Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund
Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund (FRICH): supporting African farmers through innovative business partnerships
Imports of fresh fruit and vegetables to UK and other European markets provide a significant source of income for smallholder farmers and agricultural workers in African countries. The Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund (FRICH) aims to improve the lives of these farmers and workers, by increasing European imports of food from countries north of South Africa and south of the Sahara.
FRICH supports new ideas that connect African farmers with global retailers in innovative business partnerships. FRICH achieves results by removing blockages to market access and making sure that European shoppers know what differences their purchases make to poor farmers.
FRICH is already supporting 11 innovative partnerships, in Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principé, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. These partnerships focus on tea, coffee, a chocolate drink, fresh produce, berry fruits, juice/smoothies, flowers, tilapia fish and vanilla.
All food products are eligible (including fish and meat), as well as agricultural products used in the cosmetic industry. FRICH is interested in developing competitive quality products, not only those that rely on the ‘Fairtrade’ market.
Eligibility of bidders
There are a number of criteria that must be met if a project is to be eligible for funding. These criteria are very important. Your bid cannot succeed if you don’t meet these requirements.
To be eligible for a FRICH grant:
Bids must be led by a private sector enterprise that is either a UK retailer or a retail brand with a share of the UK market, or is working with such an enterprise in partnership to implement the project. The organizations in the bid must be able to demonstrate their capacity and financial wherewithal and must also be able to contribute a minimum of 50% of project costs to share in the risks involved in the project. Support must be for a project to test an innovative concept or business model – not a request for finance for a business or for an organization. FRICH is not a source of working or investment capital. Innovation must be at the heart of the project concept (new: products, services, marketing, business models, supply chains). There must be the potential for commercial sustainability.
Please contact us for a free assessment to find out whether your business plan may qualify for FRICH funding.
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