How do you locate retail buyer contacts and secure an initial meeting with major grocery retailers to pitch your product?

Getting buyer contact details and securing initial meetings with major retailers is notoriously difficult; members report a "ghost town" of unanswered emails.

**Known contacts:** - **Whole Foods** — Alice Fishman is listed as a buyer (previously assistant buyer), though members note she is not responsive to outreach - **Winerack** — spirits buying may be handled by store managers or centrally; members recommend confirming the decision-making structure before approaching

**Getting a first meeting:** Members shared several tactics (some tongue-in-cheek) for breaking through: - Members report that traditional email outreach to buyers often goes unanswered, making it difficult even to present your full proposition - One member mentioned that £30k in listing fees could facilitate an introduction via a contact named John Vine - The consensus is that direct buyer contact is extremely challenging and requires persistence beyond standard email campaigns

**Key caveat:** The community acknowledged that cracking initial buyer meetings remains one of the hardest parts of retail sales, with no silver-bullet solution shared. Networking and warm introductions (rather than cold outreach) appear to be more effective than email alone.