In this issue

Our Specialty Food Marketing Discussion Forum Topic - "How to Structure an Effective Broker Agreement"

Notes and Comment - 1/2 booth at fancy food show?

All About Food Labels - In this issue, we review two key label topics: (1) "Signature Line Address," and (2) FDA "Aggregate Labels," etc.

Specialty Food Resources - Broker Information = Go to Resources and Select Broker Information

Foodservice Website Return on Investment Secrets

Our Specialty Food Marketing Discussion Forum Topic - "How to Structure an Effective Broker Agreement"

Here's what is happening on our Discussion Forum: "I understand that a brokerage agreement, in most cases, is drafted by the manufacturer stating the conditions of the contract between the two parties. However, if the manufacturer does not provide a brokerage agreement for both parties to sign off on, is it advisable for the food broker to supply one and if so, should it state the same conditions? If it is advisable for a broker to provide a manufacturer agreement letter, does it need to be drafted or reviewed by a lawyer and does it matter what the conditions are as long as both parties agree with them?" Please comment here . It's free.

Make this your first point of contact for any question you may have about specialty food marketing.

Please Take Our One Question Survey - This time, we ask how long it takes to be successful in specialty food marketing.

What is an Elevator Speech (or "Elevator Pitch")? - A concise, carefully planned, and well-practiced description about your company that your mother should be able to understand in the time it would take to ride up an elevator. A brief description of the point you want to make, presented in about a minute. Read more about elevator speeches:

Dear Steve,

Welcome to Food Entrepreneur eZine (FE).

Results from our One Question Survey in January: "How did you finance your enterprise?"

- Personal Savings/Inheritance = 61%

- Family and Friends = 3.5%

- Second Mortgage/Commercial Loan = 7%

- Supplier Loan or Supplier Financing = 0%

- Venture Capital = 7%

- SBA or Other Government Financed Loan = 7%

- Credit Cards(s) = 14%

Please take our second survey and submit questions for future surveys and articles for publication in future issues of FE. Topics are welcomed that impact almost any aspect of specialty food marketing. We will be happy to help.

We invite and welcome your comments. Let's work together to learn ways of succeeding in specialty food marketing. Stay tuned...

Wishing you great profits!

Steve

Stephen F. Hall
Author, From Kitchen to Market
Editor, Food Entrepreneur eZine

·  Notes and Comment - 1/2 booth at fancy food show?

1. FE wonders about the NASFT's official policy of offering a minimum booth size of 10 feet by 10 feet; yet at least four or five booths were half that size at last month's Fancy Food Show in San Francisco? NASFT has not released an official statement on this except to say: "The minimum booth size available for purchase at The Fancy Food Show is ten feet by ten feet." Link to NASFT

2. Dartmouth (MA) shared-use kitchen opens. A state- certified commercial state-of-the art kitchen is now available to the specialty food trade. Read the press release for more details.

3. Complete Listing of FE Contributors.

4. Future Issues of Food Entrepreneur eZine:

- "Minority Certified." Many so-designated firms can get an edge. What does this mean to you? More later...

- Office Management - Ideas about products, software and service requirements.

- And ideas that you suggest.

Email us at steve@specialtyfoodresource.com to let us know what other areas you would like us to address.

·  All About Food Labels - In this issue, we review two key label topics: (1) "Signature Line Address," and (2) FDA "Aggregate Labels," etc.

Wise Counsel From Two Professionals

1. Food Consulting Company's Karen Duester includes the following topics in the latest edition of Food Label News:

- Reader Q&A Spot: "I manufacture spreads in collaboration with a restaurant and the restaurant name is the prominent name on the label. Whose address should be used in the label signature line?"

- Proposed Rule for Gluten-Free on Food Labels

- Uniform Compliance Date for FDA Regulations Set

- FDA Acts to Update Lean and Calcium Claims

- Service Tip: Feel Confident with Final Label Review

Readers of Food Label News can submit their food label questions free of charge for possible publication in the Q&A Section of Food Label News.

Here is the latest issue of Food Label News.

2. On The Menu's Julie Bush offers nutritional analysis, labeling and marketing services, and comments on FDA labeling requirements.

This month, she discusses the FDA regulations covering an "aggregate label."

She notes: "Consumers enjoy a food varietypack?not only for the choice it affords them, but the ability to sample different flavors without buying a larger quantity of a single food item. Do you have food products that are multi-flavored that would benefit from being packaged together?"

Learn more about the "aggregate label," and see an example of one.

·  Specialty Food Resources - Broker Information = Go to Resources and Select Broker Information

Good news: Our specialtyfoodresource.com site now has a SEARCH feature. You may now go right to "find" section and look for information on our entire site. Feel free to let me know if you see anything that needs changing.

Visit our free resource center

·  Foodservice Website Return on Investment Secrets

Lifeware Tek's Bill Hornung maintains that "most foodservice websites stink." Someone always asks: "So, what's the return on that investment?"

Learn the secrets of website return on investment (ROI)

·  The 4th Edition of "From Kitchen to Market" is Classic!

·  Build and Manage Your Own Website!