11 Jul How millennial tastes shape a new generation of food startups
South Florida’s new foodpreneurs are on trend: Their products are artisan-made, often healthy and convenient
But startup costs and challenges of dealing with perishables can mount, derailing concepts before they get off the ground
Organizations dedicated to food entrepreneurs are pitching in to help
The craft movement has moved beyond beer. Today’s new food and beverage products are likely to be handmade, creative and adventuresome.
The eats and drinks are local, fresh and healthy too — often organic. And it doesn’t hurt to be a friend of the planet.
The front door is the new drive-through. Food arrives at the home or office with tech-enabled efficiency powering all aspects of the food supply chain.
According to entrepreneurship nonprofit Endeavor, South Florida is ripe for food-and-beverage startups building on these national trends because the critical ingredients are already here: a strong food service sector, culinary culture and an appreciation for green eating.
Millennials’ preference for healthier, “real food” married with convenience is the recipe for success, a 2015 Goldman Sachs report found. They are more likely than any other age group to buy all-natural and organic products, for instance, and are 45 percent more likely to buy these types of products than others. Millennials also are more likely than Boomers or GenXers to favor ethnic and artisanal food and beverage products —.for indulgences, craft doughnuts are the new cupcakes.
H.E. Neter Kush Ben Alkebulan, pictured, launched Fresh Start Beverage Company with his girlfriend Trendolyn Hopkins, and his mother Claudette Patron. Their first product is Banana Wave, an organic, non-dairy milk now in Whole Foods stores throughout Florida.