Start by making a list of the most important products first. Be willing to negotiate.
Finding that the local grocer does not carry 18 different types of salt is a disappointment, however, by speaking with food distributors and learning about shelf space and profit margins, hard-to-find foods may start appearing on the grocer's selves. Asking questions and researching food distributors that supply your favorite grocery store is the place to start. If valid trend information about a certain food can be presented to a food distributor, chances are it will be supplied. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
Organize and Prioritize
1. The public's tastes and whims for a particular item will be reflective of the community. Grocers should keep aware of local trends.
Ask yourself if you will be a regular user of the product or is this a one-time acquisition. Ask the distributor about ordering policies. Sometimes because of a whim, a person may be only temporarily interested in special yeast for microbrewing or ingredients for home meat curing or exotic fruits. Distributors and grocers understand this. Food distributors have to first locate any policy relating to obtaining minimum order quantities of foods. It's helpful to know the policy so priorities can be rearranged before asking for a particular item.
2. With knowledge of the distributor's ordering policy in place, use a prioritized list to ask if it is possible to order any quantities of what is most important on the list. Explain how one of their supplied grocers is where you shop and that you are a loyal customer. Encourage the distributor to ask questions of the grocers in the area but make sure you have contacted them first and
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explained your mission.
3. Food distribution companies need to be sure they are meeting the needs of the grocer and consumer.
Let the grocer and the food distributor contact know you understand their needs as well by using their language and studying food industry issues. Industry-wide, suppliers are always looking for ways to reduce what they call unsaleable products, which are products that are removed from distribution and cannot be reclaimed. Distributors and grocers lose money on these items. Don't let your request fall into that category.
4. Talking to your specialty grocer first may be helpful in obtaining hard-to-find items.
A yes or no answer should be available shortly after the request. Be sure to check back in a timely and polite fashion. Food distributors handle large food orders as they supply grocery chains and such. A small request for an odd item may not be honored. It would be best to go to a specialty store where their distributors may honor such a request because it is readily available and not an odd request.
5. Since most cities have several grocery chains and thus, several food distributors, make sure to make requests of all of them. Odds are that one will say yes to your request. Be also aware of conditions outside of your living area may have made a certain item scarce or completely unavailable. Keeping communication lines open is helpful for long-term success.
Tags: food distributors, Distributors grocers, food distributor, grocery chains, make sure, most important, order quantities