In this issue

Our Specialty Food Marketing Discussion Forum Topic - "Business Planning - A Useful Template"

Notes and Comment - Escalating Shipping Costs; FE Contributors; Future Issues

All About Food Labels - In this issue, we review: Allergen and Aggregate Labelling.

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

Our Specialty Food Marketing Discussion Forum Topic - "Business Planning - A Useful Template"

Here's what is happening on our Discussion Forum:

"Where can I find a useful business planning template?" Go to our Discussion Forum and see the posted template.

Feel free to add your comments.

Also see the note from Trader Joe's buyer Richard Baltierra in the "Selling Your Product" topic.

Make our discussion forum 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 you to report on how escalating fuel prices are impacting your business.

Dear Stephen,

Welcome to Food Entrepreneur eZine (FE).

Results from our February "One Question Survey:" Do you consider your venture successful? If so, how long did it take? PLEASE NOTE: This is a very small sample. So far, the results are evenly divided: 1/3 took less than one to two years, 1/3 took three to four years, and 1/3 took four to ten years. FE maintains that if you are still in business after seven years, and if you have a pulse, then you have probably succeeded.

Want to be an FE contributor? 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! [And, Up the Irish!]

Steve

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

·  Notes and Comment - Escalating Shipping Costs; FE Contributors; Future Issues

1. The cost of shipping. FE notes that more than just some food producers are limiting their shipping to their region due to extraordinarily high fuel prices. Does your experience indicate the same?

2. Please take our third survey and submit questions for future surveys and articles for publication in of FE

3. Complete Listing of FE Contributors.

4. Future Issues of Food Entrepreneur eZine:

- The "State of State Specialty Food Associations."

- "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: Allergen and Aggregate Labelling.

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: If a product does not contain any allergens should you still put "Allergens: Contains none" on the label?

? FDA Reminder on Food Labels Claims

? Food Labels Allergens ? Coconut Counts as Tree Nut

? Amendment Will Expand Soluble Fiber/CHD Claim

? Service Tip: Product Development Help

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. In our "rush to print" in February, we neglected to connect you to On The Menu's Julie Bush's article. She 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

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

·  Build and Manage Your Own Website!