Category: Honing Your Craft

  • price

    Standing Out Without Cutting Your Price The numbers don’t look good this month. Your costs keep climbing while the supermarket down the street sells knockoffs of your products at rock-bottom prices. Your hands grip the edge of your desk as you wonder if it’s time to slash your own prices to stay alive. beyond the…

  • MEHKO TURN YOUR SIDE HUSTLE INTO A LEGIT BUSINESS

    A few years ago, selling homemade food was a legal gray area. Maybe you’ve seen it—tacos sold from a backyard grill, tamales out of a cooler, breakfast sandwiches dropped down in a red bucket from an apartment window, sold through Instagram DMs. These were (and still are) the backbone of LA’s underground food scene. Now,…

  • A pie ready for oven

    Starting a cottage food bakery is a dream for many, but as orders start rolling in, scaling up can feel overwhelming. The good news? It doesn’t have to be. With a few smart tweaks, you can scale your business without losing the charm (or your sanity). Here’s how. 1. Work Smarter, Not Harder As orders increase,…

  • a man wearing a glove putting a test sample on a test tube

    I get this question all the time and the answer is, “A food scientist is not always needed. It’s product specific.” Let’s dig into that. Here are some reasons why you might need a food scientist: Most small food businesses do not need a food scientist. Here’s what to expect if you hire one: In…

  • The 4 Biggest Challenges Facing Small Food Businesses

    From sourcing ingredients to accelerating sales, since the pandemic, the challenges facing small food business owners have become much larger. A specialty confection producer recently told me that if her business doesn’t make money this year, she’s done because she can earn more money working fewer hours back in corporate consulting. The producer is stocked…

  • Question Markets Graphic

    Does this sound familiar? “I have this dream of starting a food business. Of being a foodpreneur. I’ve been thinking about making my granola for people; everyone wants my granola, everybody asks me for it.” Is this a good time to start a food business? It’s spring. New You? The barriers to entry for starting…

  • Entrance of Crafted Kitchen

    Here’s a look inside Crafted Kitchen.  Beyond the stainless steel and commercial-grade equipment, this is where magic happens. This isn’t just a space for cooking; it’s a nurturing ground for dreams, camaraderie, and shared accomplishments. Imagine a group of culinary enthusiasts coming together, not just chefs and food entrepreneurs, but also product makers, consumer packaged…