SA's small food businesses prepare to Ready Set Grow

A new program will assist and accelerate growth for start-up food businesses and value-adding agribusinesses in South Australia.

Launched by Food South Australia, with the support of Primary Industries and Regions SA, the Ready Set Grow Program is open to businesses with an annual turnover under $300,000 and that have been operating for less than five years.

“This program is modelled on our successful Agribusiness Growth Program (AGP), which targets food businesses with an annual turnover above $300,000. Ready Set Grow recognises that start-up businesses have differing strategic needs from more mature businesses and can find it hard to access the right support at this early stage of operation,” said Food South Australia CEO Catherine Sayer.

Ready Set Grow includes an independent assessment of each business to identify their top three priorities for growth, along with individual coaching and workshops with food industry specialists to develop skills in financial management, marketing, distribution, sales growth and business systems.

Three businesses that successfully participated in the Agribusiness Growth Program will be sharing their experiences in Ready Set Grow. Careme Pastry, Barossa Traditional & Gourmet Pizza and Gelato Bello have all applied new skills developed by participating in the AGP and seen successful business growth as a result.

Barossa Traditional & Gourmet Pizza’s Donna Noble said the business evaluation was especially valuable because their company had grown so quickly.

“It highlighted that we are currently not set up correctly if we want to keep growing. I found our evaluator helpful in explaining where we could look at improving as well as the strengths of our business,” Donna said.

Applications for the Ready Set Grow Program are open until Friday, 30 September and can be completed online.

“At the end of this program, participating businesses will have a greater understanding of key business concepts and industry best practice, and a practical, prioritised plan of action for successful business growth,” Catherine said.