How producer collaboration can add value

A story from the Isle of Arran, Scotland

Isle of Arran - the figures

Food & Drink worth £14-16m

Tourism worth £60m

414,000 visitors annually

Recent sustained success - need to protect and grow and broaden base

Population circa 5000 (in decline)

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In a collaboration of producers1. The cheeseboard is the product not the cheese2. Reduced cost to market by taking cost out of supply chain3. Buyer solutions4. NPD and other innovations those who collaborate

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Why Collaborate, especially in rural areas ?- share experience and skills

- share best practice

- share concerns / issues / solutions

- share capacity – manufacturing/technical/logistics

- benefit to customers

- BENEFIT TO BOTTOM LINE

Barriers to Collaboration- fear of sharing

- fear of investment of time

- fear of investment of money

- fear of lack of ability (own and company)

How we got started

- agree win-win with all (80/20)

- adopt can do attitude

- respect & TRUST (quality understanding)

- change attitude (internally/externally)

Keep and nurture the Emotional Connection

Our key findings from Collaborating1. Commit to an understandable quality standard

2. 80/20 Rule

3. Identified the opportunity then micro focus and commit to it

4. Continually Communicate

5. Continuous Improvement

6. Work with those that will, choose and enable your champions and LEADERS