What’s Mars Got To Do With Mars Bars?!

Article by Simon Wingfield Wingfield Consultants 

Simon Wingfield, attended the ‘Space-Tech Meets Agri-Tech’ event (held in partnership with New Anglia LEP) at Easton College last year. He said, “It was fascinating to explore ‘‘the final frontier’’ for agriculture’ at the event says Simon. ‘The amount of space technology being applied to farming was staggering. From GPS steering, earth observation insights into soil and crop performance, and geo-fencing – the list of space technology applications for agriculture (and horticulture) was seemingly endless!’. This got us thinking at the consultancy. Given the link between Space-Tech to Agri-Tech to Food/Drink Tech…what about the ‘final frontier’ that we work with – the producers, manufacturers, suppliers, brand owners, and retailers in our region?

Wingfield Consultants work with many local food and drink SMEs in Norfolk and Suffolk. These businesses focus on local ingredients and products. They produce and sell with quality and taste the ‘hallmarks’ of their brands, ranges, and products.  Customers and consumers, post-COVID-19, have increasingly engaged more with their local communities, companies, and consumable goods. So, what has local got to do with space? Here are two thoughts and tips from us on how cluster members can engage with (and sell to) local food and drink companies:

• Thought/Tip 1: We have a proprietary business model we use with our clients: Determine – Define – Differentiate – Drive – Deliver (lots of Ds!). Space is exciting right? If you have technology, products, or services that these clients can use for their products they stand out from their (bigger) competitors (like Mars!). They can ‘Differentiate’. What a great story – local products that are worlds apart from the competition.
• Thought/Tip 2: ‘People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe’ (Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action’). If a cluster member believes in what they do, then can really resonate with potential local food and drink customers. Find some ‘space’ in your diaries to support local businesses.