About this Event
Getting To Grow Live: Inside the Mind of the Retailer in collab with my brilliant sponsor Plugin Brands.
Hosted by Zoe Fox | Getting To Grow
What does it REALLY take to get your product onto a major supermarket shelf? What makes a buyer want to meet you, what makes them say yes, and why do some brilliant brands still get rejected?
For our next Getting To Grow Live, I’m bringing together people who have spent years on the other side of the table to have a completely honest conversation about what retailers are actually looking for, what makes a brand stand out and what founders need to know before walking into that meeting.
Joining me is Lucy Silver, Partnerships Lead at Ocado Retail, Ciara Shields, former Tesco Innovation Manager, and James Bailey, former Managing Director of Waitrose from 2020 to 2025.
Lucy Silver | Ocado Retail
Lucy has worked across buying, trading, merchandising and range strategy within major grocery retail and now leads partnerships at Ocado Retail. She brings a brilliant perspective on what retailers look for in a brand and what makes a supplier worth backing.
Ciara Shields | Former Tesco and now Plugin Brands!
Ciara spent her career at Tesco across buying, commercial, range and insight roles before leading the Challenger Brand Programme as Innovation Manager. She has worked directly with challenger brands trying to break through and knows what makes the ones that stand out different.
James Bailey | Former Managing Director of Waitrose
James was Managing Director of Waitrose from 2020 to 2025, bringing years of senior leadership experience from one of the UK's most respected grocery retailers. He has seen the industry from the very top and brings a unique perspective on what makes brands, products and suppliers stand out in a fiercely competitive retail environment.
We’ll get into the things founders actually want to know: how to get a buyer’s attention, what numbers really matter, what makes a pitch memorable, why retailers say no and what it takes to turn a listing into real growth.
No corporate waffle.
Just honest insight from people who have actually been there.
Come with your questions. Come ready to learn!
https://www.pluginbrands.com/ for anyone wanting INSANE growth. Get in touch today!
Event venue & nearby stays
Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.