Information, Questions & Answers
To help explain what New England Specialty Foods, and sister site Specialty Foods Ingredients are all about, here's an explanation, plus some questions you may have, with answers.
Q: What is New England Specialty Foods, and what are it's goals?
A: NESF is an "Industry Cluster", or a Co-op without any red tape, obligations or fees, for small and medium specialty foods producers producers, for the greater benefit of everyone involved. This website includes the internet's largest Directory of more than a thousand of the artisan food producers of New England, to make it much easier for everyone listed to be found by the people who are looking for what they have to offer.
Also, the buying power of these producers, until now, has consisted solely of what their needs and purchases has consisted of. One of the primary goals of NESF is to create a unique new buying system to leverege the enormous potential combined buying power of all these producers into a multi-million dollar Buying Group, to increase everyone's profit potential. The operations of the Buying Group has it's own sister site, Specialty Foods Ingredients. More.....
There are several other goals, which are listed on the Future Goals page.
A: Production of NESF and SFI is done by Harvey Clark of Mondi Enterprises of Boylston, Massachusetts, a member of the specialty food industry for nearly a decade, with his products Angus Sauces. Additionally, for many years prior to that, Mr. Clark was a Purchasing Manager to several of Boston's better foodservice establishments. Forming a Buying Group is a logical next step. He is also author of the book, 'How to Make a Profit Creating and Selling Your Own Specialty Foods Products in the USA', available on Amazon.com (link to the book).
Q: What does it cost for a small specialty foods producer to participate in the SFI Buying Group?
A: There is no cost to the producer. The funding for operation of New England Specialty Foods is paid by the Ad Fees of Vendors.
Q: How can local producers save money on their business expenses with the Buying Group?
A: Each month, a 'Specialty Foods Classified Ads' will be assembled, consisting of exclusive money saving promotions and pricing discounts, for all specialty foods producers listed in the NESF Directory. A private link to this 'Classified Ads' will be sent by email to each producer, once a complete primary email address for all producers is compiled.
Q: What is the online home of information about the Specialty Foods Ingredients Classified Ads?
Q: Why would Vendors want to participate, with promotions and discounts?
A: By participating in the NESF Specialty Foods Classified Ads, each vendor can communicate to over a thousand qualified potential customers, all at the same time. This is tremendously more efficient than looking for customers, one by one. The increased potential volume in business (think Wal-mart) will allow for better, volume pricing for all producers.
Q: What are the categories for Vendors?
A: The vendor categories can be seen on the Resources page.
Q: How many vendors will there be in each category?
A: There will be between five and ten primary vendors for each category, once it is clear which vendors are the overall best ones..
