Upcoming Events
Food Business Bootcamp: The Proven How-to Course for Startup Success
OVERVIEW
Learn directly from industry experts who will share the tools and strategies needed to move your food idea from concept to reality. You will also gain the expertise to develop a solid business plan and prepare to sell your CPG food product at wholesale and retail. This course includes a light breakfast, lunch, snacks and the opportunity to network with other food makers.
Topics covered will include:
Introduction to Food Entrepreneurship
CPG Food Product Concept Development
Brand Development & Marketing
Legal Considerations for CPG Food Entrepreneurs
Pricing Your CPG Food Product for Profitability
Food Business Operations
The Business of Food: Business Plan Development
You will also have the opportunity to tour our commercial kitchen.
WE CREATED THIS COURSE FOR ANYONE WHO...
Is frustrated because they cannot find reliable information
Has a food business idea but does not know where to begin
Makes an amazing product but has no idea how to run a business
TAKEAWAYS
85+ page Food Business Bootcamp Handbook
Online Resource Guide including downloadable templates
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Rachel Cheng
In her short career, Rachel has already led teams of 90+ individuals in the CPG and non-profit industries. Currently, she serves as the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Yay’s Snacks, a crispy take on classic beef jerky. Rachel’s journey exemplifies her unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and the human-centered approach to business growth.
Mike Currie
With over 18 years leading Marketing for iconic national food and beverage brands, Mike brings a wealth of experience to help emerging companies in the CPG industry. Leveraging his proven track record of success, Mike now works as a Fractional CMO and Marketing Advisor, guiding passionate startups towards achieving their full potential.
Regina L. Henry
Regina is a Certified Leadership Mentor, Coach, Speaker, and Trainer, as well as an accredited Insights Discovery ® facilitator. Regina possesses a commitment to empowering and equipping every person she connects with to lead with resilience and authenticity.
Djenaba Johnson-Jones
Djenaba is the founder & CEO of Hudson Kitchen and creator of the Food Business BootcampⓇ. She founded Hudson Kitchen after working in business development at some of the biggest media brands for over 15 years. The creation of the Bootcamp and Hudson Kitchen came out of Djenaba’s own experience of facing countless obstacles when planning to launch her own food business.
Ralph Morales
Ralph Morales serves as the Capital Access Manager at Rising Tide Capital, where he plays a crucial role in guiding business owners towards various funding opportunities. With a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, Ralph connects them with a diverse range of financial resources.
Abby June Richards
As the founder of The CPG CFO, Abby serves emerging CPG brands with fractional CFO services, helping brands “know their numbers”; and build sustainable businesses. Abby loves reading the ingredients for the products she uses in her household and is passionate about expanding access to better-for-you and sustainable options by supporting founders.
Food Business Bootcamp: Course Preview & Kick Off Event
Welcome to the Food Business Bootcamp Preview & Kick Off Celebration!
Join us for a special event as we kick-off our year-long partnership with the Wells Fargo Foundation. During the celebration you'll get to preview our newly revamped Food Business Bootcamp course which teaches aspiring entrepreneurs how to start a successful and profitable consumer packaged goods food business. You'll also meet representatives from Wells Fargo, our course instructors, and have the opporutnity to network with local elected officials, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.
Registration is free!
The Top 3 Hiring Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Join Sadie Scheffer, founder of Hire Like A Badass, as she walks through 3 ways to AVOID making the wrong hire in your business. Hiring is one of the scariest parts of scaling a startup, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, it can become one of your company's superpowers.
In this talk you'll learn how to strengthen your hiring process with simple, actionable tweaks that yield massive results!
About Sadie: Sadie Scheffer is the founder of Hire Like A Badass - a program that helps busy founders build a great hiring process and hire the right folks to their teams. She is a hiring expert and small business coach with 12 years of experience running Bread SRSLY and learning things the hard way. Sadie has a passion for helping founders break through obstacles, and she's on a mission to get founders from hella tired, to dream team hired. Sadie is also a hobby potter, and an amateur curler!
Pitch Like A Pro: 4 Steps to The Perfect Wholesale Pitch
Capturing that wholesale buyer’s attention is hard, and you have only one chance to make a positive impression. Alli Ball, Former Grocery Buyer & Head of Grocery from Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco, shares her four-step framework for ensuring you’re prepared, confident, and ready to get that buyer to say “yes!” to carrying your product line. If you’re serious about pitching to retail stores, you’ll want to attend this session!
Attendees will learn:
How to connect with buyers and ensure you're speaking to the right decision maker
Exactly what that buyer considers as they review your product line, and how to use that to craft a sales pitch that captures their attention
What makes them pass on your brand, or never respond to your sales emails in the first place
How to ensure you’re filling a need for their shelves so they actually place a first order
About Alli: Alli Ball, Founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz, provides consulting & coaching from the wholesale buyer’s perspective. Alli helps producers understand what it takes to get their products on the retail shelf - and keep them there - by sharing the behind-the-scenes secrets and thought processes of Wholesale Buyers as they assess new products for their stores or online shelves.
