Cf Supplier Conference

Speciality Bites with

Paul Hargreaves

Chief executive of Cotswold Fayre

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This week’s blog has been one of the easiest to write as some of my suppliers have written it for me!

Simply put, it seems that Cotswold Fayre’s inaugural supplier conference was an event unique to the speciality food sector. Never before have over 100 speciality food and drink brand owners and producers been together in a conference before. Sure, there are plenty of trade shows and the like, but these do not engage people together like the event last week.

There were presentations from suppliers, Cotswold Fayre managers and sales team members and a customer. The theme of the event was ‘Working in Partnership for Mutual Growth’.  So it is true, despite what the Fine Food Digest says, that wholesalers actually do encourage producers to talk to and get involved with retailers.

Actually we have been doing it for 12 years, but no one seems to have told them.  And just in case you were wondering, this event was put together a long time before that article was published!

I was overwhelmed by the messages of encouragement that came in following the event.  We had over 25 emails of thanks and appreciation by 11am the following morning, so a short blog this week. 

I will leave the rest of the space to the comments of some of those who came last week, which follow below. Whilst you are reading this we will be at GLEE (the Garden & Leisure Exhibition not the TV show, just in case you were wondering!). Whether it will be ‘gleeful’ or not remains to be seen. I will let you know next week!

“From my perspective a quality event that was long overdue, so well done to you and the team at CF. I felt it really captured the essence of what good business practice is all about – communication and making things happen – and I thank you for having the gusto to communicate this in a clear and concise fashion.”
Jeremy Bowen, corporate and trade sales manager, Paxton & Whitfield

“A remarkable occasion – so many members of the speciality food ‘glitterati’ in one room Thought your team did you proud. A real thought provoking session.”
Geoff Wright, director, Fentimans

“Thank you for Wednesday’s extremely professional, insightful and enjoyable conference.
I am arranging a meeting with Robin in late November and I promised that we will engage in a more proactive manner going forward. It would be bad manners and, as the conference highlighted, bad business not to.”
Bill Keeling, managing director, Prestat

“What an excellent day. Well organised, informative, helpful and fun. A good chance to catch up with you all and hear it from various horses’ mouths. Thanks again for holding such a collaborative and worthwhile day.”
Paul Bendit, owner, Metro Drinks

“I just wanted to say well done to you and your team for an excellent afternoon. I found it very informative whilst realising that I too must make an increased effort to keep our relationship alive and grow the business.”
Julien Hicks, sales manager, Fine Italian Foods

“This is just a brief note to congratulate you on an informative and stimulating conference.
I have been to quite a few account conferences from large retailers over the years and would say that yours was up there with the best and well ahead of many.
Speakers were all good and the varied perspectives were a refreshing change. Even the Q&A was mostly interesting and relevant!”
Steve Wardlaw, sales director, Salty Dog

“I just wanted to thank you and the team for a very informative conference yesterday…………and wanted to say was most impressed with the new premises.
You must have been delighted with the amount of suppliers that attended and, for me, having supplied you from the early days of CF, it was very interesting to learn how the business had evolved and grown over the years. You must be very proud. I also thought the speakers were interesting and informative.”
Sarah Hopcroft, sales and marketing director, Image on Food