Food & Enterprise Learning

Food & Enterprise Learning

Conceptualise • Develop • Execute

The Food & Enterprise Learning at Otao Kitchen is a hands-on program designed to teach food or business students how to conceptualise, develop, and action a food business in a real-world environment. It is a structured enterprise experience where students move from idea to execution through a practical and engaging food business challenge.

Set in a professional kitchen, participants work in teams to create a food business concept, identify a customer need, develop a value proposition, explore pricing and costs, and bring their idea to life through product preparation and presentation. The experience combines creativity, teamwork, and commercial thinking, giving students a practical understanding of how a business idea is shaped, tested, and delivered.

Program Timeline

Day 1 – Concept Development

Students are introduced to the challenge and work in teams to develop their food business idea. They identify a target customer, define the problem they want to solve, explore competitors, and create a clear value proposition. They also begin planning their product, team roles, and workflow.

Morning – Market Tour and Factory Tour
Participants explore the food industry in action, observe products and operations in a real-world setting, and gather inspiration for their own concept development. Lunch provided.

Afternoon – Planning and Strategy Session
Teams work on their business plan and strategy, including branding, target market, product positioning, and marketing materials.

Day 2 – Costing, Execution and Pitch

Teams refine their concept, develop a simple pricing and cost model, and prepare their food product in the kitchen. They then present their concept in a Shark Tank-style pitch, explaining their idea, target market, pricing, and business logic.

Morning – Shopping and Procurement
Teams source ingredients and make practical decisions around budget, product requirements, and purchasing. Lunch provided.

Afternoon – Product Testing and Shark Tank Presentation
Participants prepare and test their product, then deliver their final presentation in a Shark Tank-style format, showcasing both their product and business idea.

What Students Learn

Through this experience, students learn how to:

• identify a market opportunity
• develop a food product or business concept
• understand customer needs
• build a simple pricing model
• work collaboratively in teams
• execute an idea under time pressure
• present their concept with confidence

Students do not just learn about business in theory. They experience what it takes to turn an idea into action. From concept development and planning to costing, execution, and pitching, the program helps them build confidence in problem solving, communication, collaboration, and decision-making.

Ideal For

This program is ideal for:

• business and commerce students
• university groups
• entrepreneurship programs
• applied learning cohorts
• schools seeking practical industry-based experiences

What’s Included

• two-day facilitated Food Enterprise Challenge
• professional kitchen venue and shared equipment
• market tour and factory tour
• ingredients and pantry allocation
• lunch provided on both days
• guidance on concept development, pricing, and strategy
• product testing and final Shark Tank-style presentation

The Food Enterprise Challenge gives business students the opportunity to enjoy the fun of food while gaining real-life experience in enterprise, teamwork, and execution.