“We are what we eat,” goes the popular saying. And it is not far from reality, since food has a direct influence on people’s health. Hence the urgency to always look for the best options, the healthiest, eliminating highly processed foods from the diet.
If you want to start a business that helps to create correct eating habits, in favor of human welfare, this post is for you. Let’s get started.
Strategies to start a food business
A healthy food business is very productive and has a good profitability; especially if it is run in the right way. That is why it is essential that you know what are the steps to follow to make the venture more fruitful and successful.
Business Plan
The first thing you should consider is to develop a business plan. This is the guide to determine the type of product and service you will offer. Establish your promotional strategies and the budget on which you will begin to invest.
Your business plan should not be long; rather, it should be only one page long. The information should be clear, precise and include the following elements:
✅ Description of the business: It consists of summarizing what the company is going to do, valuing its identity and the model to follow. It also offers an overview of the venture.
✅ Products and services: Specify in detail the type of product you are going to offer.
✅ Marketing: Establish the marketing strategies that best respond to your interests to promote the business and thus strengthen sales.
✅ Goals: Institute real goals in conclusive periods of time. Meet your deadlines.
✅ Financial Summary: Have on paper all the expenses involved in moving forward. Include premises, equipment, product packages, income and expense projections.
Specify the type of food to offer
Part of the elements to take into account are the customers’ consumption interests. The demands of the buyer in search of healthy food, forces to obtain in this case, products of vegetable and natural origin, without neglecting their quality.
Make an exhibition of creative, original and interesting culinary proposals, because there are competitors with the same sales line. A good market analysis will be the key to achieve your own menu, special and different from the others.
Market research
Your market study will be the fundamental platform to support your business plan. Perform an analysis of customers by assessing variables such as age, gender, eating habits, people’s purchasing power, among others. Then assess the weaknesses and strengths of competitors and use them to your advantage.
Define the location of the business
Much of the success is determined by where the business is located. Some great places would be near or in: gyms, parks, tourist places. All of them are spaces with high affluence of people who may be considering the option of consuming this type of food.
Don’t forget that your establishment should convey a pleasant and also appealing look, thus reflecting a decoration that makes a difference.
Have a good supplier
The supplier is an important part of the enterprise. The quality of the product offered, and therefore, the excellence of the dish for sale, depends to a great extent on him. But the success lies in looking for someone with experience and trajectory in the field, who provides guarantee, quality and fair prices.
Added value
It is important to clarify that it is good for food businesses to join or associate themselves with sustainability concepts. This is because many of them are based on environmental awareness and the safeguarding of animal rights. That is why it becomes necessary for you to offer added values, such as:
✅ Manufacture and sell plant-based foods.
✅ Use recyclable, reusable and sustainable packaging.
✅ Support the real food movement, putting into practice the consumption of natural foods away from invasive and harmful processes.
Acquire the tools and appliances necessary for business development.
The progress of the business will be determined, in large part, by the purchase of specialized kitchen equipment and tools. Since the food will be organic, you must also have all the implements of high quality, so that you guarantee the integrity and excellence of the provisions.
Consider the purchase of a good refrigerator, a large space for the kitchen, ovens, gas or electric ovens, mixer, blender, juicer, dishwasher, cleaning tools, dishes, glasses, cutlery, among other utensils that will be essential.
Eye-catching names and logos for the business
Your name is the first image that the potential customer receives. Make sure it is attractive, original, and capable of catching everyone’s attention. It should also be practical and easy to remember, but reflect the nature of the business.
It’s all a matter of taking your time. It depends to a great extent that your customers remember you, identify you and differentiate you from the rest of your competitors.
Marketing Plan
Develop a good plan with marketing strategies and techniques. Execute it as soon as the opportunity arises, with the purpose of awakening people’s interest and making your way in the market.
Combine digital marketing strategies and traditional marketing to increase effectiveness and reach more segments of the population. Some of them are:
✅ Print advertising.
✅ TV and radio commercials.
✅ Web pages and SEO positioning.
✅ Ads in social networks.
✅ Video marketing.
✅ Blogging and content marketing.
Legal permits for working with food
Businesses related to food processing must comply and conform to several processes. Among them are having product handling and storage licenses, as well as hygiene and sanitation permits.
In addition to the aforementioned permits, other requirements are:
✅ Register the business in the name of a natural or legal person.
✅ To obtain the commercial registry.
✅ To prepare articles of incorporation or bylaws.
✅ Register workers and register them in the social security system.
✅ Apply for a permit to use the premises.
Consolidate nutritional knowledge
Regardless of good food, offer your customers information on how they can improve their health and lifestyle with certain types of food. Becoming informed, knowledgeable and becoming a nutrition specialist through courses or consulting could be of great help to the prosperity of your business.
Great ideas to start a healthy food business
Don’t know where to start? Here are some ideas
Beverage offers
This is the sale of natural fruit and vegetable juices. There are preparations of this type that are still unknown to people, so you can take advantage of them to your advantage. Also include vegan milk among your offerings.
Some beverage options are:
✅ Natural juices: Orange, tangerine, peach, guava, among other fruits.
✅ Unusual lemonades: coconut, mint, mango, etc.
✅ Vegetable smoothies: They can be of carrot, spinach, celery…
✅ Functional juices: With beneficial properties for the organism. For example: Relaxing: bee honey, pineapple and mint. Digestive: coconut and watermelon. Antioxidants: ginger, mango and coconut.
Attractive natural sweets
Make healthy, gluten-free and vegan sweets. Use sugar substitutes, such as stevia, honey, among others. You can include the following desserts in the menu:
✅ Carrot and pumpkin cakes.
✅ Fruit pie.
✅ Banana ice cream.
✅ Nut cake.
✅ Fruit kabobs.
Healthy fast food
Another original idea is the sale of fast food. The fact of following a healthy diet does not mean giving up the delights of dishes such as pizzas, hamburgers, nuggets, sandwiches, just from a different style. Adopt plant-based ingredients that are healthy.
Regardless of selling processed food, you can offer pre-prepared products so that people can prepare their favorite dishes at home.
Organic salads
Nowadays, organic salads have become almost a trend. Consuming organic products is gradually gaining a space in today’s society. That is why we recommend that you prepare food with organic products such as lettuce, almonds, among others. Above all, do not forget to vary; be guided by the most famous recipes and create delicious and fun salads.
Healthy cooking classes
If you want to have a healthy food business but you are thinking of something more than a restaurant, consider offering cooking classes. This is one of the few projects you can start without worrying too much about the investment. To do so, you can choose one of 2 alternatives:
The first is to conduct your business in a face-to-face manner. This gives you the opportunity to go to customers’ homes or open a place where people go to learn.
The second alternative is through the internet; either by teaching classes through online tools, or via YouTube, or by creating courses to sell online, using digital platforms such as Udemy or Tutellus. To undertake these activities you will only need the kitchen supplies and ingredients. Just make a good investment in marketing and advertising.