If you have reliable, easy access to a wide range of ingredients for your food and beverage business, you know you’re on the right track and will be less likely to flounder. It’s your lifeblood, after all, so you need to make sure that the suppliers you choose will not only provide you with the ingredients you need but also provide you with high-quality items and great customer service. But knowing what you need and choosing the right supplier is a different matter. So, if you are looking for food and beverage suppliers and want to ensure you select well, here are the top factors you should consider
The Right Information
When you have a list of prospective food or beverage suppliers, make sure you get the right information about them. This means gathering all the relevant details about their operations and services – about their business in general – and checking to see if their products or items match your requirements. For example, if you are looking for organic fruit puree or fruit juice, you should talk only to reputable organic fruit puree suppliers like EE & Brian Smith because you know that they specialize in the specific product you need and can give you products at a certain standard. If you are looking for pickled products, then it makes sense to look for suppliers that specialize in such products rather than just a general supplier who may still have to outsource what you need.
Find out other details, such as where they source their products, delivery schedule, minimum order requirements, prices, and terms of payment, and compare their prices with other food and beverage suppliers. Ask other businesses where they source their products so you can get a better idea of distributors or suppliers who are more respected and recognised.
Confirm the Product Availability
Of course, you should also confirm the product availability. This is vital to ensuring that you have the products you need when you need them. Your chosen supplier should carry the precise items you require, whether they are speciality items or core or basic items, and that they will be available to you at the time you need them. If a general supplier doesn’t have the items you need, it may be better to rely on a speciality item supplier who can give you those items to fill this specific niche.
Ask the Right Service-Related Questions
You would also need to ask the right service-related questions, especially in terms of schedule. Can they offer a quick turnaround in case you need an item? You can also confirm if they have options depending on the season. Can they deliver items on holidays or weekends? List down other questions you may have and ask them so you can better understand and know if the supplier can offer you the right service according to your establishment’s requirements and operations.
Try to Negotiate
If you are already speaking with a potential food and beverage supplier, you can also try negotiating with them on the price of their products so you can save money, especially if you buy wholesale. Many suppliers can provide special discounts or bargains regularly, and this can minimize your expenses and keep the quality of your ingredients as high as possible.
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
