The Co-op’s incubator scheme winners hit the shelves

No comments

The Woolf's Kitchen

Source: The Co-op

The Co-op’s accelerator scheme earned new supplier The Woolf ’s Kitchen listings for its Thai-inspired pastes and oils

The first products from The Co-op’s values-led accelerator support programme for small suppliers have hit the shelves.

The suppliers that were successfully selected as part of the retailer’s incubator scheme focused on innovative solutions around sustainability, food waste, plant-based, and non-HFSS classified snacks.

The retailer’s accelerator programme, ‘the Apiary’, helps boost small businesses by offering them tailored support including mentoring, advice on the product journey, industry and consumer insights as well as access to its buying teams therefore improving chances of a retail listing.

The first three of six new suppliers launching in store this year have started rolling out in Co-op stores across the country this month (September).

Scrapples___

Scrapples makes healthy snacks for children from wonky fruit to reduce food waste

“This is an exciting milestone for our incubator scheme,” said Co-op head of category and the Apiary lead, Rebecca Oliver-Mooney.

“We are committed to building relationships and supporting our suppliers, and our ‘Apiary’ programme is designed to quickly anticipate and respond to changing consumer tastes and needs in our communities.

“We offer access to insight, guidance, technical knowledge and support to enable smaller-scale producers to accelerate towards a listing in store. These are all exciting and innovative producers, each with a real point of difference.”

One of the winning SMEs was Scrapples, whose goal is to reduce food waste by using wonky fruit to create healthy snacks which are 100% fruit with no added sugar, salt or fat. Scrapples will supply Co-op with their apple, apple and mango, and apple and strawberry ‘crisps’.

Other successful small businesses that gained a listing with the convenience chain this month include Superfoodio, who make palm oil- and sugar-free ‘peanut buttons’ snacks, as well as The Wonky Food Co, the makers of chutneys and relishes using wonky and surplus fruit and vegetables.

Wonky Food Co - Ashley Cavers, John Cavers, Laura Snook

Ashley Cavers, John Cavers, and Laura Snook of The Wonky Kitchen, which will also supply the c-store chain through the incubator scheme

The remaining three winning suppliers, Dapur Mariae, The Woolf’s Kitchen, and Urban Rajah, will see their products hit the shelves in nearly 200 Co-op stores across the country between October and November.

“They all offer something unique, which I am confident will interest and excite shoppers,” Oliver-Mooney said. “I am delighted to see their products on Co-op’s shelves.”