Pitching applications are now open.

Since opening their flagship store in the UK in 2007, Whole Foods now has 7 stores across high foot fall areas in London. Each week, over 95,000 customers come into their stores.

Looking for: The highest quality natural or organic plant-based products that are environmentally friendly, ecologically responsible and at the forefront of new consumer trends. Products can be can be ambient, chilled or frozen and should be manufactured in a SALSA certified site as a minimum.

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.

The UK’s first organic supermarket is on the hunt for new and exciting brands.

Looking for: Natural, high quality packaged products, ambient or chilled, that are at the forefront of new consumer trends and aligned with their mission to 'promote help in the community'.

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.

Selfridges is a high-end department store chain with four stores located in London, Manchester, and Birmingham in the United Kingdom and a revnue of £844 million in 2023.

Looking for: Products in all categories which are at the very forefront of consumer trends.

Holland & Barrett are giants in the health food retail world with over 13,000 stores in 16 countries.

Looking for: Natural and healthy ambient and chilled food and drink products, and sports nutrition products at the forefront of new consumer trends.

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

Looking for: Suppliers who have on-trend products which will resonate with guests when encompassing an ethos of, “Bringing Britain to the world and the world to Britain”. Their buyers are looking for savoury and sweet snacks, sweet baked goods and desserts.

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

Looking for: Suppliers who are prepared to work with them exclusively to give their customers a compelling reason to shop with Ocado. They are interested in seeing products across all categories. All suppliers must be SALSA or BRC accredited.

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

Looking for: Ambient artisan food and beverage products which meet their requirements. SALSA accreditation is a necessity for a number of key retailers.

BP have 309 stores across the UK.

Looking for: Brands that are well established in the independent retail market but not quite in the mults yet. More specifically their buyers are looking for impulse products - soft drinks, crisps and snacks and confectionary.

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.

MuscleFood is an online health shop specialising in proteins and other health food products.

Looking for: Health snacks, protein snacks, products with fibre claims, ready meals.

GAIL’s is an artisan bakery chain with 100+ stores and a track record of championing challenger brands.

Looking for: Branded products for their pantry, both chilled and ambient. Suppliers must have BRC, SALSA, or an equivalent accreditation, and products must have a clean ingredient deck.

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 and BCorp, and only in the following categories: Tea & Coffee. Biscuits, Chocolate, Tinned & Jarred, Soft Drinks, Pasta, Dried Fruit, Ambient Snacks, Condiments, Jams, Ambient Milk Alternatives.

Harvey Nichols is a luxury department store chain with seven locations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Looking for: Ambient branded grocery products that are unique and innovative, new to Harvey Nichols customers with a focus on gifting and premium packaging.

Gategroup is the leading global airline, shipping and rail catering, retail onboard and equipment solutions provider/

Looking for: Beers, spirits and RTD (alcohol) options with a tangible USP and wide appeal.

Bidfood is one the UK’s leading foodservice providers, with a turnover of nearly £2.5bn servicing over 45k caterers and foodservice businesses around the UK.

Looking for: Products from most categories, with a particular interest in those suppliers who can demonstrate traction in the market.

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.