Getting a Food Buyer to Bite

When entering the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, a meeting with a retail buyer could be the most lucrative you will ever have. The more innovative your offering the greater your chances of capturing interest.

From articulating your innovation to understanding the process required as well as securing that initial meeting to entering a buyer mindset, this seminar will help you prepare to be in the best position to stand out from the rest and persuade a retailer to take a chance on you.

This is a unique opportunity to connect with a leading industry expert to gain tangible and competitive edge to your innovative FMCG business.

Topics covered include:

• Preparing to approach the buyer
• Engaging the buyer
• Understanding the buyer’s mindset
• Benchmarking your product against your competitors
• Top tips for elevator pitch and selling yourself and your innovation

Join us at Innovation Factory, for our first in person seminar in over 18 months, for an opportunity to hear from the expert and connect with other FMCG innovators.

Company Profile

Mervyn Jones and Associates, founded in 2016, provides services and training to local food and drink producers. Mervyn worked in Retail and Procurement for 30 years, including the Henderson Group for 14 years and 7 years as a Buyer with Asda working on their Local Team in NI and Scotland, before setting up his own company to deliver training and services to Local NI and ROI producers.

Over the past 6 years, Mervyn has worked with local companies including Mash Direct, Suki Tea, Connolly Meats and Maine, delivered training and mentoring for Invest NI in addition to training companies on the Aldi Grow and Lidl Kickstart Programmes.

Who is this for?

Any SME in the FMCG/food sector who has an idea or has a food product and would like to bring it to market.

It is aimed at companies wishing to supply into Convenience and Multiple operators such as Spar / Musgrave and Tesco / Asda.