f3 offers a business planning service provided by consultants who have themselves been involved in a range of food-related business ventures.

We offer help to existing businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, co-operatives and community based initiatives to identify what they want to achieve and how they should go about it.

We generally follow a 3-stage plan:

	market research - to gain a thorough understanding of the context for the enterprise, the opportunities and barriers, and positioning
	assessment and analysis - to establish options available to the enterprise using financial modelling tools to quickly analyse potential profitability, cash flow issues and funding needs
	action plan - to build a coherent development strategy which is based on the real capacities of the management team and other resources, and an effective marketing plan

Some recent projects have included:

Pulborough village shop - a feasibility study and costed business plan for the Aldingbourne Trust in Sussex, which supports people with disabilities, to create a new village shop on a social enterprise model, with training opportunities.

Trealy Farm business plan - cashflow projections and advice to a small producer setting up an air-dried ham and salami enterprise.

Leominster Ice Cream - market research and outline business plan to eatblish an ice cream enterprise operating as a social firm to provide income and workplace opportunities for cleints of the Leominster Area Regeneration Company.

Cultivating Co-operatives: Organisational structures for local food enterprises - a Soil Association handbook for social enterprise development edited by Greg Pilley (an f3 member)

Please also see our extensive experience in distribution enterprises.