The challenges of bringing a food product to market can be daunting. Thinking that you have a great idea, and making it a reality, can be worlds apart. How many times have you heard the words: “We were undercapitalized.” This is one of many statements, that food owners say, time-and-time again.
Our leading panel of experts are here to help you navigate your way. From product development to packaging, manufacturing, distribution and finance, we will share best practices and helpful tips for building a sustainable, profitable food product business.
Carol Coutrier
President / Massachusetts Specialty Foods Association
Carol Coutrier offers consulting services to specialty foods entrepreneurs through her company, The Launching Pad & Co. Her entrepreneurial journey began when she co-founded “Just Kids,” the first after school program for the Lincoln and Sudbury, MA public schools, focusing on the arts and performing arts. She was the co-founder and president of The Hommus Factory, Inc., the first company to introduce hommus to supermarkets in New England and the first company to add flavors to hommus. She uses the skills developed and lessons learned from this 16 year experience to help entrepreneurs grow their enterprises. Special skills include determining marketability of products, naming of products/companies, new product development, long range planning and pricing. All of her resources and contacts are available to clients for strategic advice. She is president of the Massachusetts Specialty Foods Association and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Northeast Chapter. She was a finalist for New England Women Business Owner’s “Business Woman of the Year” award, 1995.
Bonnie Shershow
Founder / Bonnie's Jams
Bonnie Shershow is Bonnie of Bonnie’s Jams, also known as, “ace jam-maker,” by the Washington Post. Bonnie learned to love cooking with fruit as a child in Southern California, where her family lived surrounded by acres of fruit trees and berry bushes. The memory of that magic fruit-filled land followed Bonnie east, and the pursuit of producing the perfect jam was the constant in a long and varied career. She has been in Cambridge since attending graduate school at Harvard and began selling her jams commercially in 2000. Recognition by Food & Wine Magazine, The New York Times, and other publications expanded the sales of her products throughout New England to top shops in New York City and other areas in the Northeast and across the country to the South, to California, and now to Europe. Bonnie’s Jams is now a full-time endeavor.
Lisa Sutton
Founder / Kitchen Local
Lisa Sutton is the Founder of Kitchen Local, the North Shore's first commercial shared-use kitchen, filling a niche for small-scale food producers by providing around-the-clock modern, affordable, convenient, and permitted kitchen workspace. Prior to launching Kitchen Local, Lisa worked as the director of fund development at Opportunity Works in Newburyport. With her three kids growing older, Lisa decided to explore new professional opportunities and always had dreams of opening her own shared commercial kitchen. Lisa is a recipient of the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce 2013 Trailblazer Award.
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Trish Karter
Founder / Dancing Deer
Trish Karter is the Co-Founder and former CEO of Dancing Deer Baking Company, a Boston-based producer of high-end, natural baked goods sold nationwide. Prior to her work at Dancing Deer, Trish earned her MBA at Yale University and afterwards spent years exploring her love of art. An unintended turn of events led to a return to entrepreneurship, where originally with partners, then on her own, built Dancing Deer into one of the most respected natural food brands and a leader in triple bottom line practice. Trish left Dancing Deer in 2010 to pursue her interests in nutrition, sustainability, social justice and dematerialization, which led to the founding of LightEffect Farms and explorations in Urban Agriculture. She also advises specialty food companies on capital structure and fundraising to market strategy, consumer insights and product development.
