Industry Interviews: The Business of Food

Food entrepreneurs, like the owners of Hawkers, see big potential in markets like Jacksonville.

It's no secret that Northeast Florida's food scene is rapidly evolving. Each month, new food and drink businesses emerge. Food artisans are starting new ventures. More craft breweries and distilleries are opening. Established restaurants and bars are pushing boundaries of culinary creativity in an increasingly robust market. Given all these exciting developments, we wanted to know more.

In this issue, Edible set forth to explore the significance of these changes, specifically in the larger context of our communities. How is food shaping the way we think about the places we call home? Why has food become such an important consideration in our region's on-going development? What are the building blocks required to ensure new food enterprises grow sustainably?

To answer these questions and more, our editor sat down with a handful of local business leaders working both inside – and outside – our region's growing industry to get their unique perspectives. In their own words, interviewees expressed some common – and noteworthy – themes. First, there's collective value in supporting each other locally to raise the bar on great food. Second, competition with collaboration can be a very good thing. And finally— the future of Northeast Florida's food boom is now, and all signs indicate the future will be bright.

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