Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator (APBI): Incubator Entrance and Exit Criteria

 
   
 
 
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The Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator is operated by the Food Processing Development Division (FPDD) of Alberta, Agriculture and Food. This facility is registered under the Meat Inspection Act and the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Regulatory compliance is required by all Incubator tenants.

The goal of the Incubator is to mentor and assist food processors in the scale up and commercialization of new products and technologies leading to successful establishment of their own enterprises. The APBI expects to graduate 1 or 2 tenants each year following a 1 - 3 year residency.

Clients wishing to be considered for tenancy should show evidence of meeting a number of important criteria. These include:

  • A product (or products) suitable for production in a CFIA registered facility.
  • A viable business plan defining the growth of your company’s products or services with marketplace sales and development.
  • Having adequate financial resources for initial working capital to produce and distribute products, pay rent, wages, supplies and overhead.
  • A willingness to develop your management and business skill sets and participate in semi-annual business performance reviews.
  • A desire to foot a significant portion of your new business into Alberta's economy upon graduation from the Incubator.
The lease term for processing suites will vary based on tenant needs, but typically range from one to three years. Suites leased on an as-is basis with fit-up costs to be assumed by the tenant. Tenant owned equipment will move from the Incubator upon graduation.

Three years is considered the maximum term for tenancy. In this time, a tenant should have established a sustainable market presence, validate processing parameters, develop distribution channels and establish a favorable cash flow.		  
 
 
  For more information about the content of this document, contact Teryle Simpson.
This document is maintained by Deb Jarvis.
This information published to the web on March 8, 2007.
Last Reviewed/Revised on May 15, 2007.