How to Pitch to PnP, Shoprite, Woolworths, etc

[f22raptor]

I have created a food product. It might take years to make it find the capital to put it on shelves. Do Picknpay, et al accept concepts from outside the company?

 

[Polymathic]

Start with your local Spar and Family owned Pick n Pay stores.

OP which province are you in?

 

[f22raptor]

I am in Gauteng.

 

[jsheed_sa]

Don't go to Woolworths - they steal ideas

 

[f22raptor]

Don't go to Woolworths - they steal ideas

Really

 

[RedViking]

What food product is it and what is the recipe?

 

[f22raptor]

Perishable, that is all I can say at the moment.

 

[saor]

I reckon you'll have a very hard time with an NDA for something like a recipe. They can probably change an ingredient and get around it if they wanted to.

 

[jsheed_sa]

Really

Have you been living under a rock?

Woolworths vs Frankies
Woolworths vs Hummingbird design
Woolworths vs Ubuntu baba baby carrier
Woolworths vs SuperLatte
Woolworths vs Pasta

Frankie’s vs. Woolworths: Good old-fashioned David-and-Goliath battle

Retail giant Woolworths was dealt an embarrassing blow on Wednesday, which resulted in a product being discontinued when it was ruled that they had imitated Frankie's Olde Soft Drink Company. By GREG NICOLSON.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

Woolworths fights back in hummingbird row

The buzz about Woolworths' use of a hummingbird design is continuing on social media and the media, and the retailer has now tried to set the record straight.

www.fin24.com

Woolworths admits trouble with its baby carrier design, yanks its Ubuntu Baba lookalike from shelves

Woolworths says it is strengthening internal processes – after the third incident of alleged intellectual property theft.

www.businessinsider.co.za

Oops, they did it again: Woolworths accused of stealing "SuperLatte" idea

We've got our second major Woolworths plagiarism scandal of 2019: Woolies are accused of blatantly ripping of the "SuperLatte" brand.

www.thesouthafrican.com

Five times Woolworths found themselves in a fix

From plagiarism to awksward ads, Woolies has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

www.timeslive.co.za

 

[garp]

My take - you need to start small. If you're able to produce a limited quantity and supply it via small independents and build a bit of brand recognition or loyalty, even if it is just locally, then you'll have much more leverage and a track record with the big distributors. It will, firstly, provide evidence that you came up with the idea, and secondly, provide buyers at larger distributors with some confidence that there is a market and you know what you're doing. This might be a way to bootstrap income for development, depending on the product.

The big retailers are the wrong avenue for finding seed capital, I'd say, unless you're prepared to potentially lose control and settle for a whatever they see fit to throw your way. Even if it's a really good concept, actually especially if it is a good concept, you have no bargaining power with the distributors without any of those protections and history shows that they will have no qualms using product ideas, unless it is something that you can actually get a patent or some kind of legal protection for, but then again you need capital for that.

 

[presh63]

Shoprite's roti supplier is rolling with a R450k monthly turnover | IOL Business Report

Ashraf Kader, the owner of Mia’s Food, nationally supplies white flour roti, wholewheat roti, white flour naan and onion-flavoured naan to Shoprite.

www.iol.co.za

 

[f22raptor]

Have you been living under a rock?

Woolworths vs Frankies
Woolworths vs Hummingbird design
Woolworths vs Ubuntu baba baby carrier
Woolworths vs SuperLatte
Woolworths vs Pasta

Frankie’s vs. Woolworths: Good old-fashioned David-and-Goliath battle

Retail giant Woolworths was dealt an embarrassing blow on Wednesday, which resulted in a product being discontinued when it was ruled that they had imitated Frankie's Olde Soft Drink Company. By GREG NICOLSON.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

Woolworths fights back in hummingbird row

The buzz about Woolworths' use of a hummingbird design is continuing on social media and the media, and the retailer has now tried to set the record straight.

www.fin24.com

Woolworths admits trouble with its baby carrier design, yanks its Ubuntu Baba lookalike from shelves

Woolworths says it is strengthening internal processes – after the third incident of alleged intellectual property theft.

www.businessinsider.co.za

Oops, they did it again: Woolworths accused of stealing "SuperLatte" idea

We've got our second major Woolworths plagiarism scandal of 2019: Woolies are accused of blatantly ripping of the "SuperLatte" brand.

www.thesouthafrican.com

Five times Woolworths found themselves in a fix

From plagiarism to awksward ads, Woolies has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

www.timeslive.co.za

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Shaylin]

Hello. Have you considered starting small? Start selling your products at local markets and food festivals. This is an effective way to build a solid customer base and to prove to the retailers that your business is a worthwhile investment. Alternatively, go to pick n pay, or any other retailer, and find a product that they stock from a small brand. Contact that brand and ask for their advice.

Hope this helps.

 

[eehellfire]

I have created a food product. It might take years to make it find the capital to put it on shelves. Do Picknpay, et al accept concepts from outside the company?

Just don't pitch to WW...

 

[newklear]

I'd suggest sourcing, discussing and perhaps partnering up with a Merchandising company that is set in the industry already.

 

[f22raptor]

I'd suggest sourcing, discussing and perhaps partnering up with a Merchandising company that is set in the industry already.

Do you know any in particular?

 

[ToxicBunny]

If you want to try get a gauge of the popularity of such a product prior to ramping up to retailer level productions, I would suggest starting out at your local farmers market type setup... build a bit of a loyal following, then trying expand to local supermarkets...

 

[newklear]

Do you know any in particular?

I am now out of the industry unfortunately but did deal with a company called Chlolin Marketing which was run by Stoffel Nieuwoudt (ex MD from PnP). They merchandised a product on my behalf, honestly not sure if they still even exist, I am going back more than 15 years ago. I had an agreement with the merchandising company, they paid me directly and dealt with the various stores on their own accord.

For a full list with registered Consumer Goods Council of marketing/merchandising companies, see here

Times have changed though, so perhaps a good idea is, to use the facets of social media and flea/farmer markets at your disposal. Of course all depends on the product but suppose it won't hurt to speak to as many people as possible. Just don't leak your product to be stolen!

 

[f22raptor]

I am now out of the industry unfortunately but did deal with a company called Chlolin Marketing which was run by Stoffel Nieuwoudt (ex MD from PnP). They merchandised a product on my behalf,

What product was it?

 

[newklear]

What product was it?

It was a children's toy!