$25 per SQL: How a Food Manufacturer Used AI Outreach to Find Retail Buyers in Europe

A European food manufacturer needed to connect with decision-makers in retail chains but faced challenges reaching them through traditional channels. Using MarketOwl’s AI LeadGen Manager, they automated their cold outreach and secured 12 SQLs at just $25 per lead, proving that AI-driven prospecting works for manufacturers and distributors.

Problem

The company wanted to sell its specialty food products to retailers across Europe but struggled to:

• Identify the right buyers in multiple countries.
• Get past gatekeepers and engage decision-makers.
• Scale outreach without hiring a large sales team.

Solution: AI-Powered Retail Outreach

MarketOwl’s AI LeadGen Manager handled the full outreach process:
✅ Prospecting: Found key retail decision-makers across multiple European markets.
✅ Multi-Channel Outreach: Personalized cold outreach via email + LinkedIn to maximize engagement.
✅ Messaging: AI-crafted emails focused on product benefits, distribution terms, and market demand.
✅ Automated Warm-Up: Ensured high email deliverability with dedicated domains and pre-warmed inboxes.

Results

• 12 SQLs generated
• 2.3% positive reply rate
• $25 per SQL

Who Can Benefit?

This method works for manufacturers and distributors looking to scale sales in large, competitive markets. Cold outreach is especially effective in industries with long sales cycles—initial conversations today lead to deals over time. If your product has broad market appeal, AI-powered lead generation can build a steady pipeline of high-value retail buyers.