Getting home food product on the market. Where and how to get started!

Have a wonderful salsa recipe that I have been making for many years. At the insistence of friends, neighbors, bar owners and family, I am trying to get this into the market place, but keep running into blank walls. Am pursuing to get patent on the recipe, but where and how do you go about getting this put into a container and into the market place?! Would appreciate your help. Thanks, Mark

By W.DeBord on Friday, August 04, 2000 - 08:08 am: Edit

Mark how many millions do you have to produce, market and distribute your product? You can bottle it and sell it through the specialty food market yourself. Expect to be the 99,999 person who's tried to do that and failed. Even if you weren't talking salsa it's a rare rare product that makes it into development successfully....but salsa is sold by everyone everywhere (meaning it's a crowded market).

Through out the years I've known two people who have tried to market their own food lines. They couldn't begin to get shelf space in a grocery store. They tried the specialty food market and that's a crowded not so profitable market. They also tried taking their product to the big guys to make. That was an insult and a joke.

Some dreams are dreams and should stay that way unless your last name is Neuman. Have fun making and selling your product in your area just as your doing now, if success comes from that, buy a lottery ticket.

By Kaosfury (Kaosfury) on Friday, August 04, 2000 - 11:47 am: Edit

I would like to point out that you probably would have better success starting small. You obviously have people locally that like the product. See about packaging and selling locally and build from there.

Karl

By Panini (Panini) on Sunday, August 06, 2000 - 07:08 am: Edit

Mark,
There are many negetives to starting your own business. But there are a few positives too. Don't be talked out of your dreams, but don't blow the farm either.
I have a friend who's doing the same thing. He's having someone produce and bottle the product for him. This cuts into his margin but it also reduces his start up costs. At my suggestion he incprperated and put up his capital against a line of credit at the bank. The interest on your monies will ofset your loan a little.
He purchases his bottles in Mexico and has them shipped. He had to birddog the production for a while until the manufacture had it down pat.
Now he goes to all the local food shows and has gotten his product into a couple of places. He has a booth at the farmers market which does pretty good too.
Anyway, I guess I'm saying, don't be talked out of something you might really enjoy. Everything is usually hard in the begining.
Good Luck
panini

By Panini (Panini) on Sunday, August 06, 2000 - 07:21 am: Edit

Mark,
There is also a family at my sons school that is doing this too. casapiedrafoods.com . I don't know if he will talk to you but you can give it a try.
panini

By Harvey Christie on Thursday, March 15, 2001 - 06:30 pm: Edit

Mark,
Your in luck.. Thats what I do! My company takes recipes like yours and goes through all the red tape, then bottles, labels, wharehouses and drop ships your product.. We can start you out with as little as 360 jars and can produce 360000 if you need it. Of course the best price is in large batches but we have produced for loads of small startups and seen them grow. Call me, I'll help you get started with out getting you broke.. 304-822-6047 email at chef_harv@yahoo.com

By Mr. DJ on Sunday, June 03, 2001 - 04:43 pm: Edit

Mark,

Curious as to what ever happen to your idea? I am trying to find out a way to bottle and market my own deal. I was hoping that you could provide some feed back. Thanks.

-DJ