Our Food Business Partnership Program

How it works 

The Partnership program workshops are all run by Jane Del Rosso, owner of The Business of Food. The cost of the workshop is subsidised by your organisation such that it can be offered at minimal or zero cost to your participants. Each program is capped at 10 participants and runs over the course of 4-6 weeks.

Our current partners have also offered participants access to shared office and meeting spaces, plus promotional and administration support. We will gladly work with you to tailor a partnership that meets everyone’s needs.

“We really enjoy partnering with Councils because it brings likeminded neighbours together who otherwise would never have met. They not only get the skills they need—they gain friends who can then support each other through their food business journeys.”
— Jane Del Rosso, Founder, The Business of Food

What’s covered in the pre-accelerator program? 

Topics have been chosen from our firsthand experience of the challenges experienced by most food business owners while establishing or scaling their food business (as well as the risks of not having these concepts in place). 

Subject matter experts come in to teach about:

  • Planning

    learn concepts of a one-page business plan providing the foundation for your business

  • Pricing

    Investigate and collate costs to price your food product correctly (a huge pitfall!)

  • Packaging

    learn basics of physical attributes, food safety, operational efficiency, retail suitability

  • Promotion

    research target market, how to approach retailers, determine wholesale vs retail

  • Processes

    learn about records and tools to support commercial operation

Participants also receive weekly one-on-one coaching and mentorship with Jane.

“The Program was really well facilitated by Jane Del Rosso— nothing was a problem for her. The knowledge that the program provided to me and my wife, as far as product, packaging, sales and other critical matters was totally comprehensive and very meaningful. With the different businesses participating in the Program, everyone was able to bounce off each other and provide feedback that gave extra value to the Program.” is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
— Colin and Elizabeth, Haggis business

Interested in bringing this to your local area or organisation? 

To learn more, please contact Jane directly to book a meeting to discuss partnership options.

  • “Another massive shout out to Jane and the Business of Food, for delivering such engaging workshops, invaluable mentoring sessions, and providing the necessary tools to assist you in pursuing your dream.”

    Brimbank City Council Economic Development

  • “The Ignite Program facilitated by Jane Del Ross is good for those with an idea who want to progress it further. The 1:1 mentoring offered by Jane as part of the Program was a great help. It was also great to have the opportunity to access the i-Harvest co-working space while the Program was running. “

    Damien Stewart, Native Spices

  • “The Ignite Program was really well facilitated by Jane Del Rosso, nothing was a problem for her. The knowledge that the program provided to me and my wife, as far as product, packaging, sales and other critical matters was totally comprehensive and very meaningful. With the different businesses participating in the Program, everyone was able to bounce off each other and provide feedback that gave extra value to the Program. “

    Colin and Elizabeth, Kilted Haggis

  • “Jane is a fantastic facilitator for the Program and I can thoroughly recommend people to participate in any workshop or program that has her involvement. “

    Pamela Wilson, Participant

  • “The Ignite Program is great for someone looking to start their food business from scratch and don’t know their way around the rules and regulations. Jane Del Rosso is your person to go to. “

    Sadaf Adnan, participant

  • “Jane Del Rosso was amazing, she is a fantastic facilitator. Jane has great skills and knowledge. Extra sessions to see her outside of the course were really helpful and personalised the Program to my business idea and let all the participants address any other issues they had. The Ignite Program is perfect for someone starting a food business as it covers all the basics. “

    Loredana De-Simone, Rybka,

  • “Fantastic. I really enjoyed the Ignite Program. I got along with the others and it was great to see different aspects of different businesses which provided insight to how to view my own established business. “

    Issy Nakhuda, Vanilla

  • “I wanted to express my gratitude for your time and the lessons you’ve supplied us with. I’m very excited for the future and to launch my new products!”

    Lola, Low Carb High Protein pasta sauces

  • “Thank you so much for your support and mentorship during the Ignite program. It was an eye opener experience for me and the information invaluable. I will miss your passion and enthursiastic enery from our classes and one on one sessions. I can’t believe the course is over… the past 5 weeks has been invaluable and I have enjoyed every part of it!”

    Teresa, allergen friendly baked goods

  • “Thanks for your time and support. You supplied me with a lot of information which I will start working in the coming couple of weeks. Thanks for highlighting the next tasks and sending me recipe costing sheets and links as well. I kept all the records and screenshots. I am starting product development with recipe and will be in touch again soon.”

    Habtamu, snack foods for 10-16yo

  • "Thank you, Jane. I am in the kitchen today but I have to say I worked through the recipe template in detail yesterday and it really was a fantastic exercise. Not just from a current perspective but also in determining the commercial viability of future products. Whilst I had all the information in separate sheets (as you saw), bringing it together as concisely as you have done is invaluable.

    Wendy, Chilli Oil