Meet the Buyer Event Series: Inserra Shoprite
Overview
Hudson Kitchen’s Meet the Buyer event series brings together emerging brands with grocery buyers. The first event in our series features a presentation from Inserra Shoprite's president and COO, Jim Dorey. You'll also hear from current Shoprite suppliers through a panel discussion with the Ensendmir Sisters, creators of Thumb Bread.
Attendees will learn:
How Shoprite buyers select new products for their stores
2024 trends
How to drive sales once products are on the shelves
What its like to work with Shoprite as a supplier
And enjoy a tasting menu from:
Brain Pop
Chris Cooks Crazy
Coop’s Cones
Nourrir Drinks
OK Baking
Om Sweet Home
Pure Indian Foods
Purposefuel
Starbakers
The Black Cake Company
Yuyuca Cheese Bread
Pitch Like A Pro: 4 Steps to The Perfect Wholesale Pitch
Capturing that wholesale buyer’s attention is hard, and you have only one chance to make a positive impression. Alli Ball, Former Grocery Buyer & Head of Grocery from Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco, shares her four-step framework for ensuring you’re prepared, confident, and ready to get that buyer to say “yes!” to carrying your product line. If you’re serious about pitching to retail stores, you’ll want to attend this session!
Attendees will learn:
How to connect with buyers
Exactly what that buyer considers as they review your product line
What makes them pass on your brand
How to ensure you’re filling a need for their shelves
About Alli: Alli Ball, Founder & CEO of Food Biz Wiz, provides consulting & coaching from the wholesale buyer’s perspective. Alli helps producers understand what it takes to get their products on the retail shelf - and keep them there - by sharing the behind-the-scenes secrets and thought processes of Wholesale Buyers as they assess new products for their stores or online shelves.
Understanding and Creating A Well-Designed Co-Packing Agreement
During this session, Tomika Saul, Christian Gomez, and Sara Elgalad from the Rutgers Law School's Community and Transactional Lawyering Clinic will teach you the must-have elements of co-packing agreements to reduce risk, define responsibilities, and clarify expectations.
About The Community and Transactional Lawyering Clinic:
The Community and Transactional Lawyering Clinic, first established as the Community Law Clinic in 1996, provides corporate and transactional legal services to New Jersey nonprofit corporations (specifically those corporations that provide services geared to the needs of lower-income people in the City of Newark and nearby urban areas), start-up for-profit businesses and microenterprises, charter schools, and individuals such as artists and inventors.
Six Steps to Finding the Right Co-Packer
The pressure to scale your production can be intense and making the initial shift to “hands-on production” to co-packer can feel intimidating. Ashley Sutterfield, founder of Copacking with Ashley shares a step by step guide based on relationship and values outlining what to expect every step of the way on your journey to a co-packer.
Attendees will learn the 6 simple steps to finding the right co-packer:
Your Dream Life
Production Options
Formulation & Sourcing
Co-Packer Search & Conversations
Testing & Pricing
Production & Beyond
Admission Fee: $40
About Ashley Sutterfield: Ashley supports small business food entrepreneurs who are selling product at farmers markets and retail stores. She offers her extensive insight to small business owners who have big dreams, and big questions about how to scale your production.
Copacking with Ashley is a radical approach to co-packing. One based on relationship and values. It’s an approach where Ashley encourages brands to take it one step at a time and take the calm path to finding the right co-packer.
Learn more about Ashley Sutterfield and her work at the Copacking with Ashley website.
How to Apply for Grants to Fund Your Food Business
Did you know that grants are a great way to fund your food business for free?
If you are a startup looking for cash to help get your business off the ground or an established business looking for working capital, then this class is for you. Join us on Wednesday, September 13th for our virtual How to Apply for Grants for Your Food Business Workshop.
During this session, you'll learn:
How Hudson Kitchen founder, Djenaba Johnson-Jones secured $200,000 in grants
How to search for grants to fund your food business
Tips for completing grant applications
How to use your network to help improve your chances of winning grants
Admission Fee: $40
Creating An Impactful Pitch Deck to Find Investors and Raise Capital
You’ve done your research and development and created a meaningful product. But what happens if you don’t have the funds to start or scale your CPG business? You find investors and raise capital!
In the next workshop in our Funding Series, Gabriella Fitzpatrick, CEO and founder of Damn Right Cocktails, shows you the must have elements of creating a powerful pitch deck.
Attendees will learn:
Essential components for an impactful pitch deck
What information to include…and what to leave out
Why you need different versions of your pitch deck
Tips on how to present your pitch deck in virtually and IRL
Pitch deck sharing "etiquette"
Admission Fee: $40
Fall Open House
Join us for an Open House event on Saturday, September 9th from 10am-2pm at the Hudson Kitchen headquarters.
