SPICE (Specialized Program in Cooking Entrepreneurship)
SPICE (Specialized Program in Cooking Entrepreneurship) is a program offered by Centre for Women in Business for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).
A complimentary program for underrepresented Nova Scotian women ready to move from their kitchen tables to a fully compliant food business. SPICE provides 8 weeks of active learning and ongoing support for up to a year, covering food safety standards, business planning, and compliance.
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Program details
Limited to 12 women per cohort, SPICE is offered in hybrid format with in-person sessions within HRM. Priority is given to Black Nova Scotian women, Black women of African descent, Indigenous women, and immigrant women. Participants draft a business plan including market strategy, financial projections, and operational requirements; identify resources and support organizations in the food and beverage industry; experience a working commercial kitchen; establish a registered and licensed food business; develop a hiring plan; explore additional product opportunities; register their food business with Nova Scotia Joint Stock; access food and safety resources; create a Food Safety Plan; learn to label food products according to Nova Scotia Food and Agriculture standards; and develop products for retail distribution. Successful applicants receive support for starting their business, registration, insurance, licenses, childcare, safety training, taxi fare, and commercial kitchen rental.
Who qualifies
Underrepresented women with an idea about starting a food business in Nova Scotia, or who have been selling food products without formal training or business plan, or interested in transitioning from a home kitchen to a licensed facility, or immigrant women selling cultural food unaware of Nova Scotia's provincial food regulations. Priority given to Black Nova Scotian women, Black women of African descent, Indigenous women, and immigrant women.
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