Picture this: You’re strolling the coffee aisle at Publix. You spot your favorite locally roasted coffee — Patriot Craft Coffee — on the shelves and freak out. You thought it was only available online. Score — add 3 bags to cart.

And then you wonder, how did this small brand make it onto the big shelves at Publix?

This spring, Catapult is hosting a Consumer Packaged Goods Accelerator Program to help small, local businesses to understand how to pursue wholesale clients like Publix. To get started, small food/bev brands need to have a product that’s sold to the public + a current annual food permit from the DBPR or Dept. of Agriculture. If that sounds like your biz, fill out the application by March 17, and mark your calendar starting Tues., March 23.

The 9-week program features weekly 3-hour sessions with each class planned to teach businesses something new — including branding, design + scaling.

The program will highlight several aspects of launching a brand onto the shelves of a store and into consumer’s carts with topics such as:

Industry contacts for packaging, shelf life testing, etc.
Strategic planning for pursuing wholesale accounts
Q&A sessions with industry veterans
Product packaging & design feedback panels
Market with the general public and industry experts in attendance
Opportunities to pitch to retailers for select participants

The program is $225 for Catapult members and $450 for non-members. Sessions will proceed with COVID precautions, including a socially distanced classroom setup and provided hand sanitizer + masks. Interested? Register by March 17. Ⓟ