Savour NB Accelerator & Mentorship Program

cohort 1 group

Savour NB Launches its Second Cohort of the Accelerator Program!

Cohort 2 • November 2025 – June 2026

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After the success of the pilot cohort, we’re thrilled to return with an enhanced program designed to accelerate the growth of New Brunswick’s most promising food and beverage businesses. Cohort 2 introduces a more structured approach with expanded access to mentors, experts, and growth opportunities, all while maintaining the close-knit community of trust that defines the Savour NB experience.

 

 

Program Overview

Program Schedule: November 2025 to June 2026

This cohort offers 80–120 hours of structured mentorship, workshops, and collaboration focused on helping you reach your next level of growth. With curated peer networks, tailored business coaching, and expert-led Growth Labs, you’ll gain the clarity, tools, and connections to scale your business sustainably.

 

What You'll Experience

  • Personalized Expert Mentorship: Work one-on-one with seasoned industry mentors who understand the realities of growing a food or beverage business in New Brunswick.
  • Hands-On Learning: Participate in four in-person Growth Labs, plus virtual workshops and sessions designed around your operational, marketing, and leadership needs.
  • Community & Collaboration: Join a dynamic group of peers and industry experts invested in your success.
  • Access to Resources: Use our new Online Member Portal to brainstorm solutions to your challenges, track your progress, schedule sessions, and connect with your peers.

  • Celebratory capstone events with pitches and partner networking opportunities.

     

     

Who Should Apply

The Savour NB Accelerator & Mentorship Program is designed for ambitious New Brunswick-based food and beverage entrepreneurs ready to take their business to the next level. Cohort 2 will welcome up to 10 participants who are eager to invest time, energy, and resources into growth, leadership, innovation, and process improvement. For eligibility criteria, please review the FAQs below.

 

Why Apply?

  • An accessible participant fee model with potential external funding support availability.
  • A brand-new online portal for centralized cohort conversations, resources, and a virtual collaboration space.
  • Updated Growth Lab content focusing on strategy, operations, sales, and finances.
  • An emphasis on participant accountability and results, ROI, and business outcomes.

Savour NB Food & Beverage Mentorship Program

What is the goal of the Savour NB Accelerator & Mentorship Program?

The Savour NB Accelerator Program is a six-month journey designed to help New Brunswick food and beverage entrepreneurs grow with confidence, clarity, and connection. 
  

Through mentorship, hands-on learning, and peer collaboration, participants strengthen their businesses, expand their networks, and make a bigger impact in our province’s thriving food & beverage community.

Who is eligible to apply?

This program is built for established food or beverage producers in New Brunswick who are ready to scale up. 

 

To qualify, you should:

  • Operate a registered food or beverage business within New Brunswick

  • Have at least one product actively in-market (beyond your own location/food service)

  • Have been in business for at least 2 years

  • Report more than $150K in annual gross sales

  • Be focused on growth, optimization, or expanding distribution

  • Be available for all in-person and virtual sessions (Nov 2025 – June 2026)

 

We’re looking for entrepreneurs who bring:

  • A clear commitment to growth and long-term sustainability

  • A willingness to engage in mentorship and peer feedback

  • A collaborative mindset, openness to innovation, and adaptability to change

  • An interest in contributing to a stronger, more connected NB food and beverage ecosystem

 

Best suited for:

  • Producers, processors, or manufacturers of food or beverage products

  • Currently selling via retail, wholesale, foodservice, and/or direct-to-consumer

  • Seeking support with business systems, production efficiency, HR, branding, or scaling

  • Leaders or decision-makers in their business (owners, founders, or executive team)

 

Please note:

  • Restaurants, cafés, caterers, or food service-only businesses will only be considered if they also manufacture products for sale outside of their establishment(s).

  • Businesses not yet generating consistent revenue or still in the pre-launch stage may be better suited for future programs or advisory opportunities.

  • We will welcome applications from such businesses and will add you to our future programs list so that you can be the first informed when opportunities that better fit your profile are launched.

What does the program include?

Following a successful first cohort in early 2025, this second edition of the program will welcome 8 to 10 participants from across the province and will run from November 2025 to June 2026. 

 

Throughout the program, participants will engage in:

 

  • Four in-person Growth Labs in the Miramichi area

  • Two virtual sessions for additional training, participant check-ins, and peer collaboration

  • Personalized one-on-one mentorship - up to 20 hours

  • Coaching, guidance, and support from the program team throughout the duration

  • Private online group discussions, sharing, and peer support through a virtual cohort platform

  • A participant handbook including practical exercises, templates, and business resources

  • A final showcase and celebration event featuring partner networking and pitches

  • Becoming part of the program alumni after the completion of all program components

 

All costs of the programming, workshops, mentorship hours, workshop materials, and ongoing support are included. Accommodation for one night, as well as four meals, coffee, and snacks, are included for each Growth Lab.

