The Food & Beverage sector attracts many eager start-up founders. And I’ve found that many like to think that they can launch their new brand on a shoestring budget.

Creating an alcoholic drink is likely to cost around £50k – at the very least. You also have to have enough funds for HMRC to believe in you.

When the UK left the EU, some – including Richard Horwell, owner of specialist food and drink marketing and branding company Brand Relations – hoped novel foods regulations would be overhauled in order to facilitate drinks innovation. Sadly, he says, we are still some way behind.

Having been behind over 100 brands, I have seen far too many entrepreneurs think they can handle the sales and marketing themselves, without any help or funding.

A voluntary e-label scheme has been developed by European wine and spirits trade bodies Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins and Spirits Europe enabling wine and spirit producers to communicate nutritional, calorie and allergen information via QR codes on bottles.
Having been behind over 100 brands, I have seen far too many entrepreneurs think they can handle the sales and marketing themselves, without any help or funding.

Every time I walk into a bar, someone, usually the bar tender, will tell me about his great idea for creating a new drink. And the first thing I will ask is: “How deep are your pockets?”

A voluntary e-label scheme has been developed by European wine and spirits trade bodies Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins and Spirits Europe

More than 50% of US consumers change their product brands due to new, unsatisfactory packaging, while 49% of consumers share their unboxing experience on social media, giving product packaging center stage.

We now have a new voluntary e-label scheme developed by CEEV and SpiritsEUROPE. The intention is to encourage wine and spirit producers to display nutritional information

A new voluntary e-label scheme developed by CEEV and SpiritsEUROPE was recently launched to encourage wine and spirit producers to display nutritional information, calorie content, allergens advice etc. on their bottles.

In contrast to the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada find themselves at the vanguard of a revolution that has resulted in a booming appetite for food products containing novel foods with health benefits.

Zero alcohol beverages have been growing in popularity over the past few years. Research from the 2021 Lumina Intelligence Low2No Alcohol Report (published June 2021) shows that 30% of young people are actively making the decision to avoid alcohol.

Startup in the Food & Beverage sector? Richard Horwell from specialist food & drink marketing and branding company, Brand Relations shares insights on the Sales & Marketing costs you’ll need to consider.

The UK Food Safety Authority (FSA)’s Novel Foods process is not fit for purpose and is holding back originality and growth in the UK’s food and beverage industry.

There has been huge interest in hard seltzer category (also known as hard sparkling water, spiked seltzer, or alcoholic seltzer) over the past couple of years in the UK.

There has been huge interest in hard seltzer category (also known as hard sparkling water, spiked seltzer, or alcoholic seltzer) over the past couple of years in the UK.

Planning and cash are essential for the success of any new Food & Beverage (F&B) product. Paying upfront for everything and then waiting up to 90 days for the payments on anything you might sell can create a huge black hole in your cashflow.

Creating an alcoholic drink startup? Richard Horwell from Brand Relations shares advice on how to overcome some of the key challenges when doing just that.

Your new alcoholic drink may be smooth, but launching it won’t be

Your new food or drink brand is ready – now the challenge begins! The next step is to generate sales. That shouldn’t be too hard as lots of other brands out there aren’t half as good as yours. So, how hard can it be, right? Well, the answer is… very hard and – I can’t stress this enough – very expensive.

Creating an alcoholic drink is not easy. Only one in ten new alcohol drinks business ventures will survive beyond two years so you need to make sure you have done everything possible

A voluntary e-label scheme has been developed by European wine and spirits trade bodies Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins and Spirits Europe

With the aim of encouraging wine and spirit producers to display more information, including ingredients, calories and sustainability initiatives on product labels

You would have been hard-pressed to miss the massive excitement over hard seltzers (also called spiked seltzer, alcoholic seltzer, or hard sparkling water) over the past couple of years in the UK.

Why creating an alcoholic drink for the UK market is full of potential pitfalls and problems.

Most consumers want to know about the ingredients in the food and the drink they consume. And on the 1st December a new voluntary e-label scheme for alcoholic beverages was launched.

I’m having a chat this week with Richard Horwell of Brand Relations, a specialist food and drink marketing and branding company.

I have seen far too many entrepreneurs think they can handle sales and marketing themselves, without any help or funding.

