Anyone successfully launch a food product?

[Fishman7]

I have a friend that sells his sauce in grocery stores and specialty stores, it is a marinade or salad dressing. He had to have a seperate kitchen inspeced for cleanliness and to make sure his diswashers were up the required temp's but ihis kitchen is nothing special and litterally attached onto his garage. the bottles are sealed with a simple sealing tape, he applied for his bar code, and then started selling it around the area, even the local Subways use it! He generates around 50k profit everyyear and works from home, lord help him if he ever gets sued so that is why you want to have insurance or at the very least an "s" corp. to protect yourself.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by the

I saw on the Food Channel a piece on this grandma who made great chicken soup. She started just selling it to people, then started a website and is apparently now a huge business.

She apparently just makes the stuff in her kitchen, puts it in bottles and ships it out. There didn't seem to be much regulation involved.

http://www.grandmaschickensoup.com/

Thank you! these guys are 20 minutes away. will pass along and see if she can talk with them. The kitchen looks a little rundown, but is a professional kitchen that looks like it would pass normal restaurant codes. I'm amazed that she just puts this stuff in jars and then freezes it. Would have imagined vacuum sealing being mandatory.

What my friend makes is similar, but would go in a plastic tray with vacuumed seal across the top, then frozen. Al tray with oven reheat would be better for the food, but quick comfort food will sell better.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Fishman7

I have a friend that sells his sauce in grocery stores and specialty stores, it is a marinade or salad dressing. He had to have a seperate kitchen inspeced for cleanliness and to make sure his diswashers were up the required temp's but ihis kitchen is nothing special and litterally attached onto his garage. the bottles are sealed with a simple sealing tape, he applied for his bar code, and then started selling it around the area, even the local Subways use it! He generates around 50k profit everyyear and works from home, lord help him if he ever gets sued so that is why you want to have insurance or at the very least an "s" corp. to protect yourself.

I've always wanted to do this with a marinade/dressing I created years ago, but never thought I could. it won a best of boston magazine award with grilled chicken tenderloins.

Does he sell just one sauce or more?

[Fishman7]

Just one sauce, but he sells it in a small jar and gallon form, funny he is an older fellow and his label has his image on it; Members Only jacket and all! I recall the code was easy for him to pass, the jars, lids and seal were easy to source but he did have a small pain in the a_ _ with the bar code. A local grocery store wanted to buy the business from him but he turned it down, it is a nice income for a retired person.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks. Can you say what his sauce is? sounds like a great little business once up and running.

[RWebb]

my neighbor has done this several times in the organic/health food area

he is always complaining that some large co. has ripped him off on his food ideas, recipes, etc.

so tell your friend to be VERY careful

AND people who who share your political beliefs, etc. may still rip you off...

[jyl]

You should study how little niche food products get started, distributed, and survive despite all the ripoffs and mega-companies. Like "Annie's" mac and cheese, "Ben & Jerrys", etc. I'd guess you need somethng unique that Kraft, General Mills, Campbells, Heinz, etc can't do. Like an ingredient list that is both appealing to consumer (ultra organic or whatever) and not practical for big industrial food manufacturing.

[vash]

there is a lady that sells tamales out of an ice chest, running about in san francisco. hell, i think she is on YELP!

i think it is cool, that someone can make money selling a food item they got really good at. i know a lady selling chicken and beef pot pies. i think she went main stream now, and is making a decent living. i never talked business logistics with her tho...

[tabs]

I always launch a food product the day after a Buffet...only by then it isn't food anymore...

[the]

[cgarr]

I think Tabs was talking the other end!

[the]

someone else can post that pic.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by jyl

You should study how little niche food products get started, distributed, and survive despite all the ripoffs and mega-companies. Like "Annie's" mac and cheese, "Ben & Jerrys", etc. I'd guess you need somethng unique that Kraft, General Mills, Campbells, Heinz, etc can't do. Like an ingredient list that is both appealing to consumer (ultra organic or whatever) and not practical for big industrial food manufacturing.

good idea, thanks!

[K. Roman]

You mean her.


A friend of mine is her attorney. She is PAID!!!

Originally Posted by vash

there is a lady that sells tamales out of an ice chest, running about in san francisco. hell, i think she is on YELP!

i think it is cool, that someone can make money selling a food item they got really good at. i know a lady selling chicken and beef pot pies. i think she went main stream now, and is making a decent living. i never talked business logistics with her tho...