Food Business Resources
Ready to take the next step in your food business journey? Eastern Market is proud to support food entrepreneurs and businesses, at all stages, throughout the Metro Detroit area and beyond. One of the many ways we provide a supportive and interactive environment is by connecting food entrepreneurs to a wide range of resources, not only to start their food business, but to keep it thriving. Whether an aspiring food artisan or a budding restaurateur, below we’ve put together a wealth of resources to help food entrepreneurs and businesses.
Shared Commercial Kitchens and Co-Packers in Metro Detroit
Discover a variety of shared commercial kitchen spaces in the Metro Detroit area to develop and perfect recipes, scale production, and launch a food business. From fully-equipped facilities to flexible rental options, these kitchens provide the ideal environment for food businesses to launch and grow. Connect with co-packers who can help you streamline your production process, package your products professionally, and bring your products to market. Whether producing sauces, snacks, baked goods, or beverages, this list of co-packers offers a range of services to meet your needs.
Ask an Expert
“On-the-Fly” Ask an Expert sessions are 30-minute virtual meetings that offer food entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect directly with our team of food industry experts. With their wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience, our experts can provide entrepreneurs with valuable insights, recommendations, and actionable strategies tailored to their unique needs. Simply schedule a convenient time slot, and our experts will be ready to lend their expertise and support.
Powered by Eastern Market and TechTown Detroit.
Las sesiones “On-the-Fly” de Consulta a un Experto son reuniones virtuales de 30 minutos que ofrecen a los emprendedores del sector alimentario la oportunidad de conectarse directamente con nuestro equipo de expertos en la industria alimentaria. Con su amplia experiencia y conocimientos prácticos, nuestros expertos pueden proporcionar a los emprendedores valiosas ideas, recomendaciones y estrategias accionables adaptadas a sus necesidades específicas. Simplemente programe un horario conveniente, y nuestros expertos estarán listos para ofrecer su experiencia y apoyo.
Impulsado por Eastern Market y TechTown Detroit
Sandy Levine
Areas of Expertise
Hospitality systems, Staff culture, Community engagement, Bar & restaurant efficiency , Bar & restaurant startup and growth, Menu development, costing, and optimization, PR & media relations, Navigating industry fluctuations and challenges, Problem solving.
Demarra West
Areas of Expertise
Mental Health clinician, Leadership coaching, Trauma-informed Leadership, Individual and Organizational Wellness Assessment, Essential Coping Skills for Wellness & Personal Growth, Resilience-building Strategies, Racial Healing, Crisis Intervention and Mediation, Diversity Equity & inclusion, Yoga, Reiki.
Meg Burritt
Areas of Expertise
Business planning, Business strategy, Strategic planning, Costing and pricing, Product development, Sourcing, supply chain and procurement.
Ana Marin
Areas of Expertise
Food safety training, business registration, licensing and permits, food business management and operation, health department inspection preparation, and support for entrepreneurs looking to start or improve their food business.
ÁREAS DE EXPERIENCIA
Capacitación en seguridad alimentaria, registro de negocios, licencias y permisos, gestión y operación de negocios de alimentos, preparación para inspecciones del departamento de salud y apoyo a emprendedores que desean iniciar o mejorar su negocio de alimentos.
Chrissy DeBose
Areas of Expertise
Content strategy and planning, visual storytelling and branding, audience engagement and community building, video creation and short-form editing (Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts), analytics and performance optimization, platform-specific growth strategies (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.), influencer outreach and brand partnerships, email marketing and campaign workflows, creative direction and production coordination.
Eli Wolnerman
Areas of Expertise
Food and beverage business strategy, building a brand, product development and commercialization manufacturing and co-packing strategy, retail and distribution readiness, financial modeling and unit economics, capital strategy and investor readiness, operational systems and strategy, early stage to growth stage transitions.
Ederique Goudia
Areas of Expertise
Food safety training, licensing, foodservice management and operation, recipe costs, menu development & engineering, and cost analysis.
Food Business Classes and Events
Join us at Eastern Market, in partnership with In the Business of Food, for a variety of classes and events designed specifically for food entrepreneurs and businesses. Learn from industry experts, sharpen your skills, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs at workshops, classes, and events covering topics such as food safety, customer service, content creation, marketing, AI and more!
ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certification Course and Exam
ServSafe is a food and beverage safety training and certificate program for any one working in the food industry. The course discusses foodborne illnesses, including information on specific foodborne pathogens and biological toxins, contamination, and major food allergens. Prevention is also covered, with information regarding purchasing and receiving guidelines, food preparation, holding, and serving guidelines, food safety management systems, sanitation guidelines for facilities and equipment, as well as food safety regulations.
The ServSafe Manager Certification is a five-year certification and verifies that a manager or person-in-charge has sufficient food safety knowledge to protect the public from foodborne illness. Cost is $165/person.
Registration links for 2026:
Monday, 3/9 (Spanish)
Monday, 6/8 (Spanish)
Happy Hour in the Market
Happy Hour in the Market is a monthly networking event connecting food entrepreneurs and local farms across Detroit for collaboration and community support. Hosted on Mondays from 5:30-7:00 PM, each gathering features guided farm tours, fresh bites, coffee, mocktails, and DJ vibes, rotating among leading urban farms and food hubs throughout the city.
