KANSAS CITY — Kansas City’s fourth annual Food Business Conference is set for March 6 and 7, presenting local entrepreneurs and business owners with the opportunity to learn, launch, and level up their food businesses, according to a press release. Hosted at Mid-Continent Public Library, 8900 NE Flintlock Road, and offered in partnership with the Ennovation Center, Kansas State University – Olathe Campus, Mid-Continent Public Library, and The Toolbox KC —the free two-day event will feature workshops on a variety of important topics for current and aspiring food businesses.
This free, two-day conference offers topics related to mobile food businesses, manufacturing, restaurants and agriculture. It also will connect food entrepreneurs with support organizations, coaches and information.
“Our mission for the 2025 Food Business Conference is that every current and aspiring ‘foodpreneur’ walks away with a recipe for success,” said MCPL Culinary Center Director Xander Winkel. “This conference has continued to grow each year, and we are thrilled to add new partners and offerings this year. It speaks to the growing need in the area to help our local food businesses.”
March 6 Schedule
● Keynote Address: Chris Goode, Owner of Ruby Jean’s Juicery
● The Importance of Local Food Business
● The Role of Food Businesses as Community Leaders (Keynote Address @ 9:20 a.m.)
● El Viaje de La Chancla: Del Concepto a la Realidad (ES)
● How to Successfully Launch Your Food Service Business
● Value Proposition: Understanding Why People Buy What They Buy
● Cook Up Your Perfect Marketing Plan: A Food Biz Workshop
● Pasos esenciales para lanzar tu negocio de comida (ES)
● Branding Workshop
● Food Truck 16 Week Startup Guide
● Panel of Grocery Buyers & Outlets
● Navegando el Panorama Legal de los Food Trucks
● Food Product Business 101
● How to Manage Your Kitchen Like a Pro
● What’s Your Food Product Price?
● Funding Options Panel
● Food Truck Panel
● Developing a Basic Business Plan
● Marketing para tu Negocio de Comida
● Digitalizando tu Negocio de Comida
March 7 Schedule
● Keynote Address: Curt Lafferty, Owner of Mo Pies
● Keynote Panel: Jill Silva, James Beard Award-winning food editor & writer
● From Corporate Sales to Making Pies (Keynote Address @ 9:00 a.m.)
● Stories of KC Food Businesses on the Rise Panel (Keynote Panel @ 4:30 p.m.) with Jessica Dunkel, Co-Owner of Slow Rise Donuts; Denisha Jones, Owner of Sweet Peaches Cobblers; Jon Szajnuk, Owner of Jonny Bakes
● Regulatory Rundown
● Look Before You Leap
● How to Hire and Retain Great Employees Panel
● Using Data to Grow Your Business
● Fresh, Healthy & Local: Sourcing From Local Farms
● How to Manage Work-Life Balance While Running a Business Panel
● Developing a Social Media Mindset
● Reading & Understanding Financial Statements
● Google Business Profile
“We’re so excited to be back at FoodBizCon this year,” said MCPL Square One Small Business Center Director Ashley Muffitt. “We’ve put together a panel of several KC food businesses that are on the rise who will share their stories. Targeting the messages to food businesses is so important as they face unique business challenges that Xander and the Culinary Center team are dedicated to addressing.”
Additional information and free registration are available at foodbizcon.com.
