Professional Services

Accounting and Bookkeeping

Proper management of cash flow is essential in running a business. You can hire an accountant or bookkeeper to help manage this or sign up for online accounting and bookkeeping services. These professionals can assist with managing income statements, determining profitability and tracking expenses. You will need these documents when filing your taxes. 

• Brinker Simpson and Company: Philadelphia accounting agency whose services include accounting, tax planning, auditing, business consulting, valuations, fraud and forensic services, and litigation support. 
• Anchin: New York City based accounting firm that works in many industries, but can help navigate growth of consumer products, giving sector-specific accounting and tax guidance that is personalized to your business.
• Surace & Stanton: Public accounting firm providing tax accounting and business advisory services. 

Legal

Attorneys who specialize in the food and beverage industry can offer support with transactions related to business planning and growth such as investments, acquisitions, commercial agreements, and other day-to-day legal needs. Consider if you’d like to protect your brand and logo by trademarking it. You can also file for patents, copyrights and intellectual property protection. Legal professionals can also assist with employment contracts as well as contracts with vendors and other businesses.

• Rachel Packer is a partner at Blank Rome in Philadelphia who specializes in the food & beverage and manufacturing industries.  
• Geoff Schwartz: Lawyer with the Growth Counsel, a firm that is dedicated to helping companies with the legal parts of business. Schwartz has experience working with companies at all stages and can help with financings, equity, organizational and founder matters, commercial contracts, employee and human resources support, intellectual property and M&A.
• Matt Borger: Litigator whose expertise is in business disputes, employment matters, restrictive covenant disputes, internal investigations, and contract negotiation. He works with the Noone and Borger firm that has a wide range of law experience. 

• Fross Zelnick: Firm that specializes in trademarks, copyright, design, data privacy, litigation and international law.
• Kimberly Klayman: A Philadelphia-based lawyer with Ballard Spahr who has experience representing privately held emerging companies.

Packaging Suppliers

Help sell your product to the eyes of consumers by choosing high-quality packaging that fits with your brand. Some examples are listed below:

• Printex Transparent Packaging: Specialize in customized clear packaging for a variety of markets including food & beverage products and wine & spirits
• Graham Packaging: Lancaster, PA-based company specializing in plastic packaging for food and beverage products
• K.Sidrane: Specialize in pressure-sensitive food and beverage labels, shrink sleeves, flexible packaging and point-of-purchase display signage
• Rootree: Ontario-based company specializing in flexible and sustainable packaging
• Presto Labels & Packaging: Specialize in labels, shrink sleeves, and flexible packaging
• Pack Plus Converting: Specialize in flexible packaging
• Oliver Inc.: Specialize in folding carton packaging and pressure-sensitive labels
• Powpack: Specializes in printing designs on pouch-style packaging.
• Presto Labels and Packaging: Can provide labels, tags, decals, shrink sleeves and flexible packaging.
• Flexcraft: Specializes in custom blow molding and injection molding for custom packaging projects.
• PPC Flex: Specializes in flexible bags and pouches.
• ZT Packaging: Can be contacted for a variety of packaging goods including bags, tissue paper, cups and liners.

Packaging Designers

Good packaging goes with good label and graphic design. Below are individuals and companies who will make your product eye catching on the shelves. 

• Pulp + Wire: Works in brand and packaging, web design and social media marketing strategies.
• Noelle Roth: Specializes in strategy, visual brand identity, brand collateral, packaging and website design.
• Danni Sinisi: A packaging designer that also works on campaigns, environmental signage and art direction. 
• Jess Glebe: Creative practice that specializes in branding, packaging, messaging and print design.
• Haylee Jordan: Specializes in branding that will help goods stand out on the shelves. 
• Good Bones Studios: Specializes in bold branding for startup tech companies, small businesses and non-profits.
• A Little Better Co: Works in branding but also will help start ups build partnerships with other organizations, and help with marketing and PR, all with the goal of being sustainable and promoting advocacy.

Food Photographers

Food photographers help food businesses stand out by turning their dishes and products into mouthwatering visuals. Their images boost brand appeal, drive engagement, and make products irresistible online, on menus, and in marketing. Here are some local food photographers to consider:

• Dan Heinkel
• Neal Santos
• KC Tinari
• Gab Bonghi
• Stuart Goldenberg
• Alex Cahanap
• Dotti Foley

• Hopeworks: Web design & development
• Bryan Sheffield: Food product photography
• Golden Hour Philly: Brand, product, and portrait photography

Tech Support

To optimize for success, you will need to launch a website and create directories and accounts on sites like Google Maps and Yelp. Technical professionals can assist with creating a website and adding payment gateways.

Ingredient Suppliers

Food ingredient suppliers sell specific ingredients and food additives to food and beverage manufacturers. These products can typically be ordered and delivered in bulk to keep costs manageable. Some ingredient suppliers even offer customized solutions and services to assist with food product development and reformulation. Below are some examples to guide your search:

• foodguys: Bulk ingredient sourcing, ingredient solutions, and more
• Grain Millers: Milled ingredient supplier, custom blend creation, formulation assistance, and consumer co-packaging
• Tree Top: Fruit ingredient supplier
• Puratos: Bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredient supplier
• Smirks: Bulk organic and non-GMO ingredient supplier
• ColorMaker: Natural food color additives and custom blends
• Produce Sunshine: Seeds, kernels and dried fruit supplier
• Metroz Essenses: Specialize in creating and supplying coffee and drink flavorings
• Mak Food Company: Fruit juice, puree, concentrate supplier, as well as plant based drinks supplier. 
• E-sense: Flavoring supplier.
• Prova: Sweet brown flavoring supplier (vanilla, cocoa, caramel, coffee)

Food Distributors

Food distributors stock products from manufacturers and sell them to retailers and food suppliers such as grocery stores, restaurants, and cafeterias. Typically, food distributors provide their own delivery services from the manufacturer or warehouse directly to the inside of their client's businesses. Orders can consist of an array of different products and can be delivered on a regularly scheduled basis. In some cases, businesses will only purchase products if they can be sourced through a particular distributor. Distributors require suppliers to have strict safety plans in place. If contacting a distributor, be ready with a HACCP plan, FDA-compliant labels, and any other quality assurance documents you can provide.

Co-Manufacturers/Co-Packers

Co-manufacturers and co-packers are contracted by food businesses to prepare and package their food products. Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and PickYourOwn.org have lists of co-packers organized by state. The Specialty Food Co-Packers Directory lists copackers by food product type, so you can find someone with the specific capabilities that you need.

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