Canadian co-working initiative brings food businesses together

Food Central CoWork (FCC) opened in Edmonton, Canada last week with the aim of pooling talent and resources in the food and agricultural industries. The initiative, established by the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta, encourages the collaboration of food innovators and manufacturers.

“What we’ve learned over the past couple of years is the food industry and the agriculture industry is fragmented,” FCC chief Bryanna Yung said. “We created a physical space where people can come and work out of, connect with mentors [and] find other resources and other like-minded companies.”

The workspace provides boardrooms and 50 office spaces, which can be occupied for short or long-term purposes depending on the user’s needs. Currently, 20 of the 50 offices are being used by food businesses.

“We’ll assist with business plans. We’ll help with accounting, IT, finding online marketing resources – everything on the back end we help find so they can focus on their business,” Yung said. She alluded to the fact that many emerging companies in the food industry are unable to open their own facilities due to increased competition and high cost of spaces. By sharing facilities, costs can be reduced and resources can be pooled.

“Food is a growing topic in Edmonton. It’s really important for them to be able to find the resources and be able to connect with each other.”

Gaining interest

Roshan Water Solutions, founded in January 2017, is considering setting up at the FFC while developing its research to test bacteria in water and raw food products.

Roshan co-founder Parmiss Mojir Shaibani said the business is currently working out of the University of Alberta, but is keen to collaborate with other experts in food production. She commented that:

“Where you have a co-work centre, you have people with different expertise that you don’t necessarily have. To have people who are focused in agriculture and food, you get experience on how to deal with those kinds of businesses, how to talk to people who are in the food business.”

In order to set up a private office at the FFC in September 2018, applicants must pay monthly rent of C$800-C$960, as well as a one-time C$100 membership fee.

In May 2017, the similar initiative Food Starter was set up in Toronto, which is home to the second largest concentration of food businesses.  Clients had to pay C$1,300-C$1,500 per month to cover the cost of Food Starter employees and facilities.

Food Starter offers workshops including a market feasibility ‘boot camp’ for C$1,000, with the option to apply for C$5,000 grant to cover programme costs for companies at early stages of production.