Peter Garman posted a new question on 11/27/2009
How do I find a consultant that can help me avoid pitfalls and costly errors?
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Steve Nielsen Responded on 11/27/2009
A great place to look when searching for consultants in a specific industry are retired executives from that industry.
Another option might be to check with SCORE or the SBDC to see if you can network your way to a consultant with experience in your area.
Alice Nadin Responded on 11/28/2009
Peter -
There are also a number of great resources where you can learn the industry, find contacts, and more such as the Snack Food Association http://www.sfa.org/; also see there magazine with helpful articles and information. http://www.sfa.org/Magazine.aspx.
The snack industry has a multi-tier distribution system that service the different sales outlet and you need to be understand each channel, their needs/demands as well as what will get them to carry and push/sell your product down stream. Few snacks go direct from manufacture to retail outlets and the restaurant industry is equally diverse. Additionally there are levels of those channels that will require you to have in-outlet service ability to stock shelves, rotate stock and accept returns. So take time to read about the snack industry. Learn who has contracted space on front end check out racks in addition to shelf store space.
If you have specific questions I can help in this forum or as Steve said, go to www.score.org and search for an counselor by expertise, an option at the top half of the page. Look for people with Frito Lay experience and different aspects of the business - a sales person will have a different perspective then a marketing versus a finance person. You can submit the same question to 4 counselors on that website.
Alice, SCORE Pittsburgh
