In partnership with Maia Growth Partners and PLPR; a Nice Group company
Food and drink manufacturers often know they have a great product, but understanding how to secure retail listings and grow sustainably can be challenging.
The Food Works SW Meet The Buyer Programme is a practical six-part workshop series for a small cohort designed to help ambitious food and drink businesses understand the retail landscape, engage confidently with buyers, and prepare their business for growth.
Delivered in partnership with Maia Growth Partners and PLPR, participants will gain insight into commercial readiness, route-to-market strategies, buyer expectations, marketing, compliance requirements, and life after securing a listing.
The programme includes expert-led workshops, guest speakers, buyer insights, and guided retail visits, helping businesses build the knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to succeed.
🚨Tickets from just £10 per workshop for eligible businesses🚨
Participants register for the full six-workshop programme, creating a consistent cohort that learns and progresses together.
By joining the full programme, participants benefit from:
✔ A small cohort environment that encourages discussion, peer learning and networking
✔ A structured journey rather than standalone workshops
✔ Direct access to industry experts, retailers and guest speakers
✔ Guided retail visits and buyer insights
✔ Practical tools and actionable next steps for growth
Places are limited to ensure a high-quality learning experience and meaningful interaction throughout the programme.
Who is this programme for?
This is a short series of workshops designed for a cohort to follow and participate in. This series of workshops will be of most value to:
• Existing businesses with a product or range of products
• Existing business who does not currently supply to retail or have listings
• A trading business with a strategy that includes scale and growth in retail
• Have the time to commit to the series of workshops at FWSW
By the End of the Programme You Will:
✔ Know whether your business is retail-ready
✔ Understand how buyers make decisions
✔ Have a clear route-to-market strategy
✔ Understand technical and compliance requirements
✔ Be prepared to engage with buyers confidently
✔ Leave with a practical action plan for growth
Places are strictly limited to maintain a high-quality cohort experience. Early booking is recommended.
Workshop 1 – ‘Are you ready’(3h)
Wednesday July 29th - 9:30 - 12:30
Assess your retail readiness and build a strong foundation for sustainable growth.
Participants will:
• Understand whether their business is commercially and strategically ready for retail
• Define a clear growth objective and route to-market strategy
• Refine their brand positioning and core proposition
• Identify key gaps in readiness across product, brand and business model
Workshop 2 – ‘Know your customer’ - (3h)
Wednesday August 12th - 9:30 - 12:30
Understand retail channels, buyer expectations and the best route to market for your brand.
Participants will:
• Understand the structure of different retail and wholesale channels
• Identify the most appropriate route(s) to market for their product
• Understand how buyers, category managers and distributors make decisions
• Map their target customers and build a prioritised channel strategy
Workshop 3 – ‘Getting Noticed’ (3h)
Wednesday 9th September - 9:30 - 12:30
Learn how to attract buyers, build consumer demand and prepare for retail conversations.
Participants will:
• Understand how to build visibility with both buyers and consumers
• Identify the most effective marketing channels to drive demand (“consumer pull”)
• Understand the retail listing process and key requirements
• Prepare key information required for buyer engagement (e.g. FAQs, product data)
Workshop 4 – ‘Meeting the standard with The Food WorksSW’ - (3h)
Wednesday 16th September - 9:30 - 12:30
Build confidence in the technical, compliance and food safety requirements that buyers expect.
Participants will:
• Cover the practical and financial realities of compliance. Producers are often unaware of the ongoing costs associated with third-party audits, testing, packaging compliance, retailer technical portals and the consequences of non conformance.
• Link scale-up to food safety risk, as growth frequently introduces new technical vulnerabilities that businesses are not prepared for.
• Provide technical readiness elements to balance the commercial focus and to help manage expectations.
Workshop 5 - ‘Guided retail visit’’ (3h)
Wednesday 23rd September - 09:30-12:30
See retail through the eyes of buyers and shoppers with guided visits and real-world insights.
Participants will:
• Visit a farm shop/supermarket to meet a buyer
• Gain first-hand insight into how products are positioned and sold in-store
• Understand buyer expectations from a practical, real-world perspective
• Identify opportunities to improve their own product, packaging and positioning
• Engage directly with retail professionals to ask questions and gather feedback
Workshop 6 – ‘Off the Shelf’ (3h)
Wednesday 7th October - 09:30-12:30
Learn how to manage retail success, maintain listings and pitch confidently for future growth.
Participants will:
• Understand what happens after securing a listing
• Learn how to manage performance, relationships and category expectations
• Identify risks including delisting, recalls and reputational challenges
• Mock pitch to a panel experience.
The Food WorksSW
A food and drink innovation centre supporting businesses to develop products, access expertise and grow successfully.
Maia Growth Partners
Food and drink growth specialists helping businesses strengthen routes to market and achieve sustainable growth.
PLPR
Specialist food and drink communications agency helping brands build awareness, engage consumers and support commercial growth.
This event is being funded by The West of England Food and Drink Support Initiative (details below).
Discounted tickets (£60 for the full programme) are available to eligible food and drink manufacturers based in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
If you are outside the areas then you will be charged £120 for a ticket which can be purchased through the ticket page.
Tickets are non-refundable.
The West of England Food and Drink Support Initiative (WoEFDSI) is open to food producers, manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses based in the area to help with technical and food development challenges faced by the businesses. Funded by the West of England Councils, West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council and being provided by the Future Food Partnership CIC through The Food WorksSW.