FoodFindsAsia | How Families Pass Down Their Food Businesses to The Younger Generation | A family business is not an easy thing to run. There’s. A lot needs to be done in the background to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The older family business members usually pass down all the skills and knowledge to the younger generation so that they can continue running the business when they’re gone.
But it’s another story for food businesses. Aside from the technical skills of running a business, many lessons in the food business are learned through experience. It’s not enough to have the recipes and the know-how; you also need to have the passion for it.
That’s why families who have been in the food business for generations tend to pass down the business to someone in the younger generation who has shown an interest in it. They see the potential in them, and they want to make sure that the legacy of the family food business lives on.
If you’re someone who’s been thinking about taking over the family food business, here are some things that you need to know.
1. It’s not just about the technical skills
As we mentioned earlier, a lot of the lessons in the food business are learned through experience. That’s because food creates experiences. It’s meant to induce feelings of happiness, comfort, and nostalgia. These experiences that you need to tap into if you want to be successful in the food business.
This is why passing down a food business to the younger generation is often seen as an act of trust. The older generation is trusting you with their legacy, and they have faith that they will be able to do justice to it.
Technical skills are essential in a food business, but more than that. It’s about being willing to learn a tradition to keep the legacy alive.
2. They start them young
Many families who own food businesses choose to pass them down to the next generation, and one of the best ways to do this is by starting them young. These young ones need to understand the business and the family tradition behind it.
These families usually start with the foundation for basic knowledge. In the modern days, with the busy nature of running a food business, some parents enroll their children in online elementary education. And then continue their studies afterward, where they would focus more on the industry’s business side. The recipes themselves are being taught through practice, like an apprenticeship.
That’s why many food businesses make sure to involve their children in the business as early as possible. They may not be able to do much at first, but it’s an excellent way to get them started.
3. They instill the importance of hard work
In any business, hard work is always going to be a requirement. But it’s often taken to the next level in a family food business. The older generation usually instills the importance of hard work in the younger generation. They want to make sure that they understand that running a food business is not a walk in the park.
It’s not just about working long hours. It’s also about being passionate about what you do and being willing to put in the extra effort to ensure that everything is perfect. The goal is to instill a work ethic in the younger generation that will carry on for ages.
4. They keep the recipes as a family secret
Often, the recipes for the food that they serve are passed down from generation to generation. And these recipes are usually kept as a family secret. It’s one thing that makes the food business unique and special.
This is because the recipes often hold a sentimental value to the family. Aside from that, loyal customers often come back for the specific taste they’re looking for. Consistency is one key to a food business’ success. That’s why most family food businesses keep their recipes a secret.
5. They make sure to pass on the traditions
Tradition is one of the most important things that a family food business can pass down to the next generation. It’s what sets it apart from other businesses.
The traditions are often passed down through stories. The older generation tells the younger generation about how the business started and has grown over the years. They share the ups and downs of the business and how they could overcome them. These stories are often passed down from generation to generation.
There are many ways families can pass on their food businesses to the younger generation. It is crucial to find a method that works best for both the older and the younger generation to pass down the business and continue to thrive. Ultimately, it is up to the family to decide how to best keep their food business in the family for generations to come.