I am delighted to hear the recent news about the launch (on Dec 1st) of a new voluntary e-label scheme developed by CEEV and SpiritsEUROPE.

A new voluntary e-label scheme for alcoholic beverages has been developed by CEEV and SpiritsEUROPE and will be launched on 1st December 2021.

Having been behind over 100 brands, I have seen far too many entrepreneurs think they can handle the sales and marketing themselves, without any help or funding.

As drinking habits change amid the pandemic, the low and no alcohol category sees a pronounced acceleration. Yet, while their appearance appeals, could taste and an expensive price point threaten to impact uptake?

We often meet entrepreneurs who believe that a new food or drink (F&B) brand can be started on a shoestring. Every business needs money to start and, believe me, the Food & Drink industry is no different. In fact, it can suck up a lot more cash than many other sectors.

Research published in the 2021 Lumina Intelligence Low2No Alcohol Report (June 2021) shows that 30% of young people are actively choosing to avoid alcohol.  And older people are cutting back or eliminating it as they want the comfort of driving to/from their destination without worry about being over the limit.

Has the bubble just burst on the alcoholic sparkling water craze, asks Richard Horwell? Sometimes a new product comes along that creates huge excitement. This has been the case with hard seltzers in Britain.

Recipes that have been handed down for generations exist in all corners of Cheshire. Some of those recipes may have the potential to become household brands, perhaps internationally.

Your new bakery, pastry or biscuit brand is ready – now the challenge begins! The next step is to generate sales. There are quite a few numbers coming up, and some of them may leave you feeling a little deflated.

Can a recipe that has been handed down through generations become a marketable reality. Of course, but no matter how wonderful the recipe, there are a number of steps on the journey from kitchen stove to supermarket shelf.

There has been huge interest in the hard seltzer category (also known as ‘hard sparkling water’, ‘spiked seltzer’, or ‘alcoholic seltzer’) over the past couple Of years in the UK. This is hardly surprising in the light of the pandemic and lockdowns.

Looking at the range of food and drink in a supermarket many entrepreneurs will think they have a great idea for something new and different. However, as always some key steps need to be undertaken to get from concept to shelf.

The main route to market for new brands is through wholesalers; selling direct to stores is almost impossible. But do not rush to contact the most obvious large wholesaler without checking if the wholesaler supplies your target retailers

Given the huge number of products on our grocery store shelves, it is no surprise that it is a challenge to introduce something new. Not only do you need a clear point of difference you also need to entice your target audience to try it.

There was massive excitement over hard seltzers (also called spiked seltzer, alcoholic seltzer, or hard sparkling water) over the past two years in the UK.

There are fantastic opportunities for the right manufacturer to dominate the alcohol-free spirits’ space. However, manufacturers need to think beyond traditional spirit categories to find unique flavors, characters, and profiles for their drinks if they are going to be viewed as competing against their alcohol counterparts.

Every startup founder needs to keep in mind that branding is as important as the product itself. 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition.

You have a fantastic new food or drink brand. It truly is a wonderful product. Congratulations, you’ve successfully negotiated the easy part. Now you need to generate sales. Far too many entrepreneurs think they can handle the sales and marketing themselves.

As drinking habits change amid the pandemic, the low and no alcohol category sees a pronounced acceleration. Yet, while their appearance appeals, could taste and an expensive price point threaten to impact uptake?

Over the years we have met many budding entrepreneurs wanting to bring their dreams to life and start up in the beverage business. I have seen some innovative and exciting ideas that have great potential, and quite a few that made no sense at all.

Branding plays a huge role in encouraging a first-time purchaser to try your new food or drink product.  Indeed, 90% of a first-time purchase is based on it. Banding is why a consumer will make the decision to pick your product over their regular choice of product that they may have been buying for a considerable period of time.

However tasty your product you need to focus on the fact that 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or over your competition.

You may have created a wonderful tasting product but if no one picks it up, buys it and tries it, it simply won’t succeed. 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; so it helps consumers to decide to pick your product over their regular choice.

Regardless of sector, entrepreneurs can fall into the same traps. A common mistake is thinking they can handle sales and marketing themselves.

