Small Business Advisory Centre: Foodpreneur Advantage
New Program aimed at Helping Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs through the Small Business Advisory Centre
Smiths Falls, Ontario – The Small Business Advisory Centre announced the availability of a new small business resource for the Smiths Falls, Lanark County and north Leeds Grenville food enthusiasts by introducing the Foodpreneur Advantage Program.
This program is suitable for anyone looking to start a food venture or is ready to expand and scale their operation. The first series begins in August 2025 and subsequent programs are offered 4 times per year, beginning again in November 2025, January & April 2026.
The Foodpreneur Advantage Program is for individuals looking to start or expand a food or beverage manufacturing business producing consumer packaged goods (CPG). The program provides free introductory expert-led training sessions and industry insights, specifically aimed at food-related businesses, to help them navigate getting started or expanding into new product lines.
“The Smiths Falls; Lanark County and north part of Leeds Grenville areas are provincial leaders in primary food & beverage production. The Foodpreneur Advantage of program offers the opportunity for producers to explore how to add value to those products,” says Cindy James, manager of SBAC. “It is also great for any culinary creative to get their unique product, perfected and packaged and onto store shelves.”
The free webinar series includes:
Aug 13th Bar Codes & Beyond-What you need to be Market Ready (only offered in Aug. series)
Aug 21st Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance
Aug 28th How to Sell your Food Product
Sept 4th Costing & Pricing to Make Profits
Sept 11th Marketing & Branding your Food Product
Sept 18th Food Safety Fundamentals for Start-Ups
Sept 25th Labelling & Packaging Your Food Product
All sessions are held virtually for 1 hour on Thursdays at 10:00 am. Learn more and register for each session by visiting the Foodpreneur Advantage website or there are links for each session on the Small Business Advisory Centre events page/
The Food and Beverage manufacturing sector of Ontario is the 3rd largest in North America and is vitally important to our local and regional economy. There are more than 4,000 establishments in Ontario – several of which are in Smiths Falls, Lanark County, north Leeds Grenville, and neighboring communities. Most of those establishments employ fewer than 100 people, and less than half don’t maintain an employee payroll but may have a workforce that consists of contracted workers, family members or owners.
The Foodpreneur Advantage Program was developed in 2021 and is delivered through a partnership of various Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBEC’s) across Ontario. Under the Foodpreneur Advantage umbrella, business support Centres can collectively offer food-related programming that can be presented with more frequency and depth.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this program to the local food and beverage industry in our area,” says Cindy James, Manager of the Small Business Advisory Centre. “We look forward to providing this free resource so that we can continue to support aspiring and existing food and beverage producers in the area.”
We encourage individuals to explore the Foodpreneur Advantage seminars and programs and to connect with the Small Business Advisory Centre at cjames@smallbizcentre.ca for additional support including:
- Complimentary one-on-one business advisory services with experienced local advisors.
- Connection to additional tools and resources needed to start or expand your business.
- The opportunity to participate in other local programs, including the Starter Company Plus program.
- Business training workshops/webinars to inspire, educate, and connect business owners within the local community.
Community Contact: Cindy James, manager
Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/north Leeds Grenville)
cjames@smallbizcentre.ca