Looking to start a plant-based food business? Considering the increasing demand for veganism in the United States, that’s a great idea. However, there are several challenges you should consider before diving into this specific segment of the food industry to ensure your venture provides you with solid returns in the future.
Here are five very important questions that you must ask yourself before starting a plant-based food business.
Question#1: Do I understand federal food safety regulations?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates plant-based food products, so it’s critical that your business practices fall under their safety regulations. Therefore, you should make sure that you understand the requirements set by the FDA and any other regulatory bodies in your state. This will ensure that your business is operating under a legal framework and isnot subject to penalties and fines in the future.
Question#2: Do I have enough money to purchase machinery and equipment?
The market for plant-based food products is highly competitive. Therefore, it’s important to deliver products that have the right taste and textures to appeal to a broader audience; that too at competitive prices.
And this means investing in advanced machinery and equipment. So you need to ensure that you have enough capital to scale up your business so you can manufacture products at a certain price point.
Question#3: Can I scale up my production and manage distribution?
When you start your plant-based food business, you’ll eventually have to scale up your business to meet consumer demands. This will require you to increase production capacity and develop effective distribution channels, which will require additional space.
You also have to figure out the storage and supply chain. It’s important to devise a comprehensive strategy to ensure you can scale up your business.
Question#4: How do I engineer processing lines that are cost-friendly and efficient?
You should create future projections and work out a roadmap for the expansion of processing lines down the line, as it will give you an idea of additional capital that you’ll need in the future. Ignoring these costs can create financial complications in the future. Aside from considering the types of machinery and equipment, you’ll need to improve your processing lines, you‘ve to figure out which markets you should target to avoid a bottleneck.
Question#5: Where do I see my business in the next five years?
If you want your plant-based food business to succeed, you’ve to wait a few years until you establish a brand name, getting returns on your investment and start earning profits. So it’s important to ask yourself “Where do I see my business in the next five years?”
This will help you to set realistic expectations and keep your priorities in check. It will also help you in setting up milestones and assessing your progress in the long-term.
Looking to start your plant-based food business? Get in touch with CFAM Technologies today! We offer advanced manufacturing solutions, specialized machine design services, training & capacity building, and product development services to help our industrial clients to conduct their business in the most affordable and efficient manner. For more details, contact us on +27 (0) 18 285 1031 or visit our website.