Maker Prep Course

Learn the food industry. Launch your brand with a splash.

Register Now

Launch your brand at an SFA tradeshow!

Maker Prep Course is a six‑month program for food makers preparing to launch or take a major step into the marketplace. Learn to get your product on shelves, connect with buyers, and build brand visibility with a supportive cohort and expert coaches.

Complete Maker Prep Course, and you'll unlock an exclusive, deeply discounted booth at Winter FancyFaire* or the Summer Fancy Food Show, specialty food's premier product discovery tradeshows.




What’s Included

Master the fundamentals and get exhibit‑ready:

  • One day in‑person kickoff event at the Summer Fancy Food Show
  • Six months of self‑paced online learning focused on foundational topics like branding, pricing, trade channel strategy, and marketing
  • Multiple virtual coaching session with industry experts
  • Booth Camp show‑readiness curriculum, including a dedicated pre‑show preparation session

Registration for Maker Prep Is Now Open!

Our next cohort launches at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show.

Members - $199 / Non Members - $599


Who the Course Is For

  • Founders preparing to launch within the next 6–12 months
  • Entrepreneurs eager to exhibit but needing guidance, structure, and support
  • Anyone who wants to maximize their first tradeshow appearance


Launch & Grow With Support

Exhibit Space

Qualified graduates may book heavily discounted exhibit space in SFA's Debut District, a dedicated area for emerging brands. Exhibiting is an incredibly efficient way to get in front of buyers, distributors, press, influencers, and potential partners.


PR Moments

During the tradeshow, the Maker Prep Graduation ceremony is held in conjunction with SFA Awards celebrations , where the best of the best in the industry are honored. Graduates are recognized onstage, a visibility moment few early‑stage brands get.



Community

Graduates join the Maker Prep Course alumni community, a group of like‑minded founders at similar business stages. The Maker Prep community offers opportunities to build meaningful relationships with both emerging leaders and established industry figures.


Questions? Email the SFA Education Team


Get More Information

Submit the interest form and we we'll get in touch to answer your questions!


  • Young lady smiling

    "The Maker Prep program came at the perfect time for me as I was getting ready to launch my food business. Beyond the helpful coursework and coaching sessions, the program was great for expanding my CPG network and for building relationships with other founders in my cohort."

    -Rawia Abdelsamad, The Levantine Kitchen LLC 

  • Young lady smiling

    "I highly recommend this program to anyone who is serious about launching a brand in the Specialty Food space! The access to a network of buyers, brands and vendors in the space and the detailed coursework of every important part of the business have been most helpful to me."

    Shyela Malani, Muria Foods 

  • Young lady smiling

    "As a startup founder with limited time, I love that I can complete the course at my own pace... Through education and the community SFA cultivates, I know I can move forward with confidence in my startup journey." 

    -Caroline McGinley, La Gringuita Cookies 

  • sfa maker prep
    The Makers Prep Kickoff at the Fancy Food Show was STELLAR, and the SFA wasted no time in delivering high-quality, actionable content. I was impressed and energized by what I learned and the connections I made. I'm excited for the months ahead in the program, and I already feel like I made a worthwhile investment. 
    — Lexx Mills, Revvl 
  • sfa maker prep

    The first two days have already exceeded my expectations. I’ve already implemented a handful of lessons learned in our salad dressing business, Big Mama's Foods. Kudos to the team that launched this program at the Specialty Food Association. I’m excited for all the learning opportunities over the next six months!

    — Ethan Shapiro, Big Mama's Foods

  • sfa maker prep

    The people in this group are in a variety of specialty food journeys but they get it and it's empowering. The speakers gave me more information than I could have ever looked for on my own in those 2 days of sessions alone and the openness of industry experts to share their knowledge was an indescribable feeling. 

    — Grace Ureña, Un Chin Seasoning Co. 

Register Now For The Summer Fancy Food Show


Sample Course Schedule

KickoffImmersive sessions at the Fancy Food Show 
Section I Product Development 
Food Safety 
Co-Packing 

Break / Catch-Up 
Section IIBranding
Funding Your Business
Pricing & Trade Spending 

Break / Catch-Up
Section IIISupply Chain & Logistics 
Trade Channels
E-Commerce

Break / Catch-Up 
Section IVSelling

Break / Catch-Up
Section VWorking with Distributors
Marketing

Prep for the Fancy Food Show 
GraduationReconnect at the Fancy Food Show