Startup Dunedin and the Dunedin City Council have collated a series of helpful resources for founders, new startups, businesses, and community projects going in the food and beverage industry. This is designed to be your best first step and cover the basics of starting up in food.
If you have questions about any of this content, or you’d like to meet with us to discuss your next steps, click here!
Table of Contents
Abdal’s startup journey
Covering the basics – Compliance, Health and Safety
Support with starting up – the business end of things.
Retail – Accessing the retail space
Other important info – building use, signage, etc.
Abdal’s Startup Journey:
Covering the basics
The Dunedin City Council has guidelines on how to navigate the world of compliance when starting up in food. If you want to open or take over an existing food business, the team strongly recommend you get in touch with Environmental Health staff before you kick off.
Read about your compliance, health and safety responsibilities here.
The Dunedin City Council Environmental Health team should be the first stop you make on your food business journey. Environmental Health will let you know what policies and investment you’ll need for the type of food business you’re thinking of starting.
The Environmental Health team are enthusiastic about getting your ideas up and running and will advise you along your journey to make it as easy as possible to meet legal requirements.
Compliance and Health & Safety resources
- For help understanding packaging and labels, click here.
- For assistance finding kitchens for rent in Dunedin contact good.food@dcc.govt.nz.
- To become a registered food business, you must have a Food Control Plan and be signed off by Environmental Health.
- To set up a meeting with Environmental Health, contact the DCC Customer Services Agency on (03) 477-4000. You’ll need to provide them with the address of the premises location. For more info, click here.
- If you plan to sell/provide alcohol, you will need a license. Call (03) 477-4000 to create an appointment.
- Food handling and safety is an important requirement for food businesses. If you are unsure of the food handling regulations in New Zealand, consider taking a food handling course – click here to learn more.
Support with starting your business
Startup Dunedin offers free meetings for anyone starting up in Dunedin: no matter if you’ve got a brand new idea or you’re working on an existing startup. It doesn’t matter what your experience level is, or what sector you’re starting up in – it’s always free to access our support.
There’s no wrong door here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just get in touch with the team and we’ll help you find what you need.
- For help writing a simple business plan, click here.
- Need help registering your business? Read more here.
- For all things Tax and IRD, this guide can help.
- Marketing and branding:
- Digital Boost provides free online digital business tools.
- Canva has a wide selection of free templates and digital branding tools.
Accessing the retail space
To get into local supermarkets and other retail businesses, you’ll want to contact your local stores to see if your product fits within their range and if they are the best fit for your products.
Things to consider:
- How much can you supply? How much demand will there likely be?
- Product placement – where is it on the shelf?
- Pricing – How much will it be with markup?
- Will you do promotions?
- Do you have high quality product imagery/packaging?
Otago Farmers Market
The Otago Farmers Market is an authentic food market. It is first and foremost a FOOD MARKET, also including plants, both edible and ornamental.
All vendors are the growers or producers of their product, and all the vendors are from the wider Otago province.
- How to become a vendor.
- It can be helpful to pay a visit the farmers market and ask the question – do you have different offerings?
Other Considerations
Common Questions:
Questions and topics to consider include:
- Can I put a sign, tables and chairs out the front of my place?
- What does Fire rating mean?
- Accessibility
Food Truck / Mobile Hawkers
- What process do I need to know?
- Commercial activity on a public reserve
- Designing your food truck – what does it have to have?
- Want more info? Get in touch with the business clinic (click here).
Networks, Groups & Connections
- Food Innovation Network – Food South – Food scientists
- Good Food Dunedin – Attracting visitors and businesses, connecting people and information, leading initiatives and projects to develop Dunedin’s economy
- Startup Dunedin. Understand your market, map the competition.