Many entrepreneurs think they can handle sales and marketing themselves, without any help or funding. They set out without any real understanding of what’s involved or the budgets they will need.

Brand Relations: branding and marketing Richard Horwell is the managing director of Brand Relations, a food and drink specialist consultancy that focuses on development, branding and marketing.

We are seeing consumer buying habits changing. When they are doing their week shopping for food and drink, consumers increasing concerned with functionality and health. In the past, it was much more about buying into a lifestyle that a drink or snack brand offered, rather than the product itself.

There are no rules about where a business idea can be born, and some of the best begin in a kitchen. We recently developed a healthy soft drink based on stinging nettles. The recipe was one that had been in the founder’s family for generations.

Every startup founder needs to keep in mind that branding is as important as the product itself. Of a first-time purchase is based on the branding: it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition

Having been behind over 100 brands, I have seen far too many entrepreneurs think they can handle the sales and marketing themselves, without any help or funding.

When considering the possibility of starting a business many people look at the Food & Drink sector as a starting point. Some people have a genuinely innovative idea. But what will it cost to bring to market?  It is all too common to believe that you can start up your own drinks brand on a shoestring

The key reasons people cite for buying a zero-alcohol drinks are: health (including weight loss and disease prevention), wanting to be able to drive, and saving money. There are some great low alcohol beers (technically they are not alcohol free) but just because the beer brewers have got it right doesn’t mean the spirits market has hit the spot.

Many people have a treasured family recipe, or perhaps a dish inspired by something tasted on holiday, that they believe will take the food and drinks market by storm. However most home-prepared recipes cant simply be moved from the kitchen to the factory

It was the question everyone was afraid to ask Last year. haw many breweries were going to close? In the States. 45 percent was the believed number. which was close to the same number being mooted around here.

Richard Horwell is the managing director of Brand Relations, a food and drink specialist consultancy that focuses on development, branding and marketing. Prior to setting up Brand Relations in 2007

So many entrepreneurs look at the range of products in the Supermarkets or stores and say to themselves ‘I can do better than that!’. When I was growing up, all my classmates wanted to work for a Bank or the Public Service as it was a safe secure job; these days everyone wants to be their own boss.

Cans are proving popular in drinks packaging thanks to their recyclability, expansion beyond the carbonated market; and cost-effective production runs. Far more than its outer shell, drinks packaging is the bridge that connects a product with people.

In the early 80s, actor Paul Newman filled empty wine bottles with his homemade salad dressing and handed them out to neighbours as Christmas presents. When his neighbours began knocking on his door asking for refills, Newman decided he’d try selling it (with profits going to charity). It’s still in shops now. 

Over the years I have met many budding entrepreneurs wanting to bring their dreams to life and start up a food & beverage (F&8) business. I have seen Innovative and exciting ideas with great potential, some targeted at the British love of curry. I’ve also seen quite a few that made no sense at all.

Let me start with a bold statement. Your branding is as important as the product itself. You can have the best tasting wine on the market but if no one picks it up and tries it, no one will ever know, 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition.

THERE are people who look at a potato and fail to see anything more than proto mash, and there are people bursting with amazingly imaginative ideas of how to use that same potato to fashion fantastic flavour sensations.

Paul Newman did it, Levi Roots did it, but could you take a home-crafted recipe, create a product and turn it into a marketable reality. Of course, you could, but there is a lot of work involved.

Your product may taste absolutely delicious but without brilliant branding it may not be a success. It is vital to remember that 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition.

Every startup founder needs to keep in mind that branding is as important as the product itself. 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition.  So how can startup founders communicate their message to their target audience so that they decide to buy and try?

Business ideas can be conceived anywhere, including kitchens. Up and down the land there are recipes that have been handed down through generations, there are recipes adapted from dishes experienced abroad, and there are recipes that were created from scratch (by design or by accident).

Do you have a food or drink recipe that has been within your family for generations? Or have you tasted a great dish or drink while travelling and would love to bring it to the UK? The first thing you need to do is research. Is there anything similar in the market either in the UK or internationally? Find out everything you can about this competition.

