Archive for ‘Food Business’

Start a Food Business Based on a Tradition?

By Susie, 3 January, 2009,

Pigs pigs everywhere! For the first time ever, my Christmas season was marked with candy pigs, yet of completely different traditions. This got me thinking that there are surely other symbols and goods that have potential to become time-honored traditions, much like these:

Marzipan pigs – I’ve eaten plenty of German sweets but somehow I was surprised when my friend handed me a traditional Christmas marzipan pig from Niederegger, a two-centuries old marzipan manufacturer that makes other “lucky charm” candies in various shapes.
Now searching Amazon I see marzipan pigs everywhere – in art, books (The Marzipan Pig by Russell Hoban!), and all sorts of pig-shaped candies.
The Peppermint Pig – “You don’t know about the peppermint pig?” my party hostess asked, handing me a ham-colored, shrinkwrapped hard candy pig from a felt bag along with a little silver hammer.The tradition is to smash it, pass around the plate, and eat a piece for good luck.This pig hails from a Victorian tradition.Saratoga.com tells how “in the 1880’s, Jim Menges produced the first Peppermint Pig….Over time the pig was lost, but the memories of it were not forgotten. It was not until 1986 that the pig reemerged and the seasonal ritual began again.” Saratoga Sweets tells how the pig was reborn: “Using borrowed candy molds and the original recipe, about 100 Peppermint Pigs™ were made just in time for sale that Christmas Eve Day. We were greeted that snowy morning by a crowd of Saratogians of all ages gleefully waiting to get their first Peppermint Pig™ in over 50 years.”Now packaged with a little metal hammer to smash the pig, the candy is much more than a sweet but a symbolic tradition…of which they sell 120,000 each year.

See more about the Peppermint Pig phenomenon and share your ideas: What food tradition is waiting to happen? Better yet, start it then let me know!

Sweet Holiday Food Gifts on Foodzie

By Susie, 19 December, 2008,

Literally just in time for the holidays, Foodzie launched its new website that brings together a group of artisan food makers in a marketplace that will make any bonafide foodie’s heart race. Until December 31st, everything is 20% off (much like the rest of the world is discounted these days!)

I’ve had the pleasure of helping them connect with great small food companies, to help them set up their stores. If you know me or have read my blog you’ll know that is a pure delight for me!

The selection of producers will grow quickly, and we’re excited to introduce food you might not find anywhere nearby. you can find gifts including:

boxes including a selection of sweets and savories from San Francisco-based La Cocina’s great food entrepeneurs,
caramelly marshmallowy decadence from Bon Bon Bar of Los Angeles.
and a lot more than sweets: teas and coffee, spices and sauces, and even the thoughtfully conceived Q Tonic – tonic water from Brooklyn

What are you still doing here? Check out Foodzie and share your ideas (on Get Satisfaction) for other great artisan food companies who could benefit from reaching new customers through Foodzie. Or email the team!

Happy holidays and happy eating!

Tomato Fight Comes Home to Roost

By Susie, 11 December, 2008,

I never thought the same day I was raving about La Tomatina, the world’s biggest tomato fight that takes place in Spain, the front page of SF Gate would announce a fight with the country’s largest tomato processor.

Reading about “food that didn’t match the quality advertised on labels” reminds me of childhood ketchup urban legends. It also reinforces why knowing exactly who made the food you eat, and reducing the supply chain, is so much better than food processed in large factories.

For example, try June Taylor’s racketeering-free ketchup. Or try making your own!

Want to Start an Online Artisan Food Business?

By Susie, 6 September, 2008,

Sometimes surfing the Internet really pays off, and I hope your stumbling upon this blog post pays off for you as well:

Through trend-spotting site Springwise, I discovered Foodzie.com, which they cleverly describe as the “Etsy for artisan food.”

Foodzie could be huge, in terms of exposing many online stores to people browsing around.

On a related note, do you know about LocalHarvest.org? Before “locavore,” Local Harvest was cataloguing farms and farmer’s markets all over the US from the bottom of their hearts.

Is your heart racing, thinking of possible good businesses to start on Foodzie?

Well, think of Local Harvest as a great source to not only discover new great quality, fresh, and sometimes exotic produce, nuts, honey etc.—and order directly from growers. (The passion fruit caught my eye. Who knew this tropical fruit was growing right there in Ventura County!)

If one day you remember you read this here, please chime in. You have a taste tester here at your disposal.