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 four workshops covering 6 modules
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
Have you a food idea of your own?
Moving on
This additional module prepares participants for the next steps in their journey and focuses 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.
Add to the range of premium Laois food and drink products
NEXT FOOD ACADEMY PROGRAMME
| Closing Date for Applications |
September 16th 2019 |
| Screening |
September 30th 2019 |
| Workshop 1 |
Week Beginning October 14th 2019 |
| Workshop 2 |
Week Beginning November 11th 2019 |
| Workshop 3 |
Week Beginning December 2nd 2019 |
| Workshop 4 |
Week Beginning January 13th 2020 |
| Pitching |
Week Beginning February 10th 2020 |
| Trial Go Live |
May 18th 2020 |
The cost to take part on the programme is €200 (inclusive of all course material, training & mentoring)
The application form can be found here. Contact Honor Deevy for more information.
Phone: 057 86 61800
Email: hdeevy_LEO@laoiscoco.ie
Local Enterprise Office Laois, Business Support Unit, Laois County Council,
