4 Benefits Of Having An Organic Food Certified Product

4 Benefits Of Having An Organic Food Certified Product

4 Benefits Of Having An Organic Food Certified Product

You just got your new product finished, you got your Schedule Process, and now you’re ready to get your product to mainstream markets and supermarkets. But then your wondering should you get your product organic food certified or not. But let me tell you this first, not all products need an organic food certification. You have to use your best judgment. To decide that question first we need to talk about some of the benefits of having an organic food certified product will provide.

1. Increase Brand Awareness

Once you get your product approved, as an organic certified product, you are permitted to use the USDA Organic logol that you can put on your product labels. With increased demands of organic foods by consumers and retailers these days it allows you to capitalize on this organic growth movement. Having your organic food certified gives you the opportunity to get your product exposure to a new set of locations and customers that are not too familiar with your brand. Brand awareness is important for any business to consider because it helps with marketing your business and your products. Having your product certified organic can help garner some attraction to some of your older products that haven’t been getting conversions.

2. Acceptance To More Markets

Now that your product has been certified it has the potential to open more doors than you have previously experienced. There are some markets and stores out there that will only sell organic products. For example, you would normally see a local health food shop featuring their top organic food certified products. So basically if you would like to be accepted into some of the smaller or local organic markets having an organic certified product might be your ticket into those places. 

3. More Revenue

Of course, every business wants to be successful and make money. And to do that you have to get your product to bring in sales. Without sales you are not going to be able to expand your business. But how does getting your organic food certified help you generate sales? Well think about it like this, have you ever been to Whole Foods Supermarket before? Did you ever notice how organic foods are more expensive than regular food? Which means you can price your products higher because it is organic certified. Some people only buy and eat organic food so that’s added bonus insentive get your organic certification. There are many opportunities to make a good amount of money in this industry.

4. Organic Food Certified Trust

Some people are very picky about what they put into their bodies. And some people take their health very seriously. Customers like that are more likely to buy your product if it’s organic. Right now the organic lifestyle is trending upwards. People are trusting in brands that are marked as certified organic more and more. So there are positive possibilities and potential benefits for business growth and success in this industry.

In a world where product reputation is extremely important. You should always strive to produce the best versions of your products. Just because you have a certified organic product does not mean you get a pass to create bad products. Your customers are putting their trust into you and your product because you put that organic certified seal on your product. You can’t claim your product is organic if when it’s not. You can land yourself in some serious trouble doing that. Think about it’s always harder to rebuild a good reputation once you’ve lost it.

Like I mentioned before, you might not need to get your product organic certified. And having an organic certification does not mean your guaranteed anything? Do your research and concentrate on making your product the best that it can be for worrying about any certifications.

Of course, when you’re ready for your organic certification you can contact us at Organic Food Incubator to help you get it started. Contact us HERE! 

Continue Reading: Where To Start? How To Start Producing And Selling Your Product!



Where To Start? How To Start Producing And Selling Your Product!

Where To Start? How To Start Producing And Selling Your Product

Where To Start? How To Start Producing And Selling Your Product!

Where to start? So you have an incredible product that you want to produce and sell. We would love to help–but before we do, here are some steps to streamline the process:

  1. Know your product–understand the measurements and ingredients needed to make your product. The food products we work often have a natural, generally organic ingredients. Understand what your options are for wholesale ingredients and what the most cost-effective way to store and purchase them. If possible, come prepared with a scheduled process. If you are not able to create one, the OFI provides services to create one for your product.
  2. What equipment will you need? While the Organic Food Incubator has equipment for several needs, you potentially need something we do not currently have. For information about the equipment, we have available check here.
  3. How will you package your product? Depending on the product needs packaging may differ. When picking the packaging to think about maintaining flavor, freshness, product shape, and if production will affect the package (i.e. heat or freezing product).
  4. Have a timeline of your production expectations. Is this the first time you are producing this product–do you want to run a trial run? Do you expect to produce monthly, weekly, etc? Have an idea of where you see your business going.
  5. Make sure you have the licensing and insurance to produce your product. There are accredited programs that offer training and licensing.

If you do not know this information and your still not sure where to start, OFI provides consulting services to help you make your product. For consulting services, reach out here.

