Introducing the Atradius Food and Drink Accelerator

What can food and drink SMEs learn from Coca Cola’s international Fanta marketing strategy? Or how about the UK's first mass-market loyalty programme? What about the supply chain implications of the Dubai chocolate craze? Or the collapse of the business behind the UK's biggest vertical farm?

The answer, at a time of great strain for companies in the sector, is a great deal. To find out why, we encourage you to join our Food and Drink Accelerator - a free programme of four short modules designed to help UK food and drink SMEs navigate today’s choppy industry pressures. We’ll include plenty of lessons drawn from real case studies and examples - from Fanta and Clubcard to Dubai chocolate and vertical farms.

At Atradius, business intelligence is integral to our offering: we have front-row seats to the strategies that companies employ to keep their risks in check. We also see firsthand what triggers businesses to fail.  

There couldn’t be a better time to share our insights with food and drink SMEs, and to support you to overcome your challenges and grow. The November Budget did little to help a sector beset by persistently high costs and taxes, alongside enduring labour shortages. 

In bite-sized sessions, delivered by experts and accessible online whenever suits you, the Accelerator will help food and drink SMEs to take on their most pressing challenges. They will provide lots of opportunities to take a step back and consider how this aligns with the challenges specific to your business. 

The Accelerator launches in the new year, and first up will be a session on protecting cash flow and fortifying your supply chain. Reflecting on some real-life case studies, our experts will guide you through practical strategies to help you anticipate challenges earlier.

In another module we’ll delve into the risks of late or non-payment from your customers. You’ll find out about the warning signs to look out for - financial, operational and behavioural - with some examples of recent business failures and what you can learn from them. We’ll also talk through the tools you can use to protect your company. This couldn't be more timely as insolvencies remain historically high.

We have another session, with export champion Lesley Batchelor, who will provide an introduction on creating resilient export strategies. Having worked with blue-chip giants including Fujitsu Europe, Canon and Coca-Cola, Lesley is a font of knowledge on exporting, as recognised by her 2023 MBE for services to international trade. 

Finally, we’ll wrap up with a session throwing light on current market trends - and strategies and opportunities you can employ to stay ahead. This is where Tesco’s Clubcard comes in, among many other real-life touchpoints to ensure the session is grounded in real events and experiences. 

We’ll be launching our accelerator early next year. It’s free for UK food and drink companies, with bite-sized sessions, and we encourage you to join. Don’t miss out, register now: