Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

Tender description

This Framework Agreement is to support the delivery of programmes, (including business development, export, FDI and other specialist Food services) evidence and other support to further the strategic aims of the Welsh Government and the Food and Drinks Action Plan to 2022. Food and Drink is a priority sector for the Welsh Government. The development of a new framework is essential to ensure the continued development of support programmes, assisting the industry to grow, innovate and move in positive new directions, ensuring Wales takes a prominent position in the market place for food. To design and develop a number of innovative programmes and activities that will suit the needs of small, medium and large businesses in developing their products and services, their business skills and sales growth. This may include one to one or one to many support. To ensure that businesses partaking and benefitting from these activities are in a position to take advantage of any opportunities that might arise. Working with other support providers through a triple helix approach being essential to increase the number of businesses that are in a position to benefit. To produce and update detailed reports, to include retailer profiles, product database, menu analyses, consumer trends and gap analysis reports on specific products in order to identify how Welsh based producers can fill these gaps. To provide one to many and individual support to enable Welsh suppliers to understand the category management process and to assist them in integrating this within their trade development plans. To deliver a strong Welsh presence at key events and provide an environment within the UK and internationally where trade buyers, consumers, distributors, press and media can learn more about the food and drink industry within Wales. This will include raising the profile of the industry in line with the brand position of Welsh Food and Drink, and enable Welsh companies to directly engage with potential trade buyers to generate new / additional sales. Contractors will be required to recruit companies for participation at events and provide associated travel management, manage the Welsh presence from end to end, assist companies pre-event and collate outputs post event. To deliver specialist export trade and marketing support to Welsh based food and drink businesses to develop their international sales, and to help maximise their chances of export success. The export support provided will need to be tailored to meet the needs of the individual business as the support required will be dependant on their export status. Some specific programmes of support will include: International Trade Development (ITD); Food and Drink Wales Export Cluster (Export Club); Export Procedure Reviews; and support to deliver other externally funded export support programmes where Welsh Government is a partner. Support will be required to be delivered on both a one-to-one and one-to-many basis. The WG is looking for support in engaging with those companies within these target markets who have the greatest potential for high value manufacturing driven by environmental pressures, manufacturing competitiveness, food safety and quality and consumer behaviour. The work could involve research and development, company contact, appointment setting, follow up, support to WG officials, developing high level propositions, responding to FDI proposals. The primary aim being to attract new investment from new foreign owned companies to Wales. The WG are looking for contractors to assist with promoting Welsh food and drink on a regional, national and international basis. Aimed mainly at B2B there will also be an element of B2C through our Food Tourism project. Promotion around activities such as trade events, trade visits, along with promoting good news about the industry via case studies, PNs, social media and our quarterly newsletter. Creativity would be key to this work to ensure there is continuous coverage for the industry and its producers so as to raise its profile. Ensure the industry are aware of the packages of support available by WG. Work would also include public relations of the Food & Drink Wales Industry Board (FDWIB) and Protected Food Names (PFNs). To provide research, evaluation, analysis and similar specialist services, providing robust and credible evidence to appraise and develop strategy for the food and drink sector in Wales and more widely, considering other connected sectors. To develop insight to understand the performance, trends and other features of the food and drink sector. To contact and arrange meetings between Food Division and food and drink buyer organisations to establish new, and to build and maintain existing relationships in order to develop a detailed understanding of the buying organisations’ policies and plans to explore and discuss opportunities to work together to contribute to the broader Welsh Government agenda and priorities and for sourcing Welsh products. Buyers will be encouraged to attend Food Division events such as TasteWales and the Royal Welsh Show Business Lounge. Once the requirements of the buyers are understood both potential and existing suppliers that meet these requirements will be invited to take part in the programme to enable them to meet with buyers and secure new and increased sales as well as maintaining existing lines. To deliver advice and support that will suit the needs of new business starts, micro, small, medium and large businesses in developing their products and services to achieve job safeguarding and creation and sales growth. To work with other Welsh Government Departments as required and other business support providers, including skills support providers to ensure all business needs are fully considered and directed to other appropriate support, and to make appropriate referrals to such providers and recommendations to Food Division (FD) with regard to further additional support.