Food Business Resources

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 & 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 $135/person.

Community Conversations

Each month, we will delve deep into crucial issues impacting the food and beverage industry, offering invaluable insights for every food-based business owner or entrepreneur at any stage. Beyond knowledge shared by subject matter experts, these sessions are vibrant hubs of networking, fostering connections among like-minded entrepreneurs, and building community. These sessions are FREE and open to all members of the food business community.

How to Operate in a Commercial Kitchen 

This comprehensive 2-hour session will provide practical insights to successfully navigate the ins and outs of working in a shared commercial kitchen. This workshop will include information on licensing and regulations, kitchen etiquette and best practices, food safety protocols, and available shared commercial kitchens in the area. Cost: FREE

REGISTER HERE!

Essential Ingredients for Starting a Food Business (CPG edition)

A 6-week workshop series designed to provide the fundamentals and strong foundation for a CPG business (consumer-packaged goods, retail food product, etc). Learn the basics of starting a business, calculating cost of goods sold, retail pricing, packaging, marketing, and so much more! Cost: $100

Essential Ingredients for Starting a Food Business (Foodservice edition)

A 6-week workshop series designed to provide the fundamentals and strong foundation for a CPG business (consumer-packaged goods, food product, etc). Learn the basics of starting a business, calculating cost of goods sold, retail pricing, packaging, marketing, and so much more! Cost: $100

How to Successfully Scale Your Food Product Business 

A 6-week workshop series designed to provide in-depth insights into the unique challenges and strategies involved in scaling a food product business, covering aspects from strategic planning, pricing strategies, and distribution, to operational efficiency and financial management. Cost: $200

How to Successfully Scale Your Food Service Business

A 6-week workshop series designed to provide in-depth insights into the unique challenges and strategies involved in scaling food businesses, covering aspects from strategic planning, marketing and branding strategies, operational efficiency and financial management. Cost: $200

Food Business Licensing 101 

1st Tuesday of the month 12pm-2pm FREE

Register Here!

ServSafe Manager Certification & Exam

English – 2nd Monday and 3rd Saturday every quarter;Spanish 9am-4pm $165/person

• Monday, March 24th (Spanish)
  Monday, April 14th
  Saturday, May 17th
  Monday, June 23rd (Spanish)
  Monday, July 14th
  Saturday, August1 6th
  Monday, September 22nd (Spanish)
  Monday, October 13th
  Saturday, November 15th
  Monday, December 15th (Spanish)

Community Conversations

3rd Monday of the month 5-6:30pm FREE

Topics, coworking sessions, peer support for more seasoned, mature businesses?

Essential Ingredients for Starting a Food Business (Foodservice edition)

6 weeks every Tuesday 6pm-8pm $100/business

Spring Dates: 3/11-4/15

Fall Dates: 8/26 – 9/30

Essential Ingredients for Starting a Food Business (Consumer Packaged Goods edition)

6 weeks every Thursday 6pm-8pm $100/business

Spring Dates: 3/13 – 4/17

Fall Dates: 8/28 – 10/2

Financials in Food drop- in series 

4 weeks every Wednesday  5-7pm FREE

Dates: TBD

Week 1: Recipe Development & Standardization 

Week 2: Food Costing

Week 3: Menu & Retail Pricing

Week 4: Break-Even Analysis and P&L

Marketing your Food Brand drop-in series

5 weeks every Wednesday 5-7pm $10/person

March 26th Storytelling – Sharing your Brand Story with Khary Frazier

April 2nd – Food Photography Basics for Non-Photographers with Chuk Nowak

April 9th – Email Marketing for Beginners with Ciera Seay

April 16th – Content Strategy with Christina Debose

April 23rd – Food Styling & Composition with Chef Elle Simone

October 8th- Storytelling – Sharing your Brand Story with Khary Frazier

October 15th- Food Photography Basics for Non-Photographers with Chuk Nowak

October 22nd- Food Styling & Composition with Chef Elle Simone

October 29th- Social Media Management with Christina Debose

November 5th- Content Strategy with Mark Kurlyandchik

Scaling your Food Brand (Foodservice edition)

6 weeks every Tuesday 5-7pm $200/business

Dates: 7/8 – 8/12

Scaling your Food Brand (Consumer Packaged Goods edition)

6 weeks every Tuesday 5-7pm $200

Dates: 7/10 – 8/14

Ask an Expert

FREE 30-minute virtual sessions that offer food entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect directly with our team of food industry experts.