Kathryn Read helps niche consumer brands expand internationally through practical export strategy and strong distributor partnerships.
With nearly 30 years of international sales and marketing experience across more than 100 markets, she supports founder-led businesses to navigate complex global markets and build sustainable export growth.
Kathryn works with founder-led and mid-sized consumer brands, particularly in food and beverage, that are ready to expand beyond their domestic market.
Her approach focuses on building commercially viable international strategies, helping companies:
Rather than chasing rapid expansion, Kathryn helps companies enter international markets with clarity, structure and confidence.
Successful international growth depends on the quality of the partnerships behind it.
Kathryn specialises in distributor-led expansion, helping brands identify, evaluate and develop the right international partners.
Her work includes:
With decades of experience working across Europe, Asia and emerging markets, Kathryn understands that international growth is built through trust, cultural understanding and consistent partnership management.
Kathryn recently joined Cynthia Dearin on the Business Beyond Borders podcast to discuss how changing EU trade rules and regulatory complexity are reshaping international business in Europe.
In the episode, she explores why Europe cannot be treated as a single, straightforward market, and what business leaders need to understand about Brexit, geopolitical risk, sanctions, compliance, and the region’s increasingly complex regulatory environment.
Drawing on her international commercial experience and deep understanding of European markets, Kathryn brings a practical perspective to the realities of trading into Europe today — and why regulatory awareness is now central to sound market strategy. This conversation is especially relevant for companies already operating in Europe, or planning expansion into the region.
CASE STUDIES
Explore how Kathryn has helped consumer brands navigate international markets and build sustainable export growth.
Italian Specialty Foods Brand | Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia (Bali) The client required exclusive importers and distributors across multiple Southeast Asian markets while aligning pricing, hero
Plantonin (NZ D2C Supplement Brand) | South Korea Plantonin sought entry into South Korea through online retail but lacked in-market experience, competitor insight and platform
Structured China Entry for Premium Imported Craft Beer Austrian Craft Beer Producer | Mainland China A premium Austrian craft brewery sought entry into China but
Cross-Border E-Commerce Entry into China Plantonin (NZ D2C Supplement Brand) | China CBEC Plantonin wanted to enter China via cross-border e-commerce but lacked clarity around
Building Compliant Cross-Border D2C Operations in Post-Brexit Europe Magic Superfoods | Continental Europe Magic Superfoods, a UK-based superfoods brand operating D2C via Shopify, faced disruption
Distributor Identification and Private Label Expansion in Central Europe Hungarian Gluten-Free Organic Snack Brand | Austria & CEE A Hungarian snack manufacturer sought entry into
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