Strategic Advisory
Hi, I’m Nicola. Your go-to F&B Expert for Export Sales.
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Nicola Thomas
UK
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How I Work
Bio
Nicola is a seasoned expert in the world of food and drink exports, with over two decades of strategic and hands-on experience. Her passion lies in assisting food and drink companies in expanding their international sales and establishing sustainable export revenue streams. Her extensive industry knowledge, encompassing both triumphs and challenges, positions her as a valuable asset to management teams and company owners seeking to develop and execute pragmatic international expansion strategies.
Nicola specializes in addressing the hurdles encountered during overseas growth, such as market prioritization, distribution network optimization, and resource allocation. Her clientele includes SME and mid-market manufacturers, wholesalers, professional service firms, government agencies, and trade associations.
Nicola's career includes roles as the Director of the Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA), where she led initiatives to accelerate international sales growth. She also founded A La Carte Consulting Ltd, providing specialized international B2B development services for the food and drink sector. Her work extends to Maenporth Owners Limited, where she jointly oversees the interests of holiday property owners.
Nicola's unwavering commitment to advancing food and drink exports, combined with her extensive expertise, makes her a trusted partner for businesses seeking to thrive in the global marketplace.
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Experience
Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA)
The FDEA is the UK Trade Association for businesses involved in food and drink exporting. We are a not for profit organisation with members from across the UK food and drink sector, export service providers and in-market sales and marketing experts. Membership allows companies to join a community of like-minded exporters and to benefit from our extensive experience and expertise in international business development.
Director・ 2014 - Present
- Leading the FDEA's Export Accelerator Supports, helping members fast-track their international sales growth through:
- Leading roundtables and workshops on all aspects of overseas business development
- Bespoke export capability assessments, market entry plans and distributor searches.
- Making the right connections across our international and export support networks
- Creating and leading special interest cohorts to tackle current and emerging barriers to export success
- Designing and delivering 1-2-many export skills training programmes
A La Carte Consulting LTD.
Director ・ 1998 - Present
- International B2B development specialists for the food and drink sector – supporting manufacturers, wholesalers, professional service firms and government agencies.
- Working alongside food and drink company owners and management teams as an adviser and mentor to accelerate sustainable export growth. Focus areas include prioritising markets and sales channels, finding and managing best-fit commercial partners and developing international sales & marketing capabilities.
- Retained by the Welsh Government since 2010 to deliver bespoke export market selection and market entry supports for food and drink producers. Over 50 companies advised to date.
- Design and delivery of tailored supports for the DIT Export Academy including a Masterclass series to enable new exporters prepare their 2021/22 Action Plans and creation of an export capability assessment training module.
Maenporth Owners LTD.
Director・ 2015 - Present
- Joint responsibility for managing the range of interests of circa 90 holiday property owners at Maenporth and for preserving the beauty and tranquility of the 29 acre coastal site.
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