 

Participants are responsible for their travel to/from all in-person sessions.

What does it cost to participate?

The Saveur NB Accelerator Program is a high-impact opportunity designed to deliver exceptional value to food and beverage entrepreneurs in New Brunswick. With over $20,000 worth of programming — including one-on-one mentorship, expert-led workshops, immersive retreats, accommodations, and hands-on support — the program is priced to be accessible for small and growing businesses. 

 

Program Fee: $3,000

 

This covers:

  • Four in-person Growth Labs (meals, accommodations, facilitation)

  • 20+ hours of mentorship

  • Access to expert workshops, guest speakers, and business growth support

  • A participant handbook including practical exercises, templates, and business resources

  • Use of the virtual program platform for resources and communication

  • Participation in the final showcase and celebration event

 

Funding Support:

 

Eligible participants may access funding (typically 25–75%) through external programs such as:

  • PETL NB (training and development funding)

  • DAAF NB (agri-business support)

  • Other business development initiatives

 

Savour NB will help you navigate the funding process. If you’re the right fit for the accelerator program, we don’t want the fee to be a barrier to your participation. We’ll work with you to make participation possible.

How much time commitment is expected from participants?

You can expect to dedicate about 80–120 hours over six months. 

 

Between Growth Labs, you’ll be encouraged to:

  • Apply what you learn directly in your business

  • Meet regularly with your mentor(s)

  • Complete guided planning tools (e.g., Growth Roadmaps, KPI trackers)

  • Join virtual peer sessions to share updates and challenges

 

This is a “you get out what you put in” experience. The more engaged you are, the more transformative the results will be.

What will the Growth Labs entail?

Each Growth Lab features targeted expert sessions with professionals in fields such as: 

  • Business and growth strategy

  • Financial planning and investment readiness

  • Production systems and operational efficiency

  • Branding, storytelling, and sales

  • Human resources and organizational development

  • Retail, distribution, and buyer relations

  • AI, tech, and automation in business

 

You’ll learn from guest experts, fellow entrepreneurs, and mentors through interactive sessions, case studies, and fireside chats, all designed to spark ideas and real-world growth.

When are the in-person and virtual sessions for Cohort 2?

Note that the following dates may be subject to change after the participants are selected.

 

Applicants selected for Cohort 2 participation should be notified between November 14 and November 17, 2025. There will then be a virtual Onboarding and Welcome Session for the participants on November 20, 2025.

 

Growth Lab #1: November 27-28, 2025, in Red Bank, NB

Virtual Session #1: December 11, 2025

Growth Lab #2: January 22-23, 2026, in Red Bank, NB

Growth Lab #3: February 19-20, 2026, in Red Bank, NB

Virtual Session #2: March 31, 2026

Growth Lab #4: May 7-8, 2026 in Red Bank, NB

Celebration Event: June 11, 2025 - location to be determined

How are mentors assigned, and what is their role?

Each participant will be matched with one or two mentors based on their goals and needs. 

 

Here’s how it works:

  • You’ll review a list of available mentors and select your top choices.

  • Matches are confirmed after Growth Lab 1.

  • You’ll receive at least 20 hours of one-on-one mentorship.

  • Meetings are flexible: Virtual or in-person, depending on what works best for both you and your mentor.

  • Ongoing support ensures mentorship remains goal-driven and productive.

 

A mentor orientation session will be held to clarify expectations and best practices, and ongoing support will be provided to ensure a productive, goal-driven mentorship experience.

 

How are participants selected?

The selection process will be made through an independent panel. Candidates will be chosen based on their responses about growth challenges, their products, and their interests. The panel may want to request further information or answers from the candidates. This is a fairly competitive process, so the answers you submit in your application process are critical to your profile standing out. 

 

The aim is to curate a cohort of participants with diverse products and markets to maximize peer-to-peer learning. The candidates who will receive an offer to be part of Cohort 2 will have been selected to ensure a compatible group cohesion, as the program activities require a high level of trust and connection. The selection panel will aim to ensure no two direct competitors are in the same cohort.

 

If more qualified applicants emerge, Savour NB will create a waitlist for future cohorts.

 

Will this program run again?

Yes! Our goal is to make this a permanent program as part of the Saveur NB offering. The program will evolve with each cohort based on participant feedback, industry trends, and community needs.