Once again NBC has held a very successful Trade Show at the Whittlebury Hall Conference Centre.
Since the group started in 2019, the trade shows have grown in size and popularity and this year is no exception – more members, more suppliers, and a conference room full to capacity.
This event is a wonderful opportunity for NBC members and supplier partners to network and discuss both business opportunities and issues in the current market conditions.
The event was opened with a brief overview from the NBC Managing Director – David Lunt – detailing how the group has developed its support for both members and suppliers over the last 12 months.
Commenting upon how the group was delivering upon its values, David Lunt states: “Success is generated through collaboration – between the group, its members, and our supplier partners – without this we would not have been able to help everyone achieve what it is they are trying to do, and quite simply it is getting brands in front of consumers wherever they wish to buy or consume them.”
NBC continues to attract interest from potential new members – Clare Spindler, NBC Business Development Manager, states: “We are actively responding to new member applications every week and unsurprisingly these are usually referrals from our supplier partners. Not all applications are successful as we must ensure that our membership model works for all parties. The introduction of our Associate Membership Scheme ensures that by working collaboratively and achieving results that membership can become an investment, not an annual management fee”.
There are significant benefits of becoming a member:
- Access to major brands – your business can get the brands it needs
- Great terms & Net Pricing – your business can be competitive
- Access to NDN – your business can buy in realistic quantities
- A Free NBC Toolkit – you can market your business to your competitors
- And finally, a Shareholder – you are investing in our future together.
And NBC continues to attract interest from potential new suppliers – Elenie Abbott, NBC Consortium Trading Manager, says: “We are actively working with new suppliers, and new product launches every week, ensuring that our members have access to great innovation and offering a route to market for suppliers. The combination of our members and NDN, our warehousing and logistics facility, ensures we can be a great added value route to market solution.”
Suppliers agree with these sentiments – the group showcased three companies that were benefitting from this approach – Huel, Premier Foods and Capri-Sun.
The group is in a great place to further develop – it has over 65 members and growing; its members represent over £800 million in combined turnover; members service retail, foodservice, hospitality, e-commerce and export channels; and members supply over 45,000 outlets.
NBC Chairman David Longfellow comments: “NBC may not be the biggest buying group, but we are unique, and we consider ourselves the alternative buying group for like-minded businesses.”
NBC Trade Show – Supplier Awards
Following a very successful Trade Show the group hosted a member and supplier dinner to continue the networking opportunities but perhaps more importantly to recognise and reward those supplier partners that have helped the group get to where it is today, and particularly during a challenging 2024.
The following companies were recognised individually and collectively for their outstanding contributions to the group.
- Mars Wrigley – Alex Cuthbert
- KP Snacks – Sally Yates
- Nutricia – Ben Witham
- Swizzels – George Edney
- Huel – Sophie Mahaffey
James Granville, NBC Vice Chairman, comments: “These individuals and the companies that they represent have gone just that little further with their help and cooperation in 2024, and that often makes such a difference for our members. We are proud to be working with them and we hope it can create a framework for everyone to work towards.”
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