Break down barriers to retail buyers

Many small businesses were looking to connect with retail buyers but were faced with the barriers of not knowing how to make contact or carry out a successful pitch, Emma Jones told FoodManufacture.co.uk in this exclusive video.

Watch this video to hear why she believed Enterprise Nation’s Food Exchange – held last week – had broken down the barriers between retail buyers and small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Challenge ​

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs tell us all the time that they want to sell in to the big retailers, the challenge is how to find out who the buyers are,”​ she claimed.

“Critically, they want to know how to connect with them and how do you stand out.”​

The buyers – which included Sainsbury and Fortnum and Mason – revealed what they were looking for and the best methods to make contact with them, she added.

Sainsbury’s milk buyer James Curtis said all food businesses should prove they could disrupt the market when pitching to buyers.​

But, Jones did reveal that securing a retail contract wasn’t the only route available to securing business growth.

In this video she also explained how businesses can receive a wide-range of support, covering things such as social media, technology and tax, from Enterprise Nation all year round.