Thank you to Athalia Monae for featuring Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, in Medium Authority Magazine’s interview on effective networking.
In the conversation, Eran shares a grounded perspective on relationship building in business, especially in industries like food, sourcing, and supply chain, where trust and reputation matter deeply.
As Eran puts it:
“I see networking as building an ecosystem of people around you, people you can lean on, and who can lean on you in return.”
For Eran, networking is not about adding LinkedIn connections. It is about building relationships that create mutual value over time.
Key Takeaways from the Interview
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Eran encourages professionals to actively show up. Going to industry events, introducing yourself, following up, and scheduling conversations afterward. In the world of bulk ingredients, private label, and global sourcing, many strategic partnerships begin with a simple introduction at the right event.
Large industry gatherings like Expo West bring together industry leaders, emerging entrepreneurs, long established operators, and first time founders under one roof. Those in person conversations often become long term collaborations across sourcing and supply chain.
Accept That It Is a Numbers Game
Networking requires resilience.
“You might reach out to 20 people, and only one responds, and that’s okay.”
In procurement and supply chain environments, persistence and thoughtful follow-up often make the difference between a missed connection and a long-term collaboration.
Prioritize Real Conversations
While digital networking is powerful, Eran emphasizes the irreplaceable value of direct interaction: Being in the same room with people creates trust faster. And sometimes, the simplest gesture stands out: Phone calls are underrated. Picking up the phone shows genuine interest.
In ingredient sourcing and private label partnerships, credibility is built through consistency and real human connection.
Reputation Is Everything
In industries like food and beverage, which are large but tightly connected, reputation travels fast. Trust opens doors. Losing it closes them quickly.
“You really live and die by your reputation.”
Why This Matters in Ingredient Sourcing and Private Label Developments
Strong networks are not just helpful for business development. They are essential for building resilient supply chains, securing high-quality bulk ingredients, and supporting long term private label growth.
As Eran highlights, networking is about ecosystem building. In global sourcing, that ecosystem includes suppliers, buyers, logistics partners, quality teams, and operators. When relationships are built on transparency and trust, the entire supply chain becomes stronger. Expo West is one of those big moments in the year, where brands meet suppliers, retailers, new partners, new ideas, new colleagues. Super powerful
You can read the full interview in Authority Magazine to explore Eran’s complete perspective on building professional relationships that last.
