Navigating Your Food Business Success Series: Professional Development Opportunities Across North Carolina
North Carolina food manufacturers, processors, and food entrepreneurs now have access to a free, statewide professional development series designed to strengthen business operations, improve food safety practices, and support long-term growth. The Navigating Your Food Business Success Series brings together industry experts, Extension professionals, and partner organizations to deliver practical training for businesses at every stage of development.
This program goes beyond basic food safety training. While safe food handling remains a foundational element of any successful operation, this series focuses on continuous improvement across the full spectrum of food business success. Topics are designed to help companies refine systems, strengthen compliance, and scale sustainably in a competitive marketplace.
Whether a business is just getting started or already operating within retail, wholesale, or food hub markets, the sessions are structured to provide actionable insights that can be immediately applied. From regulatory guidance to marketing strategy and financial planning, participants will gain tools to help them grow with confidence.
Webinar Series Overview
The Success Series webinars will be held weekly on Wednesdays with two convenient time options:
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Each session features subject matter experts covering key topics for food business development:
May 6: Got to Be NC with the NCDA Marketing Program
May 13: Marketing & Competitive Analysis
May 20: Grant Writing for Food Businesses
May 27: Taxes, Licenses, and Business Considerations with EDPNC
June 3: Labeling Do’s and Don’ts
June 10: Retail Foods, Food Trucks, and Other Opportunities
June 17: Third-Party Auditing Preparation
In-Person Workshops and Networking Opportunities
In addition to the virtual webinars, in-person evening sessions will be hosted in partnership with local Small Business Centers across Eastern, Central, and Western North Carolina throughout May and June. These regional workshops provide hands-on support and direct networking opportunities with industry professionals.
Participants will receive a new Food Safety Implementation Guide along with practical templates and recordkeeping tools designed to improve daily operations. Sessions will focus on key technical areas including personnel hygiene, written policy development, process controls, labeling and allergens, and recall planning.
Upcoming in-person events include:
Western Wake County: May 5
Registration: https://go.ncsu.edu/may5navigatingevent
Wilmington (Eastern NC): June 11 (registration details coming soon)
Additional regional events are currently being finalized.
Full registration information and updates are available here: https://foodsafetyprocessors.ces.ncsu.edu/find-a-training-course/
This series reflects a broader effort to support North Carolina’s food economy by equipping businesses with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to grow stronger, operate more efficiently, and remain competitive in an evolving marketplace.