The Food Factory – Picot Productions Ltd
Building on government support, Nelson's food innovators gained a collaborative hub in 2020 – fostering creative start-up food ventures.
The $2.1 million project received a $774,215 Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) grant in support of its construction, championing Te Tau Ihu, the Top of the South, food and beverage-focused innovators and entrepreneurs.
The grant facilitated the creation of a series of enclosed and compliant spaces to enable aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs to test their products' concepts, potential scalability and marketing in a supported environment.
Start-ups are also able to navigate the market with confidence, thanks to on-site support and opportunities to showcase products to locals and tourists alike.
With the region being known for its high value horticulture products and artisan products such as cider, cheeses, olive oil and baked goods, as well as its bountiful natural resources and creative entrepreneurs – a hub such as this is put to great use.
A supportive learning environment to enable small businesses to capture all the region has to offer has been created.
Supporting a project like this has its benefits for the region. While it won’t create a large number of jobs directly, a small number of people are needed to maintain the food hub with the wider benefits of job creation being seen in a multiplier effect as successful tenants/entrepreneurs enter full production – outside of the hub.
Providing a facility that allows for early-stage companies to test their products and concepts without incurring significant debt is also acknowledged as a huge community and regional asset/benefit.