The Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Food Group (RFG) is set to host its annual Meet the Buyer matching up local producers with buyers in prospective contracts totalling £6.8 million.

The RFG Meet the Buyer (MTB) event gives small- to medium-sized producers the chance to meet buyers from national supermarkets, local hospitality providers and independent stores.

The face-to-face meetings with decision-makers save time and energy for both parties, and many producers walk away with orders already in place. Results from 2008 highlighted that £638,00-worth of new business has already been achieved.

More than 30 buyers and 91 producers attended the event last April, with most producers stating that they had a great chance of gaining new business.

Scholes, the seasonal vegetable grower, secured £12,500-worth of new business with Booths supermarkets following the MTB event and has a potential of over £40,000-worth of business to follow. The company is involved extensively in the field production, packing and distribution of the food crops.

RFG chief executive Jonathan Knight said: “This year will be our sixth annual Meet the Buyer event of its kind, and each one is bigger than the last: more buyers attend, more producers attend and more business deals are done every year. We will also have a showcasing area for our Deliciouslyorkshire award winners.

“Last year’s research showed an estimated 87 jobs had been safeguarded through the business deals secured during the event. We are proud to host such a worthwhile event, helping our members, local producers, and buyers boost the region’s local economy. We expect the turnout for this year to be even bigger."

The Meet the Buyer event will be held at Oulton Hall, Leeds on April 22.

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