Make it course to grow region's food bounty.

MAKE IT COURSE TO GROW REGION’S FOOD BOUNTY.

COIN South, The Southern Pioneers Food Hub, Great South and SIT have joined forces to bring together the region’s food bounty with an eight week intensive food business development course. 

Starting late August, the Make It course has been launched to help food producers and makers grow and scale their business. The course aims to give foodies the business fundamentals for running a food based business, as well as the practical experience of using a test commercial kitchen to produce your product ready to take to market. 

“The partnership between the four organisations means that we can provide founders with entrepreneurial support with the practical application of the test kitchen at Southern Food Pioneers Hub, so they’ll leave the course with a product ready to market” Cathy Peter, Interim Chief Activator of COIN South says. 

The Southern Pioneers Food Hub, managed by Jane Stanton and Chris Fraser, provides a commercial grade test kitchen for food makers in the region that is unique to other parts of New Zealand. 

“Bringing together our amazing food bounty with entrepreneurial people, supported by business and food smarts from Coin South and the Southern Pioneers Food Hub, is a winner for Southland” says Mary-Anne Webber, Future Food and Fibre Sector Manager of Great South. 

“Developing new food businesses that build on our diverse food basket is a key opportunity for Southland. These new businesses will add interest and character to the region while creating jobs and brightening Southland’s future”. 

In addition to packaging, product development, branding and coaching, Make It also offers additional opportunities for the course participants including a NZQA certified program looking at food safety, and in alignment with the Food Control Plan run by SIT.

“Make It will accelerate the rate with which the businesses progress. By providing a full wrap round support in an intensive time block, we know that we can help these founders to navigate the noise and provide them with the expertise that they need '' says Cathy Peters.