Pitching applications are now open.

The well-known chain has 2,500 stores across the UK and had food revenue worth £7.8bn last year.

Looking for: Their buyers are from Co-ops incubator programme 'The apiary.’ They are looking for suppliers who place their values, ethics and principles at the heart of their business, as well as demonstrating they go ‘above and beyond’ to be an impactful purpose led business. They are open to products across chilled, ambient and frozen temperature regimes. Suppliers must be accredited by or working towards SALSA as a minimum.

Cotswold Fayre are a leading speciality food wholesaler, working in partnership with over 400 food & drink producers.

Looking for: Ambient, chilled and frozen speciality & fine food products across all categories manufactured with a minimum of SALSA accreditation, as well as non-food items in the pet, home and lifestyle categories.

Holland & Barrett are giants in the health food retail world with over 1,300 stores in 16 countries.

Looking for: Innovative products which can challenge established brands with a healthier alternative

British Airways is the second largest UK-based carrier, carrying about 48 million customers to over 200 destinations across the world.

Looking for: Brands offering new innovations in the snack world, with exciting formats or flavours that cater to modern dietary needs, like allergen-friendly options and nut-free products in particular

Diverse Fine Food is a Speciality food and beverage distributor, supplying many of the UK's high end independent retailers.

Looking for: Innovative, artisan food and beverage brands.

DDC Foods is a wholesaler and distributor of chilled, frozen, and ambient products, specialising in working with brand partners to bring new and innovative products to market.

Looking for: Trend-setting drinks, snacks, chocolate, popcorn, fruit, nuts, seeds, breakfast and more.

Abel & Cole delivered their first organic box in 1988 and they’ve grown to now stock over 2,000 lines.

Looking for: Products and suppliers that are certified organic or BCorp, and only in the following categories: Tea & Coffee, Biscuits, Chocolate & Confectionery, Tinned & Jarred, Cooking Sauces & Ingredients, Soft Drinks, Rice, Pasta, Noodles, Dried Fruit, Ambient Snacks, Condiments, Jams & Spreads, Ambient Milk Alternatives

The Cress Co deliver the very best in ambient and chilled products to over 3000 customers across the UK

Looking for: New suppliers within a range of ambient categories (soft drinks, bakery, snacks, confectionery & larder), as well as chilled and seasonal categories.

Sainsbury’s is one of the UK’s leading supermarket chains.

Looking for: Innovative food and drink products across the full Beer, Wines and Spirits category, as well as Meal Solutions (particularly pasta, soup, and sauces).

Office Pantry is a leading foodservice provider to the office market across the UK, working with Octopus Energy, Novo Nordisk, Reddit & more.

Looking for: Ambient ready-to-eat snack food or drinks appropriate for in-office consumption (including alcohol, alternative milks, breads, spreads, etc).

Vegetarian Express are the UK’s premier specialist distributor of plant-based ingredients to the foodservice industry.

Looking for: Great tasting food that people would choose to eat – flexitarians and vegans alike.

Iceland Foods is a leading British supermarket chain with a strong presence of over 1,000 stores and a rich history of more than 50 years,

Looking for: Emerging brands who have new innovative and exciting products not currently listed within retail.

CN Foods is a leading FMCG distributor serving London’s health food and convenience retail sectors.

Looking for: Chilled and ambient products

Creme d'Or are one of the UK's leading confectionery distributors, supplying right across the fast-paced UK FMCG sector.

Looking for: Confectionery products

Fenwick is a historic British department store chain. Known for offering luxury goods.

Looking for: Premium, branded ambient grocery products that are unique and suitable for gifting, with an emphasis on innovative packaging

Gloucester Services, operated by the Westmorland Family, is a unique motorway service area that focuses on artisanal and locally sourced food products.

Looking for: Suppliers of high-quality, locally produced ambient and chilled foods, emphasising sustainability and provenance.

Tesco is the UK’s largest supermarket chain with almost 3,000 stores.

Looking for: brands that are often underrepresented, particularly: Black-owned, LGBTQ+ owned, and disabled-owned businesses; Community-led or community-focused brands (beyond standard CSR initiatives); Planet-focused, sustainability-driven brands.

Waitrose is a British supermarket with around 329 stores across the UK, known for its high-quality food and strong ethical sourcing.

Looking for: High-quality, well-presented food and drink made with recognisable ingredients, ideally sourced locally.

Ocado is the UK’s only online-only grocer and have a passion for small suppliers with exciting and innovative products.

Looking for: Products across all categories.

Zoom by Ocado is the online supermarket’s rapid delivery service, operating across London from two distribution.

Looking for: Products from a wide array of categories including pasta/noodles, breakfast foods, ready meals, world cuisines, condiments, household and beauty.

Planet Organic is looking for natural, high-quality packaged organic products that align with emerging consumer trends and their mission to “promote health in the community.”

Looking for: Ambient or chilled products, should be produced in SALSA-certified (or equivalent) facilities as a minimum, and must be organic where possible.

En-Route International specialises in providing comprehensive passenger solutions, supply chain services, and sourcing for airlines and airline caterers on a global scale.

Looking for: Suppliers capable of offering both white label and branded products in single-serve portions.

Whole Foods Market have a passion for working with start-ups and are committed to the growth of small and local businesses

Looking for: The highest quality natural or organic plant-based products that are environmentally friendly, ecologically responsible and at the forefront of new consumer trend

Harrods is one of the world’s leading luxury department stores and a destination for many sought-after brands from around the globe.

Looking for: High-quality, beautifully presented products with strong provenance and clear luxury appeal, predominantly in the soft drinks, confectionery, and pantry categories.

Pitching is sponsored by NielsenIQ. Their Small & Medium Business Team is dedicated to supporting challenger brands in their growth journey through data and category insights.