The Food Exchange: Start and grow a food & drink business

The Food Exchange: Start and grow a food or drink business

If you're looking to start or grow a food or drink business, this online event is for you! Meet a Sainsbury's buyer and apply to pitch your products to Sainsbury's, hear from successful entrepreneurs in the industry, learn how to grow your brand on social media, and hear how to create stand-out branding at this online extravaganza. 

Exchange events put you in touch with large brand buyers looking for products just like yours. You’ll hear from a Sainsbury's buyer on what they look for in a brand and how you can pitch to them. 

Why attend?

• Meet a Sainsbury's buyer and pitch your brand 
• Hear from an entrepreneur on how they've created a successful brand in the industry and got stocked in multiple supermarkets
• Hear from a marketing expert on how to grow your brand on social media 
• Learn how to create stand-out packaging for your products 
• Hear from a panel of logistics experts on business essentials you need to grow your brand

Tickets are £20 or £15 for Enterprise Nation members. Make sure you're logged in to get your exclusive discount!

Agenda:

2.00pm: Creating a successful food brand: Stuart Macdonald, founder, ManiLife 
ManiLife is the number one fastest-growing peanut butter brand in the UK. Their goal is to create the best tasting peanut butter on Earth and share it with as many people as possible. ManiLife founder Stuart Macdonald joins to share his story of creating and growing the brand, including his crowdfunding journey, growing a social media following and getting stocked in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and Holland & Barrett. Stuart will offer his top tips for raising money, getting stocked and creating a great brand.

2.30pm: Business essentials
Hear from a panel of logistics experts and an accountant as they offer tips for processes you can put in place to make your business growth journey as smooth as possible! 

3.00pm: Meet the buyer: Sainsbury's 
Do you want your products on the shelves in Sainsbury's? Rebecca Miller, future brands origination and development manager at Sainsbury's, joins to explain what sort of brands Sainsbury's are looking for, how you can get in touch with the buyers and the best way to pitch your products to them. Rebecca sits in the Future Brands team at Sainsbury's. The team lead the delivery of a distinctive range across all categories to make Sainsbury's a destination for brands their customers will love. They find gaps in ranges where distinctive brands could play a role and support and grow exclusive brands to maximise performance once listed. 

If you think your brand is perfect for Sainsbury's, you can apply to pitch your products to Sainsbury's live at the event. You have the opportunity to carry out a quick-fire, 2-minute pitch via webcam. Applications have now closed.

3.30pm: Live pitching to Sainsbury's
Head off the main stage and into the live pitching session to watch the five chosen food and drink brands take part in a quick-fire, 2-minute pitch to have their products sold in Sainsbury's! Applications have now closed.

4.00pm: Let your packaging do the talking
Kelly Mackenzie, founder of White Bear Studio, will share her special recipe for effective branding and packaging from her agency's proven creative process. Kelly will share top tips to ensure that your product gets on the shelf, and flies off it too. 

4.30pm: Using social media to grow your brand
Marketing expert and founder of Oh So Social, Katherine George has a wealth of experience and expert social media knowledge to share. One of only a handful of Facebook Blueprint Lead Trainers in Europe, and one of only 24 #SheMeansBusiness trainers in the UK, her social media knowledge is second to none. In this session, Katherine will provide top tips for using social media to grow awareness and sales for your food & drink brand.

5.00pm: Networking
Grab a drink and head into the networking area to make connections with like-minded entrepreneurs in the industry! 

About Enterprise Nation

Enterprise Nation is the UK's most active small business network and we have helped thousands of people turn their good idea into a great business. Enterprise Nation membership gives you access to exclusive opportunities to grow your business and connects you with like-minded entrepreneurs and business experts who can help.

If you have any questions, please email hello@enterprisenation.com