Co-Packing Training & Networking Event – Charlottetown

Workshops offered simultaneously. Select which one you will participate in when registering.

Workshop A:

Keys to Successfully Hiring & Partnering with a Co–Packer

This workshop will feature an interactive discussion and exploration of the co–packer journey – from how to identify candidates that best match your objectives through to the key elements of a successful negotiation.

Topics to be covered will include:

• Pros and cons of using a Co – Packer – When Does it Make Sense?
• Methods for identifying potential co – packer candidates – Matching Co Packer Capabilities with Your Needs and Objectives
• What to Look for in a Co -Packer
• How to Assess Potential Candidates and Conduct Due Diligence
• Key Elements to be Covered in a Co Packer Agreement (e.g. Order Lead times, Ingredient and Material Sourcing Responsibilities, Food Safety Compliance Assurances, Manufacturing Capacities, Communication Protocols)

Facilitator: Alan Archibald, BusDev Analytics, Inc.

Alan Archibald has held a series of senior leadership positions in various facets of the food Industry. Prior to establishing BusDev Analytics, Inc., he was CEO of Lochiel Enterprises Ltd. and guided St. Mary’s River Smokehouses for 12 years until its sale to Cooke Seafood in late 2017. St Mary’s was Atlantic Canada’s largest Atlantic salmon smoking operation focused on the grocery segment. As a leading private label manufacturer of smoked seafood items for Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro, it was a leading co-packer in the seafood category for much of its 20-year existence.

Workshop B:

Grow your Business with Co-Packing and Private Label Manufacturing

Does your company have:

• Excess production capacity?
• Skills and capabilities in food manufacturing that are underutilized?
• Plans to grow the operational size and scale of your business?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this workshop is for you. In two hours, you will take a deep dive into the world of private label and contract manufacturing, learning both the risks and rewards and applying a tool to assess your firm’s capability to meet the expectations of potential co-packing customers.

This short course outlines the fundamentals of co-packing and helps attendees determine if contract manufacturing is right for their business.

Topics to be covered will include:

• Introduction to the types of contract manufacturing & co-packing
• Business Strategy Considerations – am I really ready to embrace co-packing?
• Financial Considerations – What can I earn by co-packing?
• Finding, Winning and Keeping Potential Co-packing Customers

Facilitator: Norm Purdy, PCX Advisors

Norm Purdy has over 20 years’ experience in senior sales and marketing roles with national and multinational CPG (consumer packaged goods) and industrial firms. He has delivered dozens of training workshop in lean, six sigma and led the commercial excellence program at JD Irving Ltd.. Prior to founding PCX Advisors, Mr. Purdy led the sales and marketing organization at Crosby’s Molasses Company as Vice President.

NETWORKING LUNCH, PANEL & PRESENTATION

Attendees from the two workshops will be brought together for a networking lunch, panel of co-packing success stories, and short presentations by organizations that can support your Food & Beverage sector company. Space for one-on-one meetings will be reserved.

Thanks to funding from the Government of Canada, this workshop is free of charge. Limit of 2 seats per company.

*All workshops will be delivered in English. French material will be made available upon request.

This project is made possible by the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund. It is hosted in partnership with Food & Beverage Atlantic.