Join us for an exciting in-person event at The Food WorksSW! Meet the top buyers in the industry and showcase your products. Whether you're a small business or a big player, this is the perfect opportunity to network and make valuable connections. Don't miss out on this chance to pitch your ideas, gain exposure, and potentially secure new contracts. Get ready to impress and take your business to the next level. See you there!

The Food Works SW - Getting Retail Ready

Experts from The Food Works SW support businesses of all sizes from start ups to well established international companies through the support on offer here. Opened in 2020, we are the only centre of it's kind in the South West with onsite development kitchens, food techincal support and food grade business units.

Do you currently sell direct to customer at markets and through your website? Are you wanting to explore B2B relationships? We hope to give you the confidence to feel ready to approach buyers and take any fear away from what can be a daunting, big step for your business.

This talk will focus on New Product Development and how to get your products retails ready focusing on scaling up whilst ensuring consistency, nutritional analysis, labelling and touching on compliance.

TOUT's

TOUT’S are a family owned, independent convenience store and forecourt striving to offer the very best convenience shopping experience. They are driven by a passion for people and food, especially when it comes to locally sourced and manufactured produce. Stocking over 70 local suppliers based in Bristol, Bath and Somerset, TOUT’S provides the best of both worlds when it comes to convenience brands and local specialist foods. They currently operate 3 stores in North Somerset, with more in the pipeline.

Part 1 - Selling Into Retail

The TOUT'S vision is to offer the very best convenience shopping experience anywhere in the country, driven by a passion for people and food. We are a brand our customers love and trust, through focussing on our local sourcing and our local community.

Livvy and James will cover everything which falls under the trading umbrella. We will touch on what we look for in a product and brand when sourcing new suppliers, and what ultimately helps a product to trade successfully within our stores.

Part 2 - Creating a digital strategy for SME’s

Emma will focus on the marketing and digital promotion side of what makes a popular product/brand for our customers. This will touch on areas such as imagery, content marketing including email and effective branding. She will speak about how SME’s can maximise their reach through digital tactics and channels.

Taylors of North Somerset - Case Study

Delyse started her business in 2022 and has grown from making her product in her home kitchen to now having her own premesis on site at Uncle Pauls Chilli Charity in North Somerset. You can now buy her products across the region including in TOUT's! Delyse will talk about her journey, some of her top tips and her experience of approaching retailers.

Agenda

09:30 - 10:00 Arrival and refreshments

10:00 - 11:00 The Food Works SW - Get Retail Ready

11:00 - 12:00 TOUT's - Selling Into Retail

12:00 - 12:10 Break

12:10 - 12:30 Taylors of North Somerset - Case Study

12:30 - 13:00 Q&A's