Get a glimpse of our commercial kitchen, storage, and co-working space, hear about our membership options and entrepreneurship curriculum, and discover how Hudson Kitchen can support your food business!
Registering is deeply appreciated but not necessary!
Admission Fee: Free
Starting Your Food Business: How to Take Your Dream from Concept to Reality
Have you ever wanted to start a #cpg food business? Or maybe you own a food brand but you’re looking to go to the next level? Join us on Wednesday, September 6th to get a sneak peek of our Food Business Bootcamp startup course.
During this session, you'll learn:
Seven rookie mistakes that new food entrepreneurs make
The first (and most important) step you should take when preparing to launch your food business
Our proven startup framework to help move your idea from concept to market readiness
How to obtain the proper licensing and certifications for your brand
How to register for our Food Business Bootcamp class
Admission Fee: Free
How to Protect your Food Business Name, Brand, and Logo with Trademarks
Overview
You’ve worked hard to create a food product, have built an impactful brand and have a recognizable name for your brand and product assortment. How do you protect a food name and brand? Lauren Handel, Principal Attorney of Handel Food Law, outlines protection of trademarks to help safeguard your brand.
Attendees will learn:
What can / can not be trademarked when it comes to food products.
Why are trademarks important to your CPG business?
Steps to obtain a trademark for your product.
When is the best time to trademark.
Admission: $40
Zoom Link will be emailed prior to the workshop - please check your email and spam folder.
About Lauren Handel:
Lauren Handel is the Principal Attorney of Handel Food Law, a law firm dedicated to food and beverage businesses. Lauren helps her clients with regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, contracts, and protection of trademarks and other intellectual property.
Learn more about Lauren Handel on LinkedIn or on her website.
The Art of Naming Your CPG Food Brand: Creating Powerful Names That Stick
Overview
Coming up with a compelling name for your brand can be endlessly frustrating. Learn how to create super sticky product names from brand name creator, Alexandra Watkins. The practical, quick steps in this workshop will help founders create unforgettable names that will attract customers and get more sales.
Attendees will learn:
The qualities that make for a strong brand name
The biggest mistakes people make when naming a business
Some common brand name misconceptions
Tips on finding a good domain name
When its too late to change your brand name
Schedule:
1:00 - 1:15: Introduction
1:15 - 2:00: Presentation
2:00 - 2:30: Question and answer session
Zoom Link will be emailed prior to the workshop - please check your email and spam.
About Alexandra Watkins:
Chief Executive Boss Lady of Eat My Words, Alexandra Watkins is a leading and outspoken authority on brand names. Her breakthrough creativity book, Hello, My Name is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick, is considered “the brand name Bible” and was named a Top 10 Marketing Book by Inc. Magazine.
Since 2005, Alexandra and her firm have created love-at-first sight brand names for clients from Amazon to Xerox. Her own name hall of fame includes Wendy’s Baconator, the Neato robotic vacuum, Smitten ice cream, Spanish language school Gringo Lingo, frozen yogurt franchise Spoon Me, and the Church of Cupcakes.
Alexandra first got hooked on naming when Gap hired her to create names for their first line of body care products. Soon after, she broke into the business by talking her way into Landor via a Match.com date. With her fresh, unconventional naming style, Alexandra soon became a go-to resource for leading branding and naming firms around the country.
Learn More about Alexandra and her work on the Eat My Words website or follow her on Instagram.
Public Relations And Why It's Important For Your CPG Food Brand
Overview
A strong public relations resource can be key to sharing your brand’s unique story and increasing consumer interest. Sarah Maguire, founder of Sarah Maguire PR where her focus is CPG (consumer-packaged goods), walks you through the value of finding the right PR “home” for your story AND the right time to make that investment.
Attendees will learn:
The value of Public Relations
The importance of finding a PR professional that works within the CPG niche
5 indicators that your brand is ready for a Public Relations Agency or Consultant
Qualities should you look for once you are ready for PR and the benefits of working with one vs the other
Tips to DIY brand awareness until you are ready to hire PR.
Zoom Link will be emailed prior to the workshop - please check your email and spam.
About Sarah Maguire:
Sarah Maguire started her own PR consulting firm in May 2022 after a ten-year PR agency career, focusing on meaningful brand storytelling in the food and beverage CPG startup space. She has understood the ever-evolving media landscape, mastering both traditional and non-traditional media relations, including affiliate marketing, thought leadership, and VIP + influencer relationship building.
With experience in entertainment, hospitality, technology, and lifestyle public relations at agencies including Derris and RVD Communications, she found her niche in the food/beverage startup space at JBC Communications and most recently was spearheading the CPG division at celebrity talent agency The Lede Company. Sarah graduated from Elon University with a bachelor's degree in Strategic Communications and is a proud DC native, currently living in New York City.
Learn more about her Sarah Maguire and her work on her website or follow her on Instagram.