Scaling Your Food & Beverage Business

A 4-week program sprint supporting entrepreneurs in the F&B industry who are ready to scale.

About the Program

Are you looking to take your food or beverage business to the next level? Do you have a consumer packaged product you’re currently selling in small quantities and are dreaming of scaling into multiple retail outlets across the country? This program is for you!

Spring Activator is excited to launch Scaling Your Food and Beverage Business, a 4-week virtual program launching April 13, 2022. During this program sprint, food businesses will learn industry tips and best practices required to grow their business, along with how to get their products to fly off the shelves.

During weekly sessions you can look forward to expert insights addressing your specific challenges and needs. Opportunities for private consultations with Lucy Cullen, Spring’s Food & Sustainability Program Manager, are available for those who require additional support.

Interested? Scroll down to learn about the program details and apply by March 30, 2022.

What You Will Learn

How to determine when your business is ready for growth
Financing for scaling (R&D, manufacturing, listing fees, advertising, sampling, funding)

How to find a manufacturer and manage supply chains

How and when to grow your team

How to ensure your products fly off the shelves

This Program Sprint Is Right for You If

You are seeking to scale your food/beverage business
You need insight on the costs and funding associated with scaling your business

You require assistance with a growth strategy

"The goal is to provide food and beverage entrepreneurs with everything they need to know about growing their business, the costs involved, and how to plan accordingly, delivered in a speedy and digestible format." - Lucy Cullen

Program Details

Program Schedule & Topics

April 13—Manufacturing and Supply Chains
April 20—Financing and Cash Flow
April 27—Hiring and Managing Teams
May 4—Growth and Strategy

All sessions are at 11 am PST / 2 pm EST

Format

4 weekly interactive sprint sessions on Zoom
Modules accessible in advance via Spring’s online Learning Management System

Access to the Spring Community and network resources

Ongoing support from the Food & Sustainability Program Manager, industry professionals, and subject matter experts

Flexible program curriculum adaptable to participants’ needs and industry trends and changes

Eligibility Criteria

Food, food-centric and beverage businesses based in North America

Must have developed a food or beverage consumer packaged good and are currently generating $10,000 in annual revenue or more

Interested in growing and expanding operations

Support living wage employment opportunities for your teams and suppliers
Ideally, have an aim to support local agricultural producers and other local suppliers

Cost

$450 / business (payment plans available)

To Prepare Before You Apply

A brief description of your food business and any product(s) you are looking to develop or grow

Your monthly revenue

Questions? Contact lucy@spring.is

Watch Our Information Session!

Our food business experts, Lucy Cullen and Allison Gibson go over program goals and details. This info session is an opportunity for you to get to know them, hear about the sprint program, and listen to others interested in applying, ask their questions and get answered—in real time!

This session went live on March 9, 2022, at 11 am PST / 2 pm EST

Who You Will Learn From

Allison Gibson

Program Operations Director

Allison is a social enterprise strategist and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. As Director of Impact & Operations at Paintbox Catering & Bistro and Program Manager at Spring, she prioritizes creating opportunities for marginalized residents of under-serviced communities with a focus on those on an entrepreneurial journey or facing barriers to meaningful employment.

Connect with Allison

Lucy Cullen

Food & Sustainability Program Manager

Lucy has worked in the hospitality industry for 10+ years, and founded two social enterprises in the food space. Before joining Spring, Lucy worked with Forward Food under Humane Society International/Canada which reduces the environmental impact of foodservice menus. She has been named Canada's Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalists twice, and Corporate Knight's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability. She is excited to help food entrepreneurs solve complex problems. In her spare time, Lucy enjoys writing and playing music on the piano and saxophone.

Connect with Lucy

Ready to Apply?
We're looking forward to receiving your application!

Interested in Collaborating?

Mentorship, guest speaking, and sponsorship opportunities are available.

Are you looking to engage with up-and-coming entrepreneurs and become part of the growing food ecosystem in Canada? Join our network of mentors, guest speakers, and sponsors!

How you can get involved:

Deliver innovative content through a guest lecture
Work one-on-one with our entrepreneurs to help their businesses grow and thrive
Sponsor a session or a Demo Day prize

Contact Lucy Cullen at lucy@spring.is