The Co-op has chosen eight small food suppliers to join the second round of its Apiary accelerated support scheme.
The selected businesses will be given the chance to work alongside The Co-op, pitching to the buying team in the hope of getting their products in stores this year.
The suppliers featured in the Apiary include cloudy vegan beer brand, Local, Ugandan coffee business, Blue Turaco, and vegan water brand, Revibed Drinks.
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As part of the programme, the convenience retailer will give the suppliers tailored support and advice such as industry and consumer insight, technical mentoring as well as access to The Co-op’s buying teams.
The search for the small, valued-led and innovative food businesses to join the second wave of the scheme first began in February.
This came following the success of the first round of the programme, which saw products from brands including Dapur Mariae, Scrapples, Superfoodio, The Woolf’s Kitchen, Urban Rajah and the Wonky Food Co rolling out across selected Co-op stores last year.
Co-op head of commercial for drinks, frozen community buying and Apiary Rebecca Oliver-Mooney said: “The search for new suppliers is an exciting time for our Apiary programme, and we are delighted to announce the new group of suppliers who we will work closely with during 2023.
“We believe they all offer a real point of difference to interest, enthuse and excite Co-op members and customers in our communities.”
