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Gretchen VanEsselstyn

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    Specialty Food Association

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Gretchen VanEsselstyn's Achievements

  1. Thursday, June 30 at 1pm ET The increase in direct to consumer and online store-based sales for food and beverage brands hasn’t slowed down, despite a slow return to “normal”. How do you stand out in a noisy landscape? Rachel Kay, Founder + President at RKPR will discuss cost effective ways to make your earned media strategy power your e-commerce goals, plus the newest media tools and trends to accelerate your product sales. Have questions for Rachel Kay? Add them here!
  2. I am so excited about this one -- on Thursday, March 24 at 1pm ET, you’ll learn from Hunter Fike, Category Manager at DiBruno Bros., about what makes buyers tick – and you’ll hear from maker Jen Porter from Timber Lane Handcrafted about how her company got – and kept -- her products on DiBruno’s shelves. Hunter is a fantastic teacher! Sign up here: Selling to Specialty Food Stores And post your questions below -- I'll be sure to give them to Hunter!
  3. Did you attend any of the webinars in this series? Here's a thread where you can ask any follow-up questions and continue the discussion. And if you didn't get to attend, follow the links below to access the video and slides from the session, then head back here to discuss! Understanding the Supply Chain Continuum The Supply Chain Pain Train – Operators’ Tips and Tricks Welcome to the Technology Age of CPG
  4. Did you attend any of the webinars in this series? Here's a thread where you can ask any follow-up questions and continue the discussion. And if you didn't get to attend, follow the links below to access the video and slides from the session, then head back here to discuss! Fundamentals of Branding Building a Brand Expression Package Design and Branding
  5. Did you attend any of the webinars in this series? Here's a thread where you can ask any follow-up questions and continue the discussion. And if you didn't get to attend, follow the links below to access the video and slides from the session, then head back here to discuss! Working with Distributors: The First Key Steps Working with Distributors: Building the Relationship Working with Distributors: Strategies for Success
  6. Did you attend any of the webinars in this series? Here's a thread where you can ask any follow-up questions and continue the discussion. And if you didn't get to attend, follow the links below to access the video and slides from the session, then head back here to discuss! The First Key Steps Working with Investors Working with Lenders
  7. Hi Joe -- a great place to start is our Product Marketplace -- here's the link: https://www.specialtyfood.com/products/
  8. Hi Mike -- thanks for your post. Did you have a question or anything you want to share with the community?
  9. There are so many fun parts to my job as Director of Education at SFA, but my favorite is working with some of the greatest brains in our industry. It’s a thrill to call upon people whose work I’ve admired and ask them to teach our members what they know. And the best part – they say YES. With that in mind, I’m delighted to announce the next cycle in our Maker Prep series which focuses on branding. You’ll hear from the leaders of three powerhouse agencies: Moxie Sozo, Bright, and Buttermilk Creative. All three focus on specialty food and beverage brands and – if you’re an SFA member – you’ll get three hours of their combined expertise for zero dollars. It’s part of your benefits package as a member! (If you’re not a member yet, join us! And in the meantime, the whole series is $50 for you.) On October 14, you’ll learn the Fundamentals of Branding. Why are some companies beloved by consumers while others fight to be remembered? Creative agency Moxie Sozo will talk you through the process of creating a compelling and authentic brand and share four amazing case studies along the way. On November 11, we’ll delve into Building a Brand Expression with creative branding house, Bright. You’ll learn how to make sure your brand stands out in a crowded competitive set and ensure continuity and growth in the future. And on December 9, we’ll cover Package Design and Branding with Buttermilk Creative. You’ll learn how to make the most of the short time you have for shoppers to notice your product on the shelf by developing a cohesive design strategy and prioritizing messaging. I’m so pleased to make these webinars available to you. If you’re just learning about Maker Prep, please check out the recordings of our two completed series: Working with Distributors and Financing Your Business. And let us know what you need to learn more about – Maker Prep is designed for you! Reach out any time: education@specialtyfood.com
