Why Homemade Food Startups Are Booming

When a product label says it's homemade, we believe it is free of additives, artificial flavours and colours, which means it's safe and healthy and it makes us feel good about what we eat. This explains the sudden boom in home-baking, home-catering and other home-based food businesses.

Today, the interest in homemade food has reached a remarkable level. Whether due to the ongoing pandemic or a heightened awareness of our general health and well being, the most sought-after food items come under the 'organic' or 'homemade' category.

When a product label says it's homemade, we believe it is free of additives, artificial flavours and colours, which means it's safe and healthy and it makes us feel good about what we eat. This explains the sudden boom in home-baking, home-catering and other home-based food businesses.

How the homemade food craze started

There is no one particular date or recipe, but evidence seems to indicate that the whole home enterprise idea started with homemade birthday cakes. The thought of someone expending time and energy to create a customised cake with ingredients that are carefully hand-picked for their quality is what made homemade cakes so special. And these businesses boomed!

Once the cake trend picked up, talented and eager home chefs slowly started expanding their menus to include different desserts, finger foods, regional specialities, pickles and eventually to a fully-fledged homemade meal. There was no looking back and unlike other trends that have come and gone, the demand for homemade food is here to stay.

Are you a home chef? Want to improve your skills? Check out ICCA Dubai’s accredited courses for amateur cooks here

Top tips to set up your homemade food business

Whether your recipes are steeped in tradition, or you’ve incorporated some twists to reinvent recipes passed down from your grandma, or you’re working on recipes to help people with dietary restrictions; this may be the perfect time to start a homemade food business you enjoy and make it earn for you.

The best part about a home-based food business is that you may not even need to invest in a separate facility to start your business initially. You can do it in the comfort of your home and at your own pace. What you do need is the interest and the right amount of technical knowledge in food production to run the show successfully.

ICCA Dubai offers numerous courses and programs that can help you.

Requirements to set up a home-based food business

Make sure you check off everything on the following list to ensure you take your business to a whole new level.

  1. Make a plan: Research and identify your target audience, define your USP, select your food offerings, and design your brand.
  2. Think about finances: Whether it’s a personal loan, help from friends and family, or bringing on a partner, remember to start small and gradually scale up.
  3. Design and advertise your brand: While word of mouth is still the best form of publicity, you’ll need to ensure your logo, website and social media are set up to help make your business successful.
  4. Select your suppliers: Finding trustworthy suppliers who provide quality ingredients is paramount to your success. Consider reputed wholesale retailers, local farmer’s markets, F&B conventions, ask for recommendations from people with their own home food business, or just buy local for the freshest ingredients.
  5. Get your licence: Check in with your local regulatory or government office to understand the health and safety codes and food regulations and make sure to apply and get your licence before you launch your business.

So, if you have what it takes to be a foodpreneur but feel that polishing your knowledge and skills can catapult your business, consider applying for one of ICCA Dubai’s accredited culinary Diploma courses.

Want more such tips in your inbox? Make sure you subscribe to the ICCA Dubai newsletter.

When a product label says it's homemade, we believe it is free of additives, artificial flavours and colours, which means it's safe and healthy and it makes us feel good about what we eat. This explains the sudden boom in home-baking, home-catering and other home-based food businesses.

Today, the interest in homemade food has reached a remarkable level. Whether due to the ongoing pandemic or a heightened awareness of our general health and well being, the most sought-after food items come under the 'organic' or 'homemade' category.

When a product label says it's homemade, we believe it is free of additives, artificial flavours and colours, which means it's safe and healthy and it makes us feel good about what we eat. This explains the sudden boom in home-baking, home-catering and other home-based food businesses.

How the homemade food craze started

There is no one particular date or recipe, but evidence seems to indicate that the whole home enterprise idea started with homemade birthday cakes. The thought of someone expending time and energy to create a customised cake with ingredients that are carefully hand-picked for their quality is what made homemade cakes so special. And these businesses boomed!

Once the cake trend picked up, talented and eager home chefs slowly started expanding their menus to include different desserts, finger foods, regional specialities, pickles and eventually to a fully-fledged homemade meal. There was no looking back and unlike other trends that have come and gone, the demand for homemade food is here to stay.

Are you a home chef? Want to improve your skills? Check out ICCA Dubai’s accredited courses for amateur cooks here

Top tips to set up your homemade food business

Whether your recipes are steeped in tradition, or you’ve incorporated some twists to reinvent recipes passed down from your grandma, or you’re working on recipes to help people with dietary restrictions; this may be the perfect time to start a homemade food business you enjoy and make it earn for you.

The best part about a home-based food business is that you may not even need to invest in a separate facility to start your business initially. You can do it in the comfort of your home and at your own pace. What you do need is the interest and the right amount of technical knowledge in food production to run the show successfully.

ICCA Dubai offers numerous courses and programs that can help you.

Requirements to set up a home-based food business

Make sure you check off everything on the following list to ensure you take your business to a whole new level.

  1. Make a plan: Research and identify your target audience, define your USP, select your food offerings, and design your brand.
  2. Think about finances: Whether it’s a personal loan, help from friends and family, or bringing on a partner, remember to start small and gradually scale up.
  3. Design and advertise your brand: While word of mouth is still the best form of publicity, you’ll need to ensure your logo, website and social media are set up to help make your business successful.
  4. Select your suppliers: Finding trustworthy suppliers who provide quality ingredients is paramount to your success. Consider reputed wholesale retailers, local farmer’s markets, F&B conventions, ask for recommendations from people with their own home food business, or just buy local for the freshest ingredients.
  5. Get your licence: Check in with your local regulatory or government office to understand the health and safety codes and food regulations and make sure to apply and get your licence before you launch your business.

So, if you have what it takes to be a foodpreneur but feel that polishing your knowledge and skills can catapult your business, consider applying for one of ICCA Dubai’s accredited culinary Diploma courses.

Want more such tips in your inbox? Make sure you subscribe to the ICCA Dubai newsletter.

Why Homemade Food Startups Are Booming