You have a killer dish, it’s a best seller, and people are regularly begging for the recipe. But you have ambitions for this flavour sensation: this time next year Rodney, we’ll be millionaires! And you and Rodney (other world-weary siblings are available) may well end up yacht-and-a-penthouse rich, but the journey from restaurant kitchen to supermarket shelf is a long one, and it involves a great deal of work.

Perhaps you have a family recipe you can trace back to Charlemagne, or perhaps your signature dish was a happy accident.  It’s very easy to believe that your recipe will go viral when it hits the food and drinks market; you aren’t the first person to think that, and you definitely won’t be the last.

Do you have a food or drink recipe that has been within your family for generations? Or have you tasted a great dish or drink while travelling and would love to bring it to the UK? It’s very easy to believe that your recipe will go viral when it hits the food and drinks market; you aren’t the first person to think that, and you definitely won’t be the last.

Buying habits are changing. Lifestyle ruled for a long time—you were cool if you bought a product because only the ‘richest’ or ‘best looking’ would buy now brand loyalty is linked to brand benefits and transparency.

Consumer buying habits are changing. When it comes to food and beverage, consumers are now much more focused on health and functionality. In the past, it was about buying into a lifestyle that a snack or drink’s brand offered, rather than the actual product itself.

Many of us dream of creating a successful food or drink brand but may not be sure how to attract consumers. A tasty product is one thing but how people get to know about it? Your branding is hugely important. As important as the product itself. Branding is the message you want to communicate to your target consumer – and that message should be ‘BUY ME’.

Consumer buying habits are changing. Food and beverage shoppers are now much more focused on health and functionality. In the past, consumers bought into a lifestyle that a snack or drink’s brand offered, rather than the actual product itself. Brand loyalty was won by generating, through the brand’s powerful advertising and packaging, a sense of identity by making them feel part of a community.

You can have the best tasting, most delicious food or drink product on the market but if no one tries it, no one will ever know, 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition.

Once upon a time, simple hydration or quieting a rumbling tummy was all we asked of our food and beverages. And then lifestyle came along. Snacks and drinks sought to create a sense of identity, to instil a feeling of being part of a community; cool people used these products.

You may have a wonderful product which tastes fantastic but if consumers don’t pick it up and try it, you may find it stays a well-kept secret.  To avoid this situation you need brilliant branding.  Afterall, 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product off the shelf in instead of their regular choice or your competition.

You can work hard on your recipe and create a product with a wonderful taste but if consumers don’t buy it and try it, no one will ever know how good it is. 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition. Your branding is as important as the product itself.

As a small business owner or startup founder you may have walked down the aisle in the Supermarket and thought to yourself ‘I can do better than that!’. Well, it isn’t as easy as you think. Years ago the Food & Drink market was dominated by large brands and own label products, but since then, life has moved on and consumers are no longer sold on big advertising campaigns and being told what to eat or drink.

You may be surprised to know that 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding. Your branding is what will encourage consumers to buy your product rather than their regular choice or a competitor brand. But don’t confuse design with branding. Branding is the message you want to communicate to your target consumer – and this should be a clear ‘BUY ME’.

You can have the best tasting, most luxurious product on the market but if no one picks it up and tries it, no one will ever know. 90% of a first-time purchase is based on the branding; it’s why a consumer will pick your product over their regular choice or your competition.

Many people have amazing ideas for drinks but getting a new brand up and running can suck up a lot more cash than many other sectors. As retailers, you’ll be well aware of what’s involved in promoting an unknown product the purchasing decision, logistics, merchandising in store (and the rest).

I have a strong admiration for consumers’ savviness and ability to pick out the products they want and form a loyalty to them, despite the mass of advertisements projected at them every day. So, when creating a new food and beverage brand, you need more than just great taste and eye-catching packaging. Consumers are now much more focused on health and functionality. 

The UK is brilliant when it comes to creativity and we’ve seen A LOT of innovation in the Food & Drink sector in recent years, writes Richard Horwell, owner of Brand Relations. Entrepreneurs in Cumbria have played their part in this. So, if you have a good idea for a new food or drink product you may be thinking of taking the plunge and starting your own business.

Is your entrepreneurial instinct drawing you to the Food and Drink sector? Many entrepreneurs look at the range of drinks in the Supermarkets or stores and say to themselves ‘I can do better than that!’. Creativity is brilliant in the UK, however, starting a Food or Drink company isn’t an easy option. 

