Selling product to restaurants/ supermarkets

Hey guys my friend owns a business in Italy producing cheese and wants me to help him present his product to restaurants and supermarkets in Poland. How should I go about contacting the owners/ managers?

I can speak and write Polish pretty well, just wondering if I should just go to Real or Tesco's website and shoot them an email with info to set up a meeting along with restaurant owners or just show up and hand them an information booklet on the product.

I think you'll find that the product would have to be tested by food safety authorities before it is allowed to be sold in Poland. Finding buyers would come later.

Not at all correct. If it is certified by one EU state any other recognises this. Its called the free market. The EU has set minimum hygiene, HACCP and quality standards across the EU. The Polish authorities can of course inspect and test the product if they wish.

No harm in contacting supermarkets directly. Might be worth looking up Polagra, trade show on in Poznan in a few weeks.

Did I mention the Polish authorities?

I have a client who does this already. She has no problems but doesn't sell to supermarkets.

Thanks for the info guys.

@pip, how did your client go about doing this? phone call, email, showing up in person?

You mentioned would HAVE to be tested, not true at all. Intra EU movements do not require any prior testing. Unless there is a reason the authorities would only spot check.