Business support services are available to all businesses in Taranaki, including those involved in food production.
Any business either looking to enter, or already operating in, the food sector can tap into Venture Taranaki's business services including free business start-up clinics, general business support, access to an experienced business mentor, capability development voucher funding for eligible businesses to grow management and governance skillsets, research and development assistance, and a range of regional intelligence products.
The following initiatives are specific to the Food Production Industry in Taranaki:
Regional Food Network
We facilitate the Taranaki Food Network, with the goal of building relationships and enabling collaboration between Taranaki companies on common goals and projects. Check out the food database to find out about who is active in the region.
Platform to launch
We aim to provide opportunities for emerging food and beverage businesses to grow. We do this by providing a range of capability-building workshops and supporting key projects and stakeholders that provide a path to market for producers and suppliers.
Trade Shows and events
We support a regional space to enable Taranaki food companies to attend New Zealand’s major food exhibition, the Auckland Food Show, to ensure the nation 'gets a taste' of Taranaki.
Locally, we support regional food sector events, such as Feastival, Taste and Tales, and the Taranaki Beer Festival. Funding for events is available through the Major Events Fund.
Research and Development
Our partnership with Massey University provides local companies with help and guidance to develop new food products or food ventures, which includes easy access to the Palmerston North-based Food Pilot Plant, the resources of the New Zealand Food Innovation Network, and portals to national funding specific to the food production and processing sector (such as Callaghan Innovation R&D grants).
Taranaki Food Database
The Taranaki Food Database supports the development of our region’s food sector, helping to create resilient and growing enterprises and economies by connecting and unearthing future potential opportunities.
The Taranaki Food Database is open to all enterprises along the entirety of the food value chain, including growers, processors, products, and service providers. It allows our community to create connections and networks, which help foster an environment for food entrepreneurship and innovation to flourish.
List your hospitality business on our website
If you own or manage a cafe, restaurant, food truck, cellar door, or bar we can list your enterprise on our website for free.
Send us an email at [email protected] including your eateries name, address, summary information, type of eatery, website, social media links, opening hours, and up to 12 high resolution images and we will create a page for you.
Grow your business
Being in business is tough. Practical advice and support can go a long way to sustain your success. Whatever sector, size or stage your business is at, Venture Taranaki’s team of Enterprise Advisors are here to help.
Our team meets with local enterprise owners every day to talk about their needs and the tools available to support them. We have access to knowledge, networks, coaching, funding and mentoring to support you and your next step for your enterprise.