SOUTHERN LINK
BEST BRANDS, BEST PEOPLE
We are a national company based in the South Island, New Zealand, providing complete sales and merchandising, linking to key grocery retailers across New Zealand. We are here to eagerly work with you and your brand to showcase your product to its full potential. So trust us to work with your brand.
As a company we…
- place a high value on people and relationships
- understand and respect your brand
- have a flexible approach
- communicate effectively
- give your brand the attention it deserves
- work collaboratively with you to succeed
- focus on honesty, integrity and teamwork
- keep you at the centre of what we do
Our Services
Our relationship with you will be based on trust and openness, and we will work with you to fully understand your brand and market requirements. We will professionally implement and manage strategies from this relationship to keep building growth and sales for your product.
Store Level
Product Presentations
Plan showcasing of your product
Prepare effective product presentations
Present to store buyers
Head Office Level
Reviews
- Collaborate and assist owners with Head Office business and category reviews
- Prepare reviews on business performance, achievements and future opportunities
Promotional Planning
Prepare promotional programmes to optimise results and your investment
Strategic Planning
Highlight opportunities and maximise outcomes
Merchandising
Available nationally to suit your brand needs
Field Reporting
- All team members have access to a specific FMCG cloud -based system
- Teams have access to up-to-date information about stores, products and promotions
- Ability to record and provide feedback, insights about market activity and results
Why Choose Us
Our proactive approach will showcase and maximise the spotlight on your product. Your brand’s success will result from working closely with you towards the same goal to get the desired results. As a company, we are flexible and professional in responding quickly to the ever-changing environment. Our strong relationships are built on our ability to communicate effectively. Our national links to key grocery retailers will increase your brand and product exposure.
What our clients say about us…
Southern Link were our brokers for 18 months, in this time we experienced a 41% growth. This was across both North and South Island. The owner of Southern Link, Jackie was an absolute pleasure to work with, and approached us as if it were her own business. Jackie stepped me through numerous Head Office reviews which were somewhat harrowing, and coached me on how to approach promotions, and get the best from Category managers and buyers. The only reason we moved away from Southern Link was to partner with another Organic company, who also does our pick, pack, and dispatch of our products. I would highly recommend Jackie and the team at Southern Link.
Brenda
We have worked with Jackie and her team since 2008. Over that time we have built a strong professional and personal relationships with the SLA team. SLA has invested in reporting systems which keeps us up to date and our finger on the pulse of the market, I would recommend SLA without hesitation’
Andrew
We were looking for an external sales team to best represent our ethical values and amazing Fair Trade & Organic products within the Grocery Channel and the team at Southern Link fit this criterion well for us. They assist us in managing our Food & Beverage portfolio, presenting new products into stores, manage stock levels on shelf and are tasked to drive growth and sales across stores nationwide. They take the time to understand who we are as a company and work extremely well with our team. We highly recommend Southern Link to any organisation who are looking for that external sales fleet, to help drive sales and represent their brand in a true and professional manner”
Phil
Southern Link have been great at spreading the word for us, especially getting us in to more stores in the South Island! Their sales reps are all friendly and approachable with a go-getter attitude. They provide a solution for getting in front of grocery buyers at supermarkets across the country.
Alex
Our Team
Jackie Nelson
After working in various sales channels, including Australia, Southern Link was formed on the back of an opportunity in FMCG. And now, many years later, the love of brands and seeing them grow is still inspirational for me.
It is humbling that brand owners entrust us to nurture and care for their products, which are their livelihoods.
People and the relationships we form are at the centre of everything I do.
Outside work, my interests are horses, a substantial garden and some great friends to add to the mix.
Darren Glenday
With a wealth of knowledge and 28 years of experience in the industry, Darren has a great understanding of how the FMCG system works, including from a client’s and principal’s perspective. He enjoys working with principals, customers and staff to meet the challenge of growing brands in a very competitive market.
Darren uses his ability to see the overall picture and what needs to be done to achieve a successful outcome. However, when Darren’s not hard at work, he loves hanging out with his family, trying his luck fishing or enjoying the scenery while mountain biking.
Get in touch with our team
Contact our fantastic team to promote & grow your products & brands for the best outcome possible.