Toolkit for Food Entrepreneurs

 

Management and Sales

Steer your business with clarity and efficiency to ensure profitability. Define your cost of goods sold, develop a solid financing strategy, and implement a tailored marketing plan to grow your sales consistently.

Financing Your Business

Creating a financing plan is a crucial step for any food business, whether it is in the startup phase or in full expansion. This document helps determine the financial needs required to support operations, invest in growth, and prepare for unexpected challenges.

In such a dynamic and competitive sector, a well-structured financing plan helps identify the right sources of funding, whether through equity, bank loans, or grants. It also provides a clear overview of cash flow, which is essential for maintaining proper liquidity and avoiding financial hardship.

By anticipating needs and evaluating risks, a financing plan enables entrepreneurs to make informed decisions, optimize resource management, and ensure the sustainability of their business. In short, a solid financing plan is indispensable for successfully navigating the complexities of the food sector and ensuring sustainable growth. Above all, it is essential when approaching financial institutions.

Resources:

Accurately calculating your cost of goods sold (COGS) is a vital step in ensuring your company’s long-term sustainability and profitability. Understanding these costs allows you not only to set appropriate pricing, but also to optimize resources and improve financial management.

In a competitive market—where margins can be narrow—a rigorous evaluation of production costs is essential to avoid losses and maximize profits. Furthermore, good cost control supports sound strategic decisions, whether in choosing suppliers, adjusting product offerings, or planning future investments.

Therefore, mastering your COGS is not just a matter of accounting—it is a key lever for growth and lasting success in the food business.

Resource:

Creating a Marketing Plan

The food sector is constantly evolving, and to succeed in this dynamic environment, it’s essential to have a clearly defined marketing strategy.

Developing a marketing plan is necessary to clarify your objectives, identify your target market, and create effective strategies to address market challenges, anticipate consumer needs, and optimize your sales efforts.

Resource:

Entrepreneur's Toolkit

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Startup

Startup

Start your entrepreneurial adventure by solidifying your ideas through in-depth market research. Develop a detailed business plan, secure necessary financing, and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.

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Production and Product Development

Production and Product Development

Refine your offering by developing safe, appealing, and compliant products. Master hygiene and food safety standards, standardize your recipes, select appropriate packaging, and ensure regulatory-compliant labeling. This stage also includes finding potential subcontractors or co-packers.

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Management and Sales

Management and Sales

Steer your business with clarity and efficiency to ensure profitability. Define your cost of goods sold, develop a solid financing strategy, and implement a tailored marketing plan to grow your sales consistently.

Learn More
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Marketing and Promotion

Marketing and Promotion

Make your product shine with a strong brand image and an engaging online presence. Build your visual identity, grow a community, animate your social media and website, and don’t hesitate to attend trade shows or public markets to boost your visibility.

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Marketing in Quebec

Marketing in Quebec

Structure your go-to-market strategy to align with the realities of the Quebec territory. Determine your production capacity, target the right channels (retailers, institutions...), prepare your product sheets, and ensure compliance with certifications and claims required to sell legally.

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Human Resources

Human Resources

Build a strong and committed team from the early stages of your project. Learn about current laws, plan your labor needs, recruit the right people, provide training, and create an environment conducive to employee retention.

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Certifications and Claims

Certifications and Claims

Demystify certifications and claims in the field of food processing to make the best choices for your project. Discover various labels such as MSC, ASC, B-Corp, Organic, Gluten-Free... Understand their criteria, obligations, and added value.

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Export Marketing

Export Marketing

Prepare your business to cross borders with the right strategy. Review your market study and business plan, find a local distributor or broker, and ensure that your packaging, labeling, nutritional values, and allergens comply with the trade requirements of the target region.

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Testimonials

I am very satisfied with the services offered by CIBÎM, which provides us with great visibility across various platforms to promote our products. The network also allows us to build relationships with other related businesses that can contribute to our growth.

Isabelle Huot - Isabelle Huot compagny

We never imagined that CIBÎM would bring us so much. We’re incredibly happy to have joined this community—they’ve given us so much, and their training programs are extremely relevant. Joining CIBÎM was a turning point for our company. Thank you, CIBÎM!

Frédéric Verville – Floèm compagny

A dynamic team that goes above and beyond to support member businesses!!!

François-Pierre Blain – Globe Protein compagny

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