Direct Selling

Marketing best practice – tips of the trade

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:28:06 GMT

Join us at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart for an evening of practical demonstrations and discussions focused on maximising the returns on your lambs.

As the lamb supply chain begins on farm and ends on the plate of the consumer, the way for sheep producers to maximise returns from their lamb crop is to produce and sell what their buyers want and are willing to pay the most money for.

While weight is obviously important, sending animals of the right conformation and fat score is just as vital. Frequent, careful handling of the lambs is essential to ensure each animal has reached its full potential and target specifications.

What you'll learn

How to hit specification by selecting lambs of the right conformation, fat score and weight
What are the preferences of processors, retailers and consumers when it comes to lamb
Finished with a butchery demonstration from AHDB’s Trade Butchery Manager, Martin Eccles

Itinerary

5.30pm Registration and refreshments
6.00pm Meeting starts
8.30pm Meeting ends

We’ll be joined by Steve Powdrill (AHDB Selection and Carcase Classification Specialist), Emily Symonds (AHDB North East Beef & Lamb Regional Manager), Becky Smith (AHDB Red Meat Trainee Analyst), Martin Eccles (AHDB Trade Butchery Manager) and Scott Ferrie (Senior Auctioneer and Market Director).

Don’t miss this interactive event with a supply chain focus.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Refreshments will be provided, but please register in advance by contacting Stephen Dodsworth on 01325 464529 or 07946 514154.

Strategic Farm event: Considering direct selling? Find out what is involved

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:52:20 GMT

Please note this is a hybrid event, which means it can be attended in person or watched online

In person booking link

Online only booking link

Are you considering retailing your own red meat direct from farm? Well, this is the event for you! Marketing your meat directly to the customer can often be a profitable solution. It eliminates the middleman, and in theory, returns additional profit to the farm business. However, there are lots of things to consider including meat quality, butchery, legislation and training.

This hybrid event, where you can choose to attend either in person or online, will give your direct selling dream, a kick start.

The event will include four sessions:

Karl Pendlebury, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager, will discuss the practicalities of starting your own direct selling business including infrastructure requirements, skills and factors affecting meat quality
Kevin Porter, Lighthouse Food Safety Solutions Limited will discuss policy and legislation relating to setting up your own direct selling business including HACCP plans and risk assessments for various stages of the business
Chris and Louise Elkington, AHDB Beef & Lamb Strategic Farmers, will share their dos and don’ts and some of the things they wish they had known before starting up their direct selling business “Gelston Lamb”
Martin Eccles, AHDB Trade Marketing Executive, will provide a butchery demo, focussing on maximising carcase utilisation whilst explaining how AHDB can help develop your butchery skills.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

We hope to see you there – whether that be in person or online! You can register for your free place using the booking links provided, by emailing KE.events@ahdb.org.uk or calling 01904 771218. Please specify on booking whether you are attending in person or online. Attendees must be 16 years or over.

Getting started with a milk vending machine

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:37:59 GMT

Getting started with a milk vending machine

Small-scale producers meeting: AHDB Pork Box Scheme

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:58:58 GMT

Small-scale producers meeting: AHDB Pork Box Scheme

Getting started with a milk vending machine

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 11:44:30 GMT

If you’re thinking about selling milk directly to customers, join us for a webinar with Jonny Crickmore who set up the first raw milk vending machine of its type in the UK.

He'll share his dos and don’ts and some of the things he wishes he’d known before installing a vending machine.

Jonny is the third generation at Fen Farm, chairman of the Raw Milk Producers Association and vice chairman of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association.

He and his wife added a pioneering cheese and butter making business to the original farm with a focus on making exceptional artisan products. They now help other dairy farmers on their diversification journey.

In this webinar you will learn:

Things to consider before setting up your own vending machine
What to expect and the process for setting up a direct sales business
Who are the most important people to work with
What diversification could mean for your wider farm business
Financial implications of direct sales, including milk vending machine costs

If you're interested in investing in a milk vending machine or selling produce direct to consumers then make sure you book your place.