Food business owners, farmers, and producers come together to build partnerships, share resources, and promote local food systems in an energetic, welcoming atmosphere.
Registration links for 2026:
Food Business Licensing 101
Food Business Licensing 101 is designed for aspiring and early-stage food entrepreneurs who want to understand what food license they need, who regulates what, and how to prepare a complete application. This session walks you through state and local licensing requirements, common pitfalls, and the documents you’ll need to get approved.
What You’ll Learn:
The difference between MDARD licensing and City of Detroit / Health Department licensing
Which licenses apply to your business type (catering, CPG, food truck, pop-ups, markets, restaurants, and more)
Requirements you must complete before applying
Required documents for a complete application
The application and approval timeline
How shared commercial kitchens factor into licensing
Resources to support your next steps
You’ll also receive access to our Digital Guide for Starting a Food Business and time for Q&A.
Register for upcoming classes:
Tuesday, January 6th
Shed 5 Skills Lab
The Shed 5 SkillsLab is a bi-monthly, hands-on workshop series designed for food entrepreneurs who want practical tools they can use immediately. Each session focuses on a specific business skill led by industry experts: from merchandising and catering displays to retail readiness and scaling.
One attendee will receive up to $400 in products and/or services!
All sessions are hybrid, available in-person at Shed 5 Commons or online via Zoom.
Registration links for 2026:
3/18 Designing a Brand That Translates Across Spaces
5/27 Building a Captivating Catering Setup
7/29 Creating a Buyer-Ready Retail Sell Sheet
9/30 Creating Profitable Holiday Products
Quarterly Drop-In Series
- Three consecutive Wednesday sessions per topic (come for one or all) Space for questions, peer learning, and honest conversation
- Dinner provided for in-person attendees
- Free and open to food businesses at all stages
Register for 2026:
From Scratch: Food Business Fundamentals
From Scratch: Food Business Fundamentals is a 6-week cohort-based workshop series designed to give food entrepreneurs a strong, practical foundation for starting and growing a sustainable food business.
Whether you’re launching a foodservice concept or building a consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand, this program helps you move from idea to execution. Participants will join an intimate cohort, learn from experienced facilitators and partners, and leave with tools they can immediately apply to their business.
From Scratch combines hands-on learning and applied exercises to help you:
- Understand your true costs and pricing
- Build recipes and systems that can scale
- Strengthen customer experience and operations
- Make ethical, informed business decisions
- Connect with peers and ecosystem partners
This cohort is ideal for early-stage food entrepreneurs, cottage food producers preparing to scale, and operators who want to tighten the fundamentals before growing.
Cost: $100/business (a limited number of scholarships are available)
Applications open: Monday, 1/19
Applications close: Friday, 2/13
From Scratch: Food Business Fundamentals (Foodservice edition) Spring cohort
Tuesdays 6-8pm
Tuesday, March 3rd – Wednesday, April 8th
From Scratch: Food Business Fundamentals (Consumer Packaged Goods) Spring cohort
Thursdays 6-8pm
Thursday, March 5th – Wednesday, April 8thApplications open: Monday, 7/20
Applications close: Friday, 8/14
From Scratch: Food Business Fundamentals (Foodservice edition) Fall cohort
Tuesdays 6-8pm
Tuesday, September 1st – Wednesday, October 5th
From Scratch: Food Business Fundamentals (Consumer Packaged Goods) Fall cohort
Thursdays 6-8pm
Thursday, September 3rd – Wednesday, October 7th
To Proof: Food Business Growth Studio
To Proof: Food Business Growth Studio is a six-week, hands-on cohort designed for food businesses that are already operating and ready to strengthen their pricing models, systems, and infrastructure for growth.
This program is built for operators who have moved beyond the startup phase and are focused on refining their business model, improving efficiency, and preparing for what’s next, whether that’s scaling sales, expanding distribution, or tightening internal systems.
Participants will engage in a mix of group workshops and one-on-one technical assistance led by experienced industry professionals. Specialized tracks support both Foodservice and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) businesses, with content tailored to each model.
What You’ll Work On:
- Pricing review and menu or product analysis
- Manufacturing, distribution, and growth strategy (CPG)
- Visual branding
- Systems and operations for sustainable growth
- Marketing content strategy and creation
- Technology and AI tools for food businesses
- Implementation support and next-step planning
Cost: $200/business (a limited number of scholarships are available)
Applications open: Monday, 4/13
Applications close: Friday, 5/8
To Proof: Food Business Growth Studio (Foodservice edition)
Tuesdays, 6-8pm
Tuesday, May 26th – Wednesday, June, 24th
To Proof: Food Business Growth Studio (Consumer Packaged Goods edition)
Thursdays 6-8pm
Thursday, May 28th – Wednesday, June 24th
Licensing Guides
Navigating the regulatory landscape can be daunting for food entrepreneurs, but these licensing guides are here to help. Learn about the permits, licenses, and certifications required to start and operate a food business in Michigan, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations every step of the way.
Small Business Support Organizations
Access a network of small business support organizations dedicated to helping food entrepreneurs succeed. From business development assistance to funding opportunities and mentorship programs, these organizations provide valuable resources and support to help you grow your food business.