IND!E, an organization dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, has forged a new partnership with UK online retailer Ocado that will give indie CPG brands the opportunity to debut their products online. Brands will be able to harness Ocado’s robust ecommerce reach and infrastructure, while Ocado will be able to test and trial new products with its customer base. Brands can register using this link.
An Integrated Commerce Framework
The new commercial model is designed to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to:
- Market Access: SMEs can debut their products online before going completely wholesale
- Product Testing: Brands can get gauge consumer response and overall interest
- Visibility: Ocado will provide a valuable platform for SMEs to showcase their offerings to a large base of potential customers
In addition to the new commercial model, IND!E and Ocado will host Pitch Live, a live event where entrepreneurs and founders can pitch their products and brands. The winner will secure a space on the IND!E shop-in-shop at Ocado, a dedicated space that will showcase a selection of innovative products and emerging brands that will go live this autumn/winter. Pitch Live will take place during the Speciality & Fine Food Fair, taking place September 2024 in Olympia, London.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the most promising and innovative food and drink brands,” said Freya O’Mara Trading Manager – Pantry and Speciality Foods at Ocado. “At Ocado and through our partnership with IND!E, we are passionate about bringing our customers the best and most unique products available, and Pitch Live allows us to discover and support the next generation of standout brands. We look forward to seeing the creativity and quality that this year’s participants will bring to the table.”
IND!E has hosted Pop-Up Shops in other major retailers, such as John Lewis, Morley’s, Waitrose, Boots, Harvey Nichols and plans to bring this new integrated commercial model to other like-minded retailers.
