Project - BALTIC SEA FOOD

Project "Baltic Sea Food" has been finalized in 31.03.2021.
All project partners in 10 countries made strong efforts in testing and promoting local food B2B distribution model mainly in rural areas of the Baltic Sea Region. By the end of the project 13 local food networks/distributors adapted the local food business model designed for B2B distribution and 11 of them tested it as pilots. 2 distributors/networks postponed the testing to the future because of Covid-19 pandemic. Pilots received new experiences and knowledge in planning local food distribution business model using Canvas-tool and in implementing the model mainly in local or regional level, incl. selection and approaching client groups with good potential, using efficient communication channels, identfying and promoting the customer value, designing appropriate pricing model and value chain (from ordering to storage, delivery and invoicing), selecting appropriate partners and using key resources. This experience was analyzed, evaluated and summarized in consolidated and local evaluation reports of piloting. The experience received from designing, adapting and testing of the business model was disseminated to target groups during project period through communication activities, local workshops and seminars and closing conference. New skills and knowledge was given to micro-businesses and SME's in rural areas in pilot regions during local practical seminars. The topics of the seminars covered very wide topics related to the local food offer and distribution (for example online marketing, digitalization, designing local short supply chains, the advantage of using fresh local food products in food offer in HoReCa sector etc). Also practical handbook was composed introducing the key elements of the business model and good examples of different local food networks and distributors from BSR area for benchmarking.
All these activities improved the capacity of local food networks and their members (mainly food producers) in order to carry out business model innovation during and after the project. In total ca 810 SME's were directly involved to capacity building events.