Continue Reading: 3 Reasons Why Getting A Scheduled Process Is Important

Margins And Costs| Where Is Your Profit?

Margins And Costs| Where Is Your Profit?

Margins And Costs Where Is Your Profit?

When we are talking about Margins And Costs relating to the food manufacturing industry you need to know somethings. After you finally get your product distributed to the supermarkets, and now you’re looking for where is your profit?

Unfortunately, you do not get to take home your retail price. Before you see a profit, the grocer’s margin is deducted, the distributor’s margin is deducted and your costs are deducted. The amount that is remaining is your profit.

Grocer’s margins are a percentage of the retail price. sometimes put to 40%.

Distributor’s margins are a percentage of the grocer’s cost, sometimes up to 35%

Your profit is the difference between all of your costs and your selling price.

Your costs can include ingredients, packaging, labor (in house or co-packer). These are call cost of goods sold. In addition, your costs also include marketing, insurance, social media, website, utilities, sales staff and more.

Proper planning prevents poor performance. Before launch, consider all of the factors that will affect your profit and your margins.

Read Next: Who is My Target Market? 

Business Tip: Pretend You Are Bigger Than You Are

Business Tip: Pretend You Are Bigger Than You Are

Business Tip: Pretend You Are Bigger Than You Are

Just like meeting a person for the first time, businesses often make judgments on first impressions. Here’s a business tip that you might want to consider.

Other businesses are hesitant to give out information to consumers, so it helps if you can seem like your are a larger established business, even if you are just starting out.

Have your business formation information ready. EIN number, LLC documents, prepared W9, website and business email addresses prior to contacting vendors, suppliers, potential clients or distributors.

Product producers will often ask for this information prior to giving out bulk pricing for packaging and ingredients. They prefer that the small guy goes through a distributor. However, it is essential for your business planning to know what the bulk direct from distributor pricing will be…even if you will most likely not order from them for 6 months to 3 years.

Supply the necessary information and maybe even create an account. Get the information you need. Price per pallet, price per truckload, and lastly ask what the minimum order is.

This research will help you greatly in determining if your great hobby will also make a great business.




Read Another Business Tip: Where Is Your Profits?

Filing A Scheduled Process

Filing A Scheduled Process

Filing A Scheduled Process

For most shelf-stable fluid products it is necessary to obtain a Scheduled Process prior to processing.

A scheduled process is your recipe and procedure, which has been review and edited by a recognized process authority. With very few exceptions, if you are making a product that is fluid and shelf-stable, you will be required to have a scheduled process.

The FDA regulates the production of food and requires that the scheduled process be registered with the FDA.

The links below will take you to some recognized process authorities:

Food Science New England – – Fred Jewett – fred.fsne@gmail.com

NorthEast Labs 

Cornell University

University of Maine

North Carolina State University   or NCSU Filing Page 

To obtain a scheduled process, you will submit:

  1. Your recipe. Each ingredient must be measured by weight (pounds, ounces, grams, kilograms). Choose one unit of measure stick with it.
  2. Your method. This are the production steps.

The scheduled process is a formal document and must be followed exactly, by you or by your co-packer.

You may do this yourself, or we will do it for you. The advantage of using our services is that we have filed many processes and understand the pitfalls that slow the process. We are normally able to have the process approved faster with less difficulty. We review your process and offer suggestions to help speed you on your way to production.

It is to your advantage to streamline the process and allow for as many variables as possible.  For example, if you make 5 fl oz bottles, but you think maybe in the future, you want to make half gallons, ask the process authority to write it for “4 fl oz up to 128 fl oz”

You may also ask them to write statements such as “Water may be added to thin the product to the correct consistency” or “Vinegar may be added to adjust pH”

If it is not on the document, you are prohibited from making adjustments without permission.

It is also important for you to know how many gallons of product (this is a unit of volume) or unit of product produced by this quantity.

The process authority will make adjustments to your recipe and procedure to ensure that it can be safely held at room temperature. This may include the addition of acid, salt, sugar, or other additives to create the correct pH or water activity.

Do not be afraid to question the additions if you think that it will change the flavor or texture of the product. There may be other options.

Once you have your scheduled process, you are ready to go into production and can safely make a shelf-stable product.

We here at Organic Food Incubator would love to assists you in gaining your scheduled process. Click here to get started: Get Started Now!