  10. Dear Tatiana, all of the programs can be viewed through the Fancy Food 24/7 Platform on the Programs page - if you didn't catch it live, the recordings are there as well. If you are not exhibiting at the event or registered as a buyer, let me know and we can help facilitate, thank you!
  11. Why do people go to business school? It’s the lectures and the homework, the research and the capstone projects. It’s the opportunity to focus on developing new skills. And for many students, it’s the connections they make with their professors and classmates that propel them toward success and serve as supports during the entrepreneurial journey. It’s the same with SFA's The Basics online workshop, taking place on October 6 & 7. In about ten hours over two days, you’ll hear talks on pricing, selling, the latest consumer research, freight and logistics, best practices in trade promotions, ecommerce, and more. You’ll get slides you can hang on to and use as reference and recorded lectures that are yours to review any time. You’ll spend time with eight incredible teachers and learn from their experience. Our instructors include founders and principals from some of the most iconic brands in specialty food, including Marich Confectionery. Renfro Foods and Dave’s Gourmet, plus exciting new brands including Hella Cocktail Co., Rumi Spice and TBJ (The Bacon Jam) Gourmet, plus our resident Amazon expert Betsy McGinn of McGinn Ecommerce Consulting. You’ll also make connections to your classmates. You’ll meet at the evening chat on Day 1 – then you’ll have your own dedicated space to chat and share stories, and stay in touch after the class is over in our SFA Community Hub. Come see what it’s like in our specialty food “business school” – and reap the rewards as your brand grows. It's just $99 for SFA members and $199 for non-members. Wonder if The Basics is right for you? Email us education@specialtyfood.com and we’re happy to talk with you.
  12. Why do people go to business school? It’s the lectures and the homework, the research and the capstone projects. It’s the opportunity to focus on developing new skills. And for many students, it’s the connections they make with their professors and classmates that propel them toward success and serve as supports during the entrepreneurial journey. It’s the same with The Basics! In about ten hours over two days, you’ll hear talks on pricing, selling, the latest consumer research, freight and logistics, best practices in trade promotions, ecommerce, and more. You’ll get slides you can hang on to and use as reference and recorded lectures that are yours to review any time. You’ll spend time with eight incredible teachers and learn from their experience. Our instructors include founders and principals from some of the most iconic brands in specialty food, including Marich Confectionery. Renfro Foods and Dave’s Gourmet, plus exciting new brands including Hella Cocktail Co., Rumi Spice and TBJ (The Bacon Jam) Gourmet, plus our resident Amazon expert Betsy McGinn of McGinn Ecommerce Consulting. You’ll also make connections to your classmates. You’ll meet at the evening chat on Day 1 – then you’ll have your own dedicated space to chat and share stories, and stay in touch after the class is over in our SFA Community Hub. Come see what it’s like in our specialty food “business school” – and reap the rewards as your brand grows. It's just $99 for SFA members and $199 for non-members. Wonder if The Basics is right for you? Email us education@specialtyfood.com and we’re happy to talk with you.
  13. Breaking into the U.S. market has never been easy – and the FSMA and FSVP regulations passed in recent years have made it even tougher. As you begin to think about selling in the U.S., you’ll need to make some key decisions about whether to work with an importer, start your own entity, or get in business another way. And once you’re in the market, you’ll need to understand how business is done here. SFA can help you get started down the path that’s best for you and your products. In our online seminar Passport to Success taking place September 1 and 2, you’ll learn from Ron Tanner and Michael Sas, two seasoned experts with deep knowledge of how to help brands succeed. Over the 6 hours of interactive sessions, they’ll cover how to sell and distribute products in the U.S. how to market and promote your brand, including trade shows like the Fancy Food Show; and how to ensure that you’re in compliance with U.S. law and import regulations. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions as well. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and interact with your classmates right here in our SFA Community Hub. We’ll have a private group where you can continue the conversation and follow one another as you continue your journey to success in the United States. If you have any questions about whether Passport is right for you, please email us at education@specialtyfood.com.
  14. Sorry to hear that the link is causing trouble -- I will look into that now and will send you the directory directly!
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