Starting a new drinks business is never easy but the boom in craft beers means that many people like the idea of creating a new and different product. Here are some pointers on how to start:

Thinking of starting a food and drink business in Norfolk? Here’s some sage advice from brand expert Richard Horwell. Norfolk has wonderful produce and a diverse range of exciting new food and drink brands.  From the bakery to the dairy to the smokehouse, there is plenty going on! Perhaps you also have an idea for a new product that you’d like to launch. 

MANY growers are looking for opportunities to develop new products to sell to the grocery trade, particularly given that the pandemic has decimated foodservice demand, affecting potato sales. Looking at the big picture it is interesting to note that a significant increase in processed potato products is forecast. As, is the case for rehydrated potato specifically.

It is undoubtedly the case that launching a new drinks business isn’t easy.  However, there are many wine buffs who might like the idea of breaking into the market with an exciting, different product. Starting a new drinks company will require that you have a POD (point of difference); something that others aren’t doing and is clearly a direction for the market.

What steps do you need to take when you have an idea and want to develop a new vegan product or brand? Richard Horwell from Brand Relations reveals all. When it comes to creativity, the UK is amazing. You can see this in the innovative vegan products that have emerged in the Food & Drink sector over the last couple of years.

With products such as drinks many people have ideas for new products which they think could be better than, or be a useful addition to what is already available on our supermarket shelves. However, starting a new company in Food & Drink is far from easy.

Scotland has many wonderful food and drink products both traditional and new. If you are a business owner in Glasgow who wants to create a new food or drink brand, or you are someone with a great idea for a new product and are thinking of changing career, you will need to take a number of steps to take this forward.

In our present circumstances, many people are considering a change of career. And the idea of starting a new brand in the recession-proof Food and Drink sector can be appealing. You may have come up with an excellent idea for a new product, but it is important to recognize that starting a new Food and Drink business is far from easy.

Are you thinking of a career change? Does the idea of starting a new brand in the recession proof Food & Drink sector appeal to you? You might have found yourself looking at say, the drinks available at your local supermarket and had ideas that would be a great addition to what is currently on offer.

Interest in starting a food and beverage brand has increased during lockdown and 2021 is already set to be a bumper year for new releases. Richard Horwell of Brand Relations. When I was at school my classmates mostly wanted to work for a bank or the public service as it was a safe secure job; these days everyone heading into the workforce wants to be their own boss.

Many people have an idea for a new range of drinks. However, starting a beverage company isn’t easy. Richard Horwell from marketing and branding company Brand Relations looks at six areas entrepreneurs need to consider.

Richard Horwell, the owner of Brand Relations, a specialist food and drink branding company in London, spoke to Business Leader about how you can develop your own food or drinks brand. Have you ever been shopping and as you look down the shelves of drink, thought ‘I have a great idea for something new and different’?

As you may expect, soft drink sales tend to skyrocket in summer. In fact, the start of the primary sales season starts as soon as Easter and lasts through to the end of September.

Soft drinks buyers do their range reviews in the first three months of the year; this is so that new brands are on the shelves after Easter ready for the Spring / Summer when consumers are craving delicious soft drinks. This means you should be preparing now if your brand is to have a bumper summer in 2021.

In order for new brands to be on the shelves ready for the Spring/Summer sales, soft drinks buyers do their range reviews in January, February and March. There is plenty of competition and since Covid-19 there has been a surge in development of new healthy brands plus a massive demand for them.

If you have developed a delicious new soft drink which you believe has the potential to be successful in 2021, what do you need to do? Richard Horwell is the owner of Brand Relations and has over 30 years’ experience in marketing FMCG brands around the world. He shares his tips to help you get your brand booming.

The first three months of the year is the period when soft drinks buyers do their range reviews.  The timing mean that new brands can be on the shelves after Easter ready for the Spring / Summer. This means you should be preparing now if your brand is to have a barnstorming summer in 2021.

There’s a lot of competition on beverage shelves, and soft drinks buyers do range reviews at the start of the new year. To be successful with your drinks brand in 2021 you need to start preparing now, writes Richard Horwell of F&B marketing and branding company Brand Relations, in this guest article.