For more information regarding the event please call Shirley MacMillan (07766402393) or Hannah Lilburn (07818723857).

Chris Elkington Strategic Farm - Increasing lamb performance on a forage based diet

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:17:35 GMT

Chris Elkington Strategic Farm - Increasing lamb performance on a forage based diet

A changing market landscape: What does it mean for red meat?

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 12:21:55 GMT

A changing market landscape: What does it mean for red meat?

Understanding Dairy Export Opportunities: UAE

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 08:56:00 GMT

Report by Promar, Commissioned by DEFRA

Join us for the first webinar on September 8, where Caroline Dawson of farming and agri-food consultancy business Promar, will provide an indepth look at the opportunities for dairy exporters, highlighted in the new ‘UAE Market for Selected UK Food and Drink Products’ report.

Attendees will also find out how the UK is viewed as a food supplier in the United Arab Emirates, as well as hear how significant tariff barriers are to UK products and what companies need to do to increase dairy exports.

The webinar will also include a presentation from Lorna Berdunova, Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor for the Gulf Region for Defra and Trade and Investment Advisor Adil Khan from the Department for International Trade.

This webinar forms part of a Middle East Week – a collaboration between AHDB, Defra and the Department for International Trade – which includes a virtual ‘Meet the Buyer’ event for UK exporters.

Who should attend?

Anyone interested in learning more about the opportunities to export dairy products to the United Arab Emirates

Booking Details

Address: Online Webinar

Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Time: 10:00 – 11:30

Reserve your place and you receive a copy of the webinar by email today

Shoppers looking for new ways to buy during lockdown

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:22:56 GMT

Shoppers looking for new ways to buy during lockdown

Meat buying app gets upgrade

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 12:58:14 GMT

Meat buying app gets upgrade

How to start direct selling with Strategic Farms Dupath Farm and Chestnut Farm

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 14:35:51 GMT

How to start direct selling with Strategic Farms Dupath Farm and Chesnut Farm

Thursday 18 June, from 7.30pm

Join AHDB Beef & Lamb along with our Strategic Farmers Adrian Coombe from Cornwall and Chris Elkington from Lincolnshire as we review their spring progress.

During this live interactive event, Leah Shanks, Beef & Lamb Knowledge Exchange Manager and Sarah Pick, Knowledge Exchange Programme Manager will ask Adrian and Chris about the changes they’ve made to their businesses, successes achieved and any challenges they’ve encountered.

We will then discuss the direct selling opportunities that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both farms will share how they’ve adapted their businesses to continue trading during lockdown by selling their own produce including meat and potatoes and by reselling bought in crops. Both farms have seen great results and will share some tips on how to get started and add value to your offering.

We will also be joined by Karl Pendlebury, Senior Manager of Quality Schemes, who will explain the laws and logistics around selling red meat and the help and free resources available from AHDB.

Kits help farmers sell direct to public

Tue, 05 May 2020 08:55:53 GMT

Kits help farmers sell direct to public

Beef Box Schemes

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 11:07:00 GMT

Beef Box Schemes

Lamb Box Schemes

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 14:06:00 GMT

Lamb Box Schemes

Direct selling literature

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:44:00 GMT

Direct selling literature

Direct selling beef and lamb

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:43:00 GMT

Direct selling beef and lamb

How retailers can tempt online shoppers to buy red meat

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:42:32 GMT

How retailers can tempt online shoppers to buy red meat

Direct selling of beef, lamb and pork meat boxes from the farm

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 14:54:00 GMT

Direct selling of beef, lamb and pork meat boxes from the farm

Treated imports could change shoppers' minds on meat

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 12:31:05 GMT

Treated imports could change shoppers' minds on meat

Important step towards measuring, managing and monitoring beef and lamb’s environmental credentials

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 14:40:16 GMT

Important step towards measuring, managing and monitoring beef and lamb’s environmental credentials