We’re building a movement to make trade media a no-brainer for any brand because we believe a stronger, well-funded trade media landscape – producing brilliant journalism every day – means a stronger supply chain. We’ll know we’ve been successful when every food and drink brand with a story worth telling feels they can tell it to the trade – and understands how they can.
Chris Dillon, founder
In the summer of 2014, I was a fresh-faced graduate with a frenzied desire to find any job that would pay me to write.
When I was given a shot by Newtrade Media (thanks Louise, Stef) and discovered there was a job where you get paid to write AND drink for free three nights a week at brand launches, it was a dream come true. “It’ll be a six-month thing,” I remember saying. UKIP were surging in the polls, a general election was right around the corner, and my time at Goldsmiths had me thinking I had a bright career ahead of me as a political writer – perhaps, if I was lucky, I’d build a lifelong tenure at BuzzFeed News.
I ultimately left Newtrade in 2021. By then, I’d played my part in launching new titles, managed commercial features across their retail titles, been recognised as a PPA 30 Under 30 Editor (sadly, I’m no longer either of those things), and helped launch the company’s insight division.
I then joined the Telegraph Media Group’s research team. My word, what a new perspective. I managed their reader panel, reporting how readers were thinking in ways Editorial, Product, and Commercial teams could act on. I also delivered post-campaign analysis across The Telegraph’s commercial campaigns. “This is how it should be done,” I thought. We brought together different methodologies across sentiment, analytics, SEO, and on-page behaviour together to make investing in media feel exciting and worthwhile for our commercial partners. It was data, vibe and storytelling at its best. If we could do just 10% of this in trade, what a difference that would make.
And so that’s what I founded Brunswick North to do. We’re a lean, efficient trade comms agency built by former trade journalists who have skin in the game and want to help FMCG brands make the most of this brilliant eco-system. We offer transparent, flexible costs to make the trade accessible for any brand, and we measure ROI in a way that makes sense for your needs. So if you love trade, or if you think you should probably love it more, let’s talk.
Tamara Birch, content manager
In 2016, armed with a newly minted Master’s in Journalism and Media Studies – and an NCTJ qualification following hot on its heels in 2018 – I was entirely ready to hit the ground running. I wanted breaking news, heavy features, and any industry connection that would have me.
Just like Chris, I cut my teeth in B2B journalism at Newtrade. (He’s actually hired me twice now across two different businesses, so I must be doing something right!) I threw myself straight into the deep end, traversing the UK to visit independent outlets, helping them
improve their operations through their national business development awards programme, and managing a frantic weekly mix of features, news, and market research.
I’ve since worked in trade PR, the betting industry, and my most recent role – writing and creating newsletter content for The Eco Experts. Built from scratch, this newsletter now reaches a 250,000-strong audience each week. But, ultimately, I missed the FMCG industry and feeling the infectious passion from talking to independent businesses, working with passionate food and drink clients, and learning about the psychology behind consumer purchasing habits.
And that’s why I joined Brunswick North. Not only have I been working with Chris for seven years, but I truly believe in Brunswick North’s mission and the role I play in helping brands make the most of trade media. It truly is like nothing else.
Our experts
We are lucky to be supported by a talented network of freelance experts in digital and print design, branding and creative, AI and programming, videography, social, performance marketing, photograph and web design. Brilliant at their craft, we provide the audience messaging on top to create assets and campaigns that deliver, while keeping costs as efficient as possible for our clients.