All You Need to know about Marketing Your Food Products
As a manufacturer of food products, you may be worried about the challenges you are likely to face to get the items before your target customers. There are diverse food value chains in the market, which are suited to different types of food products and you can use them depending on your product. Food distribution networks depend on coordination between food manufacturers and producers, distributors and sellers to achieve common financial goals.
Key steps to marketing your food product
- Recruiting brokers and setting up distributor networks to distribute your products.
- Identifying marketing niche and branding your product.
- Setting up infrastructure to pack and transport the product.
- Negotiating with buyers to get the right price for the products you propose to sell.
- Distribution agencies which have informal networks are better equipped to meet changing demands of niche food markets.
Across national markets, agricultural cooperatives have played a significant role in product accumulation distribution that offers flexibility to buyers and suppliers. Tremendous improvements have been made to improve productivity by the use of modern farming methods and application of fertilizers as well as genetically improved products for better yield. Direct marketing outlets bring farmers directly in contact with c-store operators so that both understand each other’s’ requirements and challenges. Depending on your type of product and target customers you need to identify right marketing cum distribution model, which will help bring your product to target customers at a competitive price.
Importance of packaging and marketing
While getting your product ready for the market you will have to not only design attractive packaging, but also ensure that it follows legal guidelines specified by government for these food products. Most manufacturers take the help of professional designers to make their packaging and labeling. The container of the food product also must be of food grade quality for it to pass government regulations and avoid problems of poisoning.
The marketing for food products has to be done in the right manner to attract attention of end consumers and buyers of convenience store chains so a demand is created by the time a product hits the markets. It can be done by both online and offline modes like press advertisements, television and radio commercials, distributing samples at stores and advertising on food blogs. Food product startups which do not have deep pockets can concentrate on local markets to market their business in local stores and establish a demand for their products to learn how to get products into c stores.
Develop a marketing technique suitable to your product
If you are making a product which has niche demand and cannot compete with large brands then try to build a sense of mystery around the new product. Focus on the exceptional qualities of your product and try to show why it is special to incite interest among consumer groups for the product. In addition to stating the uniqueness of your product gauge available markets where these can be sold to slowly build your clientele.
Using farm markets and food fairs to showcase your products
Several small food producers try out this route as an extension to their hobby of creating new recipes to check market demand. As they have limited marketing resources to have a media blitzkrieg, they present their wares in local flea markets and food fairs to spread awareness about their products among local business. You can also use the market to distribute samples of your produce and offer discounts to people who ask for large orders, which will help spread goodwill about your brand.
Working with food brokers/agent
If you are seeking to sell your food products via the convenience stores and grocery store route then it is preferable to take the help of a food broker/agent who has an in-depth understanding of markets and by working with local single stores which you frequent on a regular basis to buy your groceries. Food brokers can help you get an entry into both small and large c-store chains and grocery stores and it is up to you to give an effective presentation extolling the virtues of your product to convince them to give it a try. Since food brokers know the market trends they can advise you about which stores can sell your food product effectively. They can also help device a successful marketing plan to give your presentation a professional touch. You can find a ton of them here www.cstoredistributors.com.
Make an attractive display
Most small and large c-stores chains will ask you to design a display section for your product at one or two stores during the introduction stage so customers will know about it. Take the help of a rack jobber or experienced person to design an attractive display area to perk up interest of customers walking into the store. During this phase also you can give out samples of your products to interested customers. Develop a unique proposition for your product, offer your product in an exotic flavor to make it appeal to your customers. Your product must have a combination of good taste, unique packaging and appealing proposition for people to buy it again and again.
Branding your product
Always remember that brand names register in the minds of buyers more than the product so develop your product as a brand. People associate taste and flavor with food products and you can associate the same with your brand and market your product. Growing awareness of environmental sustenance and protection of farmers’ rights has also led people to buy products which support these objectives.
Whether you are trying to market a single or several food products within one brand, a good food product is the main stepping stone to the success of your brand. If your products are good they will be popular and soon you will have distributors, wholesalers and even store buyers vying for your attention. Besides marketing your product around local markets, try to develop demand through online channels by setting up an online order system by advertising on food blogs and cookery shows.
