These articles are written resources that provide insights into building and funding profitable food, beverage and value-added farm businesses. They include editions of our free Edible-Alpha® Insights newsletter, Edible-Alpha’s® twice monthly roundup of the best food and beverage finance news, events and resources from Edible-Alpha® and around the web. These emails will be coming to you as “Edible-Alpha® Insights” from info@edible-alpha.org every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. These are currently all free. Learn more about our Premium Subscription to unlock everything Edible-Alpha® has to offer.
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Your One-Page Path to Success
10 minute read of Free article by Edible-Alpha®
Can your food or farm business succeed? It sure can. But it could also be a total flop. And it’s not the products you’re...
Your Best R&D Is Totally Free
10 minute read of Free article by Edible-Alpha®
Most food and ag entrepreneurs start really small, selling their products mainly, or even exclusively, at farmers markets, community festivals, and other local events....
Article about Sales and Marketing for businesses that are Growing and Scaling | Startups | Pre-Venture
Is the Retail Channel Worth Pursuing Anymore?
10 minute read of Free article by Edible-Alpha®
With online grocery and direct-to-consumer sales booming, is brick-and-mortar food retail becoming obsolete and should food and farm entrepreneurs bypass this channel? Not so fast. Grocery stores are changing, but they remain viable opportunities.
Article about Business Models for businesses that are Growing and Scaling
When Growth Is Not the Smartest Strategy
10 minute read of Free article by Edible-Alpha®
Business growth is generally a great goal—but getting bigger or broader isn’t always the best strategy. For some food and ag businesses, the smarter target may be max profitability.
Article about Business Models for businesses that are Growing and Scaling
Farmers: Let’s Build A Brand!
10 minute Free read by Edible-Alpha®
Food consumers have been seeking more "premium" experiences from the food they purchase, including better connections with their food and understanding where it comes from. Developing brands for agricultural products can help farmers produce products that earn them a premium and are meeting a real consumer demand.
Article about Business Models for businesses that are Pre-Venture | Startups
Innovation in Food Is Different Than Tech
10 minute Free read by Edible-Alpha®
Big food companies realize that they need to innovate. Rather than innovating only in-house, many have been acquiring or strategically investing in new brands at a rapid pace. Innovation in food needs to be matched with an emotional and cultural connection to the consumer through relentless communication about food company's brand promise.
Article about Business Models for businesses that are Growing and Scaling
Building The Right Financial Team For Your Food Business
10 minute Free read by Edible-Alpha®
Behind every great food entrepreneur is a great financial team, whether that team is employed by the business directly or through an outsourcing method. Building that team helps the entrepreneur, management and board make informed decisions and allows the business' key stakeholders to focus on growing their customer base and strengthening their brand.
Article about Operations for businesses that are Growing and Scaling
Build The Brand, Build The Food Business Ecosystem
10 minute Free read by Edible-Alpha®
Good brand building is built on an understanding of your target customer and what problems you are solving for them. While it is not the only thing that is needed to build a successful business, those consumer relationships are the lifeblood of all food businesses.
Article about Sales and Marketing for businesses that are Growing and Scaling
Your Food Business Has A Life Of Its Own
10 minute Free read by Edible-Alpha®
What started as one person's idea or passion quickly turns into a complex branded relationship with a customer supported by complex manufacturing processes and multiple sales, marketing and other staff to support the business growth. While businesses go through "growth spurts", the life of a business that is built to last is a marathon, not a sprint.
Article about Operations for businesses that are Growing and Scaling
Measure What Matters In Your Context
10 minute Free read by Edible-Alpha®
Quantitative measurement of key business drivers brings focus and clarity to what can be a chaotic process of entrepreneurship and provides direction that proves to be a north star during times of trial.
Article about Operations for businesses that are Pre-Venture | Startups