Purdue Extension workshop explains food business success
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Would-be business owners can get an idea of what it's like to start and operate a specialty food business during a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service workshop to take place Oct. 24 in Fort Wayne."Food businesses have a high failure rate, and people generally don't understand how hard it is," said Maria Marshall, assistant professor of agricultural economics.
An Introduction to Starting a Specialty Food Business in Indiana will focus on creating and selling specialty ingredients and foods. Marshall said that there is plenty of interest in starting such ventures, and people do it despite the odds.
"Passion is the number one thing for people who want to start a food business," Marshall said. "They must be persistent and tenacious."
Making sure that the product is unique is part of the key to success. "You must compare your product to standard high-quality products already on the market and determine what makes yours different," Marshall said. "Finding the holes in the market and filling them is what successful businesses do."
She said getting a new food product from concept to store shelves takes generally one year or more. "It's also tricky to get the products in the marketplace," Marshall said. "Selling over the Internet and in small specialty stores are good ways to get started."
The program will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and cover topics such as business planning, organic products, food regulations, marketing, packaging and product development. Participants will also receive information on contacts and resources available to help in starting a business.
Cost of the workshop is $75 and includes a three-ring binder of information, lunch and refreshments. The registration deadline is Oct. 18.
The event will be at the Purdue Extension Office in Allen County at 4001 Crescent Ave. Workshop sponsors include the Purdue Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Food Science, the Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Indiana State Department of Health.
For more information or to register contact De Bush in the Department of Food Science at (765) 494-3832 or (888) EXT-INFO, djbush@purdue.edu
Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, forbes@purdue.edu
Source: Maria Marshall, (765) 494-4268, mimarsha@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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