A local supplier may offer products that are relevant to the demand of certain members. Before entering the network, it is necessary to know the capacity, continuity and condition of the supply. Territorial interest is an element to be assessed together with the technical checks and the rules applicable to the product.
I propose a path that makes clear the necessary data and the phases of the evaluation. A small business may have different capabilities from a national supplier. The verification should be proportionate to the performance required, maintaining the necessary requirements and without assuming that the size guarantees quality.
Imagine a manufacturer that can serve a few outlets with weekly deliveries. A circumscribed test could verify customer reliability and response. Extending the supply to the entire network immediately may require capabilities that the manufacturer does not yet own.
The outcome should distinguish technical, economic and organizational reasons. A referral can also be useful if it clarifies what conditions are missing. A recognizable criterion allows members to propose territorial opportunities and the structure to examine them without entrusting the selection to informal information or indefinite expectations.