Ignite Food Program

Food entrepreneur ready to take your business to the next level?

Join the Ignite pre-accelerator, a structured and inclusive 6-week program to help you scale your food business profitably.

Ready to scale up your food business?

Over 6 weeks you will get access to:

  • Expert advice, mentoring, and industry know-how to grow your food venture

  • A program designed specifically for food businesses to help you scale profitably

The Ignite Program gives you the opportunity to:

  • Revisit those business areas you haven’t had a chance to concentrate on.

  • Review your processes and move to the next level

  • Put together a proper plan to navigate scaling up.

Without a proper plan in place (including smart pricing and promotion strategies!) your profits can flatten creating a risk that your business becomes less viable. This program is designed to help you grow without the pain.

Apply now for the October program. Applications close October 2.

To date, we’ve helped thousands of food-based businesses to launch and grow - are you next?

Our next Ignite food business pre-accelerator program is scheduled for October 2025.

Upcoming information session dates:

The Ignite Program gives you the opportunity to:

  • Revisit those business areas you haven’t had a chance to concentrate on.

  • Review your processes and move to the next level

  • Put together a proper plan to navigate scaling up.

Ignite is for serious food start-ups or young businesses (2-3 years in operation) ready to review their processes and move to the next level.

Without a proper plan in place (including smart pricing and promotion strategies!) your profits can flatten creating a risk that your business becomes less viable. This program is designed to help you grow without the pain.

  • “We got everything we needed to know from the course and would have changed nothing. We felt supported to work through the struggles we were having with setting up a food business, especially the regulations and food safety program. Also learnt ways to do things in a way that saves money!”

    Andre, participant

  • “I sought assistance from The Business of Food team to launch my BBQ sauce business in 2018. Their expertise helped me to understand my target market, effectively utilize a commercial kitchen, prepare a business plan, define my marketing objectives and ensure I met critical industry requirements. Without that knowledge and expertise, I would not have been able to adequately prepare my business for launch. As a result of specialised coaching and mentoring, I felt capable and competent to enter an industry of which I had no prior knowledge. My business is now going from strength to strength and I could not have achieved this without help.”

    Sarah, sauce company

  • “Jane Del Rosso was amazing. She is a fantastic facilitator. Jane has great skills and knowledge. Extra sessions to see her outside of the course were really helpful– they personalised the Program to my business idea and let all the participants address any other issues they had. The Program is perfect for someone starting a food business as it covers all the basics.”

    Loredana, stock business

  • “For anyone starting a small food business, with no experience in the food sector, it would be essential as a real eye opener to what is required especially the regulations, laws, pricing and different ways you can launch a product/sell it.”

    Marcela, ice cream business

  • “Jane Del Rosso as a person is so pleasant to talk to and easy-going to work with. She understands everyone has different views, and she has a lot of patience as she delivers the course and works individually with each participant, supporting people to view their business in a different way-- such is a positive challenge as a business owner!!”

    -Issy, vanilla business

What you get

Explore the major areas of building a successful food business, guided by experts.

Over the 6-weeks you will learn from experts who work with food businesses day in day out, including:

  • Food technologist,

  • Business professionals,

  • Branding, packaging and marketing specialists,

  • Retail buyer and distribution experts.

You also get 3hrs of private one-on-one business mentoring over the 6 weeks.

Industry Guest Speakers & Case Studies - Gain insights from successful food entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

One-on-One Mentoring – Personalised guidance to help you navigate your specific business challenges.

Networking & Referral Partners – Connect with industry contacts, suppliers and potential business partners.

Final Pitch Opportunity – Present your business to a room of supporters, industry connections and potential partners.

Program Price: $2,450 (ex. GST)

  • Icon of stacked documents on a brown circular background

    Business planning

    build a one-page business plan

  • Simple gear icon in an orange circle

    Food production

    efficiencies of processing - looking at overwhelm and refining processes

  • Blue circle icon with a white pie chart and dollar sign in the center

    Pricing

    how to price your product and lower your expenses

  • Green circle with white megaphone icon

    Promotion

    identifying your market and how to reach them according to your business plan

  • Icon of a price tag in white on a magenta circular background.

    Food laws and labelling

    including food safe production and marketing for packaging

  • Icon of a light bulb on a brown circle background

    Tips from an expert

    on how to approach retailers and what buyers are looking for

Ready to scale up your food business?

Interested to grow your food business but want to learn more?

Schedule an obligation free chat here

Eligibility

You can apply for Ignite if:

  • You are a food business or social enterprise operating for a minimum of 2 to 3 years.

  • Have an innovative food product or business that you intend to grow / scale 

The program runs for six weeks. Participants need to commit to the following:

  • 2 hour session via video conference once a week, usually in the evening. Depending on the mix of participants and where they are based, we may ask you to attend weeks 1 and 6 in person so that you can meet your peers and our industry experts.

  • Perform approximately 2-hours work during each week on activities including business, product and market planning and costings. Please note: The actual amount of time required will vary depending on how well-developed your food business idea is, and your level of business and food industry experience.

  • Be available for a one-on-one mentoring session as required. This is optional, and will depend on your needs and experience, and is typically for 30 minutes once a week. You can request to batch them up into longer, less-frequent sessions subject to the availability of your mentor.

  • Deliver a simple, ten minute presentation on week 6 to the group that outlines your food business idea, next steps, and what’s needed to get there.

Can’t make these dates or want to learn more?

Schedule an obligation free online chat.

Partner with us

Our proven program working with Local Councils across Victoria can help your community to build and grow successful local food businesses.

Partner with us to bring it to your area

Ready to scale up your food business?

Interested to grow your food business but want to learn more?

Schedule an obligation free chat