On the weekend of October 18/19, Fireweed Hub will be offering a two-day workshop for aspiring food entrepreneurs, led by the inimitable food business coach Mandi Lunan. Thanks to funding from the provincial government’s Rural Economic Development fund, all costs of the workshop are covered for participants. “This is an incredible opportunity for people who want to expand their knowledge about running a food-related business by getting some absolutely top-notch guidance,” said Fireweed board member Miranda Hughes. “Mandi is such a catch! She’s fun and full of energy, and has such a wealth of expertise. We’re thrilled that we are able to bring her here to offer this workshop, and being able to do it without charging participants what it would normally cost is amazing.”
The workshop will allow aspiring food production and food service entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge and confidence with practical real-world advice. Topics will include things like working through government regulations and food safety planning, costing and pricing strategies, menu development, marketing approaches and many others.
Interest in the workshop has come from as far away as Creston and Rossland. “We hope we get some local Slocan Lake area registrants, and of course we would love to see more food professionals using our Fireweed kitchen” said Hughes, “but this workshop is about the bigger picture of supporting economic growth and resiliency in the area. We’ve always hoped that Fireweed Hub would function as a business incubator. We want to support ventures that spill out into the community to enhance the local economy, filling gaps in hospitality services and increasing the food self-sufficiency of the region.”
The October 18/19th workshop with Mandi Lunan is intended for people hoping to start new food-related businesses or scaling up a smaller operation. Anyone interested in attending can fill out the application form. Apply as soon as possible, as space is limited. A small registration fee will be payable for accepted applicants to secure their spot; this will be refunded at the completion of the course.