Foodstuffs North Island in partnership with The New Zealand Food Innovation Network are introducing a new series of nationwide forums to help emerging grocery suppliers set themselves up for supermarket success, hosting 14 events across New Zealand from March to September.

As part of the forums, the co-op will partner with regional business development agencies and industry specialists to provide a range of support to small businesses.

The New Zealand Food Innovation Network will provide a focus on supporting product formulation, manufacturing, scaling, compliance - and the business development agencies will bring a network of local support to enable small businesses to thrive.

The forums, which kick off at The Foodbowl in Māngere Auckland on 5 March, will have a team of Foodstuffs experts on hand to share their experiences and insights into supplying products to their more than 300 PAK’nSAVE, New World and stores across the North Island.

Foodstuffs North Island Emerging Supplier Manager, Rachel Prenty, says “the forums have been developed as a way to connect with suppliers at the start of their growth journey, sharing crucial insights on how to scale up their business for supermarket supply. The overall objective is help take emerging suppliers through this process, which we know can feel challenging when you’re standing at the starting line”.

“If the ultimate goal is to make it onto supermarket shelves, then considerations like having a robust supply chain, sustainable operations, as well as how supermarket distribution works and what customers are looking for can be incredibly helpful,” she adds.

Foodstuffs North Island also supports emerging suppliers through events like Emerge, Foodstuffs’ Emerging Supplier Competition, and with resources like Supplier handbook.

Last year’s Foodstuffs Emerge winners were Solid, a sustainable plastic free toothpaste in a jar and toothpaste tablets and Herbivore, a premium plant-based butter made from natural coconut, both winners have received dedicated resources and support to help with the next stage of their expansion.

Rachel says for many small businesses, having that guidance when they’re at the early stages of establishing themselves helps set them up for success and inform decision making about the future.

“These forums will serve as a way for small business in the same regions to build a network of support and we encourage any supplier at any stage of their business to head along to a local event,” she says.

To register, visit Foodstuffs North Island Emerging Supplier Forum registration page.