Wholesale food is sold in bulk at a reduced price to food outlets, retailers and others, with the larger quantities involved typically meaning the buyer can negotiate lower prices.
Wholesalers themselves buy direct from distributors or manufacturers, with whom they have a direct relationship.
It’s a broad market, covering everything from raw ingredients like fruit and vegetables to prepared and packaged goods and meals.
There are extensive benefits to any food business in buying wholesale, the most obvious of which are the lower prices and the access to bulk-buying discounts. Others include:
- Lower shipping costs and reduced overheads
By buying all your ingredients and supplies in one go, you’re not placing multiple orders with numerous operators, which could cost more to ship. You’ll also benefit from food wholesalers typically enjoying lower overhead costs compared with conventional grocery stores, savings they often pass on to their customers.
You should also find excellent payment terms, since wholesalers purchase in bulk to sell to their customers, so they can often offer flexible options which may well help with your cashflow.
- An extensive line-up of products
You should also find a wider selection of products on offer, because there are not the same constraints on space that there are with standard retailers. At the same time, wholesalers can usually acquire quite specialised items which you may not be able to source elsewhere. So you’ll find a huge range of goods in a single location. This can save you a lot of time. Many wholesalers also accept online orders, making things even more efficient.
- Quality of produce
When you buy from a food wholesaler, you generally enjoy access to higher-quality produce than is available at a regular supermarket or grocery store. Those direct relationships mentioned above allow wholesalers to buy fresh, top-quality ingredients at an attractive price. So, as a food business, you can source the finest ingredients that may otherwise be costly or tricky to find. This can significantly enhance the quality of the food you offer, and, ultimately, your business’s overall success.
So if you thought buying food wholesale was all about “pile ‘em high sell ‘em cheap”, inferior-quality items, think again. Even things like incredible Italian gourmet food can easily be sourced wholesale.
- Complex Cuisine without the Training
When buying food from a wholesaler it means you can offer a range of complex cuisine without the cost of extra training. Bringing quality gourmet food without the expense of extra training and the need to employ a high-level chef. So whether you want Authentic Italian or Authentic Indian curries there is a wholesaler for you.
- Expert support and advice
Wholesalers understand the food industry in depth, and so are ideally placed to offer guidance on everything from planning menus to choosing products. Their advice on issues including inventory management and logistics can really help streamline your operation.
So there are many reasons for buying wholesale for your food business. Equally, if you find that any of these benefits that you’d expect don’t apply, for example if you come across poor-quality produce, a limited range of items, late or missed deliveries or prices that seem too high, it’s time to switch your wholesale food supplier.
Look for organisations supplying leading brands, plus those with great customer reviews. It’s also worth giving your potential wholesaler a call before placing a first order, to check out their customer service.
