Starting a Food Business
When thinking of starting a new food business, there are many things to consider, including your market, products, premises, equipment, branding and promotion, as well as the legalities. The Teagasc Food Industry Development Department have some guidance and advice on starting a food business.
Introduction
The speciality food sector in Ireland is continuing to grow steadily, offering sustainable, economic and cultural benefits to the country. Specialty foods are defined as foods or beverages of the highest grade, style, and/or quality in their respective categories. Their specialty nature derives from a combination of some or all of the following qualities: uniqueness; origin; processing method; design; limited supply; unusual application or use; extraordinary packaging; or, channel of distribution/sales (Bord Bia).
There has also been a strong growth in farmers’ markets over the past decade offering primary producers the opportunity to diversify and become food manufacturers in their own right. When thinking of starting a new food business, there are many things to consider, including your market, products, premises, equipment, branding and promotion, as well as the legalities.
Market Research
It is important to understand the potential market for your food product(s):
- who are your target customers?
- what do they need?
- what are they willing to pay?
- who are your competitors?
Developing a food product
Developing a concept for a product in to a high quality, safe food that appeals to consumers, can seem like a difficult task. However, Teagasc, with its extensive pilot scale and development facilities in Dublin and Cork, offers services to assist and support companies in their product development journey.