Peoria Plates: Food Business Owner Growth Series

Join us for Peoria Plates to learn hiring, scaling, and growth strategies to build a strong team, streamline operations, and drive success.

Brought to you by the City of Peoria & Local First Arizona | Exclusive In-Person Series

With 2025 nearly complete, now is the perfect time to level up your food business! Don’t miss Peoria Plates: Food Business Owner Growth Series, a dynamic, hands-on workshop series designed to help you grow, adapt, and thrive in today’s food industry.

Topic: Hiring, Scaling, and Growth – Preparing for the Next Phase of Business

Is your business ready for its next stage of growth? This workshop is designed for small business owners who are beginning to outgrow the startup phase and want to scale with confidence. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to hire the right people, strengthen operations, and position your business for long-term success.

And yes, coffee and pastries will be provided to keep you fueled while you learn! ☕🥐

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Smart Hiring Practices – How to attract and retain top talent, write effective job descriptions, and identify candidates who align with your vision.
• Scaling Operations – Proven systems, processes, and tools to streamline growth, delegate effectively, and avoid burnout.
• Financial Planning for Expansion – Managing cash flow, funding growth, and making strategic investments for sustainable success.
• Building Company Culture – Cultivating a workplace culture that motivates your team and reflects your values as you grow.
• Overcoming Growth Challenges – Addressing common obstacles like competition, inefficiencies, and customer retention with proactive strategies.

✅ Perfect For:

• Caterers
• Bakers & pastry shop owners
• Mobile vendors
• Specialty food makers (sauces, salsas, jams, baked goods, coffee roasters, etc.)

Whether you’re hiring your first employees or preparing for major expansion, this workshop will give you the actionable tools and expert insights you need to grow with purpose, plus the opportunity to sign up for reduced tuition to attend the Local First Arizona Good Food Boot Camp, a six-week course designed to help scale a local food business from ideation to marketplace!

Leslie Kirk will be conducting the workshop. Through Local First Arizona’s community kitchens and incubation program, Leslie brings over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry to her work. With a background as a pastry chef, baker, and small busin. Through Local First Arizona’s community kitchens and incubation program, Leslie brings over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry to her work. With a background as a pastry chef, baker, and small business owner, she offers a unique expertise in designing operational systems that are both efficient and effective. Leslie is also deeply committed to learning about the stories, cultures, and traditions of the entrepreneurs she supports, and takes great pride in helping them grow and thrive.