Global Food Partnerships

When brands start thinking about international expansion, there’s a moment where the excitement kicks in. New markets, new retailers, new customers discovering the product for the first time. And then someone says the words that make experienced distributors quietly nervous: “Let’s launch everywhere.” Supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, service stations, specialty retailers — the whole lot. Day one. Full throttle. It sounds ambitious. It looks impressive on a PowerP

At Benchmark Foods, we work with brands from all over the world that are looking to grow in new markets. Some are well-established global names. Others are founder-led brands that started in a garage, a tiny kitchen, or somewhere between late-night product tweaks and early-morning supplier calls. But here’s something we’ve learned after years in wholesale distribution: There is no universal playbook for launching a brand.