Small Direct Local Food Brand

This report provides everything you need to successfully launch and finance a profitable local food brand, including proforma financial statements and best practices in business strategy, defensibly unique products, compelling branding, direct sales opportunities, operations/quality assurance and a realistic financial model.

Women found innovative food and farm businesses all the time, yet they still have a harder time landing investment than male entrepreneurs do. Part of the issue is decision-makers in the investment world are predominantly men. Regardless, it is still entirely possible for female founders to raise money successfully. Gaining financial literacy is the first step. They need to be exceptionally well-versed in their needs and numbers and go into investment discussions with confidence.

Rachael Young of yaupon beverage brand YAYAYA joins Tera to talk about building a beverage brand around an unknown plant, working with copackers and courting investor partners who know the food space.

If e-commerce wasn’t a priority for food brands before, COVID-19 has certainly made it one. Online food sales are soaring right now, and many shoppers want to buy direct from producers. A big part of your online strategy is deciding which online platforms to pursue. Our latest podcast explores how to figure this out. Also check out our free business tools to guide businesses during this tricky time, and remember to join our Monday virtual huddles for entrepreneurs and consultants.

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #60, Tera catches up with consultant Alli Ball, creator of the Retail Ready online course and the Food Biz Wiz podcast....

Some of the most innovative food products are a tough sell for consumers. It’s not that these items aren’t amazing. In fact, they may...

In Edible-Alpha® podcast #59, Tera talks with Dale and Pam Johnson, owners of Century Sun Oil in Pulaski, Wisconsin. They produce high-oleic organic sunflower...

Funky Fresh Spring Rolls is a company that produces uniquely flavored, hand rolled spring rolls that are baked or grilled (not fried) with fresh and local ingredients. The Funky Fresh team began selling at Farmers Markets, which in addition to providing early cash flow have functioned as market research labs, allowing them to talk directly to consumers.

Union Kitchen is a shared-use kitchen and food business accelerator in in Washington D.C. While having a shared-use kitchen eliminates the need for capital for kitchen equipment, there are many other things food businesses need to raise capital for, which is why they have distribution and retail outlets as part of their model.

Madison Sourdough has grown using a vertically integrated business model by adding a restaurant that highlights their baked goods and bakery. They have also added an artisanal grain mill to their production processes, sourcing much of the flour themselves from local producers.