There are a number of questions you should be able to answer about your product before approaching ASDA.....

Product

* Should be filling a genuine range gap. If not unique then why is it better than what's already out there? What will it replace on shelf and why?

* Ready for market - can this product you are presenting now be ready if we agree to stock it? Are you ready?

* Which stores of our portfolio do you think it should be stocked in? Why?

* Be cost competitive - we cannot discuss retail price, but must have unit and case costs from you to know what margin we can attain.

* Packaging - packaging is first and foremost to keep the product safe and edible so it must be robust and fit for purpose. Latterly it needs to be attractive, in Retail Ready Packaging (easy to open and replenish), easily identifiable throughout the supply chain, clearly showing the use of the product, easy for colleagues to handle in store and fit in shelf, best format.

* Costs - are you in control of your costs? Are you efficient?

* Labels - why are you using your current supplier.....loyalty, ease, cheapest?

* Do you know the global commodity prices for the ingredients of your products? Could you buy better from your own suppliers?

* Continuous supply - what guarantees do we have that you are able to supply? A supermarket cannot accept an empty space on shelf where your product should be! How many are you going to sell per week? When will be your peaks and troughs throughout the year?

* Supply chain - how are you getting your product to store? To our depots / direct to store?

Customer

* Who is the customer for this product? Who will buy it? Where in store, what shelf, why, when?

* You need to know your market as well as the buyer! What is the growth in your product market? The wider range market? Who are you up against - what brands / what lines?

* Marketing - what investment and support are you putting into the product's launch? PR, advertising, sampling in store, contacting stores to tell them when it's coming and why they need to get behind it?

Supplier

* Set up and trading - are you safe, legal, and financially buoyant?

* Accreditations - which ones do you have?

* History of success - very difficult for a new supplier, but what competence levels do you have?

* Understand the market - size, growth. Don't get caught in your dream, do your own research, understand the size of your prize. How proactive are you? Hove you been on the street? Taste tested in a restaurant? Taste panelled your product against its competition?

* NPD - Lets say this product suceeds, what next?

* Who does what in your team / business? HOw can we ensure resource is provided to cover e.g. forecasting and supply, marketing, administration, etc.?