–canada’s food product development and...
TRANSCRIPT
Introducing Food Starter
– Canada’s Food Product
Development and
Commercialization
Incubator & Accelerator
Dana McCauley,
Executive Director
@DanaMcCauley
Toronto, Canada
Origins
2007:Toronto Food Business Incubator (TFBI) opens a 2,200 sq
ft shared production space
Spring 2015: TFBI rebranded as ‘Food Starter’
Nov 2015:
-Municipal Inspection passed
-First 11 Clients join
Sept 2017: +150 clients served, 80 product launches,
Program Location, Program Reach, and Mission
Located in Toronto, North America’s
second largest food hub, Food Starter
serves early stage food businesses in the
Golden Horseshoe area who want access
to small scale food manufacturing
equipment and information about running
and growing a food business.
MISSION: Provide a launch pad for
education, discovery and success in food
product creation and commercialization
VISION: To be a leader and innovator in the
development of Canada’s food
manufacturing sector
• food processing is one of
Canada’s largest manufacturing
industries
• employs ¼ million people
• produces $112.4 billion (2016)
+6 million
people in
shaded area
Clients Served
Food Starter
serves early
stage food
companies
from pre-
revenue to
acceleration
with a
combination of
workshops,
consulting,
mentoring and
production
access.
Services Provided
Future Programs:
Next Big Thing Program:
designed for SME’s who
need to launch their next
innovation but need access
to R&D resources
Real Time Distance
Learning: giving
entrepreneurs in remote
areas an opportunity to
attend workshops and
access co-mentorship
Scaling School: bespoke
programs that help high
potential entrepreneurs
leap to the next level of
acceleration
Facility Provided
• 20,000 sq. ft. food production facility
• 4 shared production spaces with hot fill,
portioning equipment, etc
• Full-size commercial bakery
• Shared multi-option packaging line
• 8 private accelerator spaces
• On-site storage for ambient, chilled and
frozen inventory
• Access to touchdown office space,
boardroom, etc
• Self serve logistics are with double
loading docks suitable for 28 ft trucks
• Located in NW corner of Toronto, near
public transit and highways
Longtime retail executive Nader Halal,
Founder of Kapkeb Kebbeh attributes
success to Food Starter’s shared kitchens
and specialized packaging and processing
equipment. Halal is on a mission to make
kebbeh a new Canadian favourite, and
“Kabkeb Kebbeh” a household name.
WORKS.
Client Profile/Success Stories
In November 2015, Jaswant’s Kitchen was
selling via ecommerce and at events like
the One of a Kind show.
By March 2017 they are selling in 50 retail
locations, they have secured a listing with
Whole Foods US, and
have hired several employees.
WORKS.
Client Profile/Success Stories
OV
ER
VIE
W
SU
CC
ES
S
150CLIENTS
SERVEDJOBSCREATED
160
TOURS ATTENDED
+1000
+
73%COMMERCIALIZE
AT LEAST
1 PRODUCT SINCE STARTING WORKSHOPS
18% OF CLIENTS REPORT
+ 76-100%REVENUEGROWTH
IN 50+ STORES37%CLIENTS ARE
FOOD ENTREPRENEUR
CHALLENGES
TECHNICAL
CHALLENGES
$CASH
MANAGEMENT
SCALING THE
BUSINESS
COMPANIES CHOOSE
FOOD STARTER
PRICEQUALITY OF
EQUIPMENTACCESS TO
STORAGE
$
Impact of Programs
Lessons Learned
Client Research Findings:
• 70% want bespoke programming that is tailored specifically to their needs
• 100% want subject specific programming
• Coaches need to have entrepreneurial experience
• Key words for training/programs: intensive, interactive, hands-on, personalized
• Need specific understanding of ROI (time and money) for all programming and want
follow up coaching after program
Entrepreneurial Are:• Time vampires
• Self-centred => want to be working on their business all the time
• Feel isolated => benefit greatly from co-mentorship
