Taking Your Food Business to the Next Level

25 South Terrell Street,Metter GA 30439

17 May, 2023

Description

Taking Your Food Business to the Next LevelDo you want to grow your sales and distribution beyond local markets? Do you have a one-of-a-kind food product that you want to pitch to larger retailers? Are you wondering if retail is right for you or if you should consider other business models? Join us for, “Taking Your Food Business to the Next Level,” to gain an inside perspective from experts in retail, distribution, packaging, food safety, and branding. This half-day event is designed to help you: Define your sales and marketing strategyEvaluate your retail readinessNavigate food safety regulationsEvaluate your distribution optionsOptimize your packagingDevelop your brand and messagingLearn what questions you should ask, how to choose the right partners, and what steps you need to take to make the best choices to grow your food business. Event includes lunch, presentations, and Q&A. Lunch is sponsored by Georgia Grown and will include products from Georgia Grown companies! Speakers:Wendy White, Food and Beverage Industry Manager at the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech, leads GaMEP's food industry services, which include regulatory compliance, HACCP food safety plans, and third-party audit certification preparation. GaMEP is a state and federally-funded program that helps manufacturing companies increase top-line growth and reduce bottom-line costs through onsite projects, training, and connections to other resources. Kristin Sherman, Principal Local Forager for the Southeast and Southwest Regions at Whole Foods Market, has worked in the grocery retail industry for over 20 years. In her current role she is responsible for scouting new trends, innovations, and supporting existing local and emerging supplier partners across all categories of Center Store. Darrah Gist, Founder of The gist Marketing and Communications, is a food- and snack-lover with a passion for concise, creative communication. She spent 15 years in marketing and PR with Whole Foods Market, and now shares her retail and marketing knowledge with emerging brands. From branding, messaging, and mission, to packaging, point-of-purchase (POP) and PR, attention spans are short, and knowing how to communicate with your customers is critical to your brand's success. Diana Earwood, Founder and Managing Member of plain.stated., is the link to all things local. An agricultural liaison passionate about connecting growers and producers with their target markets, she brings the best blend of sales, education and account management. Having worked with brands, farmers and brokers, plus industry and government organizations big and small, Diana knows what it takes to state your story. Nick Carse, Co-founder of P-10 Foods and King of Pops, started King of Pops with his brother, Steven, and thus began his passion for all things food and entrepreneurship. King of Pops has grown to be a Southeastern staple in the summer months and can be found at a cart in the park or your local grocer. P10 Foods was started when it was realized there was a better way to do distribution, by building real relationships and offering the best specialty products available. Joy Wilkes, Regional Sales Executive at ePac Flexible Packaging, guides growing brands throughout their journey for effective packaging. She understands that packaging is more than a bag to hold a product and works with companies to help them consider their packaging from every aspect from shelf space to keeping product fresh. She loves to help brands grow! Windell McGill, Managing Partner at ePac Flexible Packaging, is a 30 year veteran of the packaging industry. Prior to opening ePac Atlanta Flexibles he was the HP Indigo 20000 Business Segment Manager focused on digital Flexible Packaging. Previous to HP, he was President Americas, AVT Inc., an Israeli based company servicing the Flexible Packaging and Labels market.