Food Businesses

Whether you are thinking of starting a new food business or taking over an existing one, it is important to get things right from the beginning. The following articles are aimed at those interested in starting or growing food or catering businesses, with advice on financing, registering, safety rules and regulations. Topics covered include finding the right premises, food trucks or mobile vans, trading standards and hygiene, food business ideas, and interviews with foodpreneurs.

Here are some popular articles in this section for those who want to operate a successful food business:

The ingredients you need for a successful food business – chocolate industry guru James Hutchins shares his advice for start-up food businesses.
Creating the next big food start-up: Do you have what it takes? – Tom Mercer talks to the owners of two early-stage food businesses about why they started and the hurdles they faced.
Young Foodies – We speak to Theadora Alexander, co-founder of this community of UK-based food and drink brands

Business Ideas & Planning

Creating the next big food start-up: Do you have what it takes?

Here, Tom Mercer talks to the owners of two early-stage food businesses about why they started and the hurdles they faced.

Business management

Ice cream on the road

Charlie Francis set up mobile liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour Lick Me I'm Delicious in 2011 and is set to grow his turnover from £60,000 currently to £140,000 in his next year of trading.

Business Ideas & Planning

Why I started a business: Market trader

Kathereen Paterson founded market trading business Dulce Kitchen in 2011 and tells SmallBusiness.co.uk how life for her is different now.

Business management

Starting a food company

Clippy McKenna started food brand Clippy's Limited in 2008 and now has her jellies, chutneys and relishes stocked in the likes of Asda, Tesco and Harvey Nichols.

Business management

Gem Misa on launching food brand Righteous

Gem Misa started natural food company Righteous in 2009 and turned over £120,000 in 2011. SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to her about funding, marketing and future plans.

Business management

A snack on track

Michelle Daniells launched children’s nutrition company Benjoy Nutrition in 2008 and is expecting sales of £1 million for the next year of trading.

Business Ideas & Planning

Jane Asher on starting a business

Jane Asher has starred in movies opposite Michael Caine and Lawrence Olivier. She’s written novels and regularly treads the boards in the West End. Despite all that, little could prepare her for the highs and lows of running her own business, Party Cakes.

Finding and selling to customers