Food & Beverage Lead Generation by Expert, US-Based SDRs
Cold Call Me helps food and beverage manufacturers, distributors, and co-packers get their products into more hands. Our expert SDRs handle specialized F&B lead generation, retail appointment setting, and distribution outreach while using AI-powered data to identify the right buyers at retail chains, foodservice operators, and wholesale distributors. We function as your dedicated inside sales team, navigating the complex world of category managers and buyers to deliver qualified opportunities through consistent, professional communication.
What Is Human-Led, AI-Enhanced F&B Outreach?
Human-led, AI-enhanced F&B outreach combines a tenacious US-based SDR team with smart data to crack the code on difficult-to-reach buyers.
- Targeted Buyer Lists: SDRs work from data-enriched lists that focus on decision-makers at grocery chains, convenience stores, and foodservice management companies.
- Smarter Timing: AI-powered insights help us understand review cycles and category resets, ensuring we pitch your product when buyers are actually looking.
- Context-Rich Conversations: Representatives understand the difference between retail, foodservice, and ingredient sales, allowing them to speak to margins, shelf life, and volume requirements.
- Distributor & Direct Support: Whether you are selling direct to retail or trying to secure a new regional distributor, we tailor the outreach to that specific goal.
Common Food & Beverage Sales Challenges We Solve
F&B companies face intense competition, razor-thin margins, and buyers who are bombarded with new products daily. Our human SDR team, supported by AI-powered sales intelligence, helps solve these persistent hurdles:
- Getting Ghosted by Buyers: Category managers are notoriously hard to reach. Our consistent follow-up sequences ensure your brand stays on their radar until they are ready to sample.
- Finding the Right Decision-Maker: We do the detective work to find out exactly who buys your specific category (e.g., "Frozen Desserts" vs. "Dry Goods") so you don't waste time pitching the wrong person.
- Expanding Distribution: We run campaigns specifically targeting new territories or retail banners to systematically grow your footprint.
- Low Trade Show ROI: We quickly follow up on the hundreds of business cards you collect at expos like Expo West, ensuring those samples turn into orders.
- Limited Sales Bandwidth: Your team is busy managing existing key accounts. We handle the “grunt work” of opening new doors.
5 Key Benefits of Our Human SDR + AI Model for F&B
Manufacturers that partner with Cold Call Me see measurable gains in meetings booked and retail relationships opened.
- Higher Quality Buyer Meetings: We qualify interest and verify that the buyer handles your category before booking the meeting, saving you from "courtesy calls" that go nowhere.
- More Consistent Sampling Requests: A disciplined outreach rhythm drives more requests for samples, which is the first step toward a PO.
- Industry-Aware Conversations: SDRs trained in F&B lingo handle topics like MOQs, pallet configurations, and promotional allowances confidently.
- AI-Powered Targeting: Data enrichment helps us target high-growth independent retailers or specific foodservice operators that match your ideal customer profile.
- Speed to Market: When launching a new SKU, we can rapidly blitz a target list to generate awareness and initial orders faster than an internal team could alone.
Let's Get In Touch!
Our Food & Beverage Calling & Outreach Services
Cold Call Me builds a complete sales development program around your product lines, executed by an expert SDR team.
- Retail appointment setting with buyers at grocery, c-store, and big-box chains.
- Foodservice lead generation targeting restaurants, hotels, and institutional feeders.
- Distributor acquisition campaigns to find new wholesale partners.
- Co-packing and private label sales for manufacturers with excess capacity.
- Trade show appointment setting and post-show follow-up sequences.
- Challenger brand outreach for emerging CPG companies.
Human SDRs vs. Generic Telemarketing
Cold Call Me
- Understands Retail & Foodservice, speaks to margins and volume.
- US-Based SDRs who understand American retail culture.
- Targets Category Buyers specifically.
- Focus on securing sampling/meetings.
- Integrates with your CRM (HubSpot/Salesforce).
Generic Telemarketing
- Script readers with no industry knowledge.
- Offshore centers that struggle with cultural nuance.
- Calls general HQs blindly.
- Focus on sheer call volume and low-quality leads.
- Disorganized spreadsheets and lost data.
Why F&B Companies Trust Cold Call Me
Brands choose Cold Call Me when they need a dedicated engine for opening new doors in a crowded market.
- Expert SDR Team: Experienced representatives who aren't afraid of the "gatekeeper" and know how to pitch a product's value.
- Message-Market Fit: Custom talk tracks that highlight your certifications (Organic, Non-GMO) and consumer trends.
- Transparent Reporting: Dashboards that show you exactly how many buyers we've reached and what the feedback is.
- Scalable Support: We can scale up for product launches or trade show seasons and scale back when needed.
Take the Next Step Toward More Shelf Space
Ready to fill your pipeline with qualified retail and foodservice opportunities? Cold Call Me is ready to help your brand grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
About F&B Lead Gen
What is human-led, AI-enhanced F&B cold calling?
It is a specialized B2B sales motion designed to crack the complex code of retail and foodservice buying. This isn't telemarketing; it's professional business development. Our US-based SDRs understand the food industry landscape: margins, distribution tiers, and shelf placement. We use AI data to identify the exact category buyers (not just general purchasing agents) and use persistent, professional outreach to get your sell sheet on their desk and your product in their mouth.
Can you help us get into major retailers like Kroger or Whole Foods?
We can help! We approach it with a realistic, professional strategy. Major retailers have complex vendor portals and review schedules. Our role is to cut through the noise. We identify the specific category manager for your product type, navigate the gatekeepers, and persistently follow up to secure that initial meeting or sampling request. We can't force a “yes,” but we guarantee a professional, relentless effort to get your brand the attention it deserves from the big players.
Do you work with Foodservice as well as Retail?
Absolutely, and we treat them as separate disciplines because the buyers are totally different. For retail campaigns, we target category managers and buyers at chains. For foodservice, we pivot our messaging to speak to Chefs, F&B Directors, and distributors about menu versatility, labor savings, and plate cost. We build custom campaigns for each channel to ensure the pitch lands perfectly with the person on the other end of the line.
What types of F&B companies do you work with?
We work with a wide spectrum of the industry, from emerging CPG brands looking for their first regional footholds to established manufacturers launching new SKUs. We also support co-packers looking to fill production lines and private label manufacturers seeking store-brand contracts. Whether you sell frozen appetizers, shelf-stable beverages, or bulk ingredients, we tailor the outreach to fit your specific market position.
How do AI-powered data and sales intelligence improve results?
The retail world is massive, and buyers move around constantly. We use data tools to track buyer movement. So if a buyer you knew at one chain moves to another, we know about it. We also use data to identify independent retailers and small chains that are expanding, giving you a "first mover" advantage. This data-driven approach allows us to build lists that are far more accurate and responsive than a generic directory, saving you time and money.