When it comes to sourcing new specialty items, Mike McMahon, director of grocery at Bristol Farms, said “I don’t look for product. I look for a particular person and skill set and passion; someone I can partner up with. Of course, you have to have a good item, but you also have to have a great team.”
McMahon’s comments were part of a session called “Selling to Channels: Understanding Specialty Stores, Grocery, and Foodservice,” part of SFA’s Scale Up Saturday workshop at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Panelist Matt Caputo, founder of Caputo’s Market said that before he seeks new products in any given category, he needs to become competent in that category. He does so by reading books and researching consumer groups that may be tied to cheese for instance and he’ll find out which brands and types are their favorite.
Scale Up Saturday was an all-day event designed for makers to learn about growth strategies and financing options. Videos from the sessions will be made available on the specialtyfood.com Learning Center in the coming weeks.
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