channel to market for your product
Day Three & Day Four
Costing and managing finance
State agency supports and funding
Distribution and logistics
Identifying a unique positioning for the product
Understanding branding and communicating the key brand messages
Supports available for your food journey and where to next
Note - This training is reserved for Leitrim, Donegal and Sligo based businesses only.
