Two-Day ‘Food Business Conference’ Coming to Independence

Independence, MO – Mid-Continent Public Library’s Square One Small Business Services, in partnership with local organizations*, will host the 2022 Food Business Conference on June 10 and 11 at the Library’s Midwest Genealogy Center (3440 S. Lee's Summit Road, Independence, Mo.). The Conference will feature two full days of free workshops and seminars for current and aspiring food business owners to learn, launch, or level up their food business.

In addition to expert-led workshops, the conference will host a resource fair that will provide networking opportunities with support organizations, coaches, and fellow business owners.

“Kansas City has a vibrant culinary scene and small business community,” said Square One’s Morgan Perry. “Our goal at the 2022 Food Business Conference is to support this innovative community by providing valuable tools that entrepreneurs can use to help their ventures thrive.”

The 2022 Food Business Conference will offer classes on a wide variety of food-related topics—from considerations for mobile food businesses, to manufacturing information, tips for restaurants, and agricultural information. The conference keynote presentation will be given by Dr. A. Elizabeth Sloan, President of Sloan Trends and Solutions, Inc., who will speak about food trends. Dr. Sloan has more than 30 years of experience in nutrition trend-tracking and market assessment, and she has authored more than 450 articles on food and nutrition marketing.

Highlights and topics of the 2022 Food Business Conference include:

• A funding opportunities panel
• A small business triage session with coaches
• Legal issues for food businesses
• Mobile vending
• Restaurants 101
• The Business of Wine
• Farm to table events
• Local Procurement 101

More information about the 2022 Food Business Conference and registration can be found at mymcpl.org/FoodBiz.

*The 2022 Food Business Conference is presented in partnership with Missouri Enterprise, University of Missouri Extension, Kansas State University Research and Extension, Kansas City Section of the Institute of Food Technologists, Lenexa Public Market, Cultivate KC, KC Canning Co., Bryan Severns, and the Kansas State University-Olathe Campus.

This event is made possible in part by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.  

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