It's no secret among food and beverage industry professionals that most of their time is spent identifying equipment and consumables they need and then contacting food and beverage companies that can provide them. Such a constant challenge requires business owners to build relationships with the most trusted names in the food industry.

Supplies for food and beverage companies comprise heavy-duty processing and preparation equipment, wholesale foods and beverages and smallwares. Start by contacting large distributors who stock a wide variety of products until you find vendors who specialize in fewer items:

1. Locate the top food suppliers serving the food industry business.

2. Buy high performing food business equipment from the most recognized names in the field.

3. Find smallwares that all food and beverage companies depend on.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Deal with large scale food beverage manufacturers and suppliers

You need to find reputable providers of foods and beverages, whether you are a small breakfast-lunch restaurant or a large supermarket.

I recommend: Prima Foods carries thousands of international brand products. Family owned and operated since 1979, the company based in Maryland supplies food to gourmet cheese shops, bakeries, supermarkets and pizzerias. Wholesale Bulk Foods is a supplier of nuts, fruits, spices, grains, health foods and bakery products. USA Foods is one of the largest distributors to the food and beverage industry in the United States.

Order commercial cooking equipment for your retail food business

If you're in the food service part of the business, finding high-performing cooking equipment is just as essential as finding the right kind of foods to prepare.

I recommend: Zesco carries everything from crepe machines to commercial smoking ovens. The Indiana-based company maintains a large in-stock inventory of the cooking and preparation equipment used by most food and beverage companies. A Best Fixture accepts orders online for equipment such as deep fryers, ovens, ice machines and steam tables. Based in Pennsylvania, The Webstaurant Store stocks restaurant equipment by the thousands in a 140,000 square foot warehouse.

Maintain adequate supplies of food industry smallwares

The name 'smallwares' should not be interpreted as referring to non-essential items in a food business. These products are the necessary tools that any kitchen or food processing staff depends on.

I recommend: Restaurant Solutions supplies every kind of smallware any food business would ever need. From kitchen utensils to fine linens, Restaurant Solutions ships to 48 states and promises a 10% discount on any purchase order over $150. Restaurant Source tries to ship all of its orders within 24 hours. The company stocks smallwares you need in storing, preparing and serving food. Since 1970, Kirby Supply has provided small wares to food businesses at competitive prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Any food and beverage supplier will maintain a staff of qualified sales representatives. Select one representative that you will deal with for every order. Request that representative to keep a master list of key products your company needs as a reminder to order when supplies are likely to diminish.

Food and beverage is a huge industry, ranging from restaurants to beverage manufacturers. If you are looking to break into the food and beverage industry or are seeking to expand your existing operation, you must know where to go to find the information you need.

Starting a food and beverage company from scratch requires a lot of planning and research. What markets are popular? Which ones are on the decline? How do you find equipment and start up capital? Then you need to decide what food beverage products you plan to market.

Food and beverage industry resources include:

1. Magazines and Newsletters
2. Software
3. Market Researchers

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Track trends in the food business and beverage industry

A major component of the food and beverage industry is knowing what trends are hot and what trends are not. One the best resources to consult when studying food industry trends are industry magazines and websites. There are several magazines and newsletters, both online and in print that report on food industries. They profile food and beverage companies and keep entrepreneurs abreast of the latest trends.

I recommend: The National Restaurant Association is a leader in up to date trends in food and beverage. Just-Food covers the latest industry news and sends out daily email reports. Beverage World and Adams Beverage Group are two other electronic resources that feature in-depth coverage of the growing beverage industry.

Improve business efficiency with food and beverage software

Keep all your food and beverage information organized with simple to use software programs. There are many software programs available that deal directly with the food industry and the beverage industry. They can help a business stay organized by tracking customer orders, purchases and sales.

I recommend: VISCO, Venture Information Systems, designs importing software packages designed for importing and whole distributors. This is ideal for a food or beverage company looking to break into large scale distribution. The VISCO software can be integrated with Quickbooks Pro, another business software that can help you stay on top of your finances. SMC Data Systems offers software created specifically for the food and beverage industry.

Recruit help with market research

Sometimes it is best to consult professionals when looking into industries like the food and beverage industries, which have trends and fads that come and go. Many market and research companies deal directly with the food and beverage industries, helping business owners make decisions about production and advertising.

I recommend: MarketReseach.com offers food market research reports, broken down by categories, to help track food and beverage trends.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Just because you think a certain brand of food or drink will sell like hotcakes, don't assume everyone else will. Do your homework before investing a lot of time and money into a food and beverage operation.

Training for food and beverage positions in today's industry usually requires more than just the on-the-job training professionals years ago could get away with. Not only are aspiring food and beverage industry workers enrolling in trade school programs but many are also considering associate's and bachelor's degrees in specialized fields like hospitality management and restaurant supervision.

Today's food and beverage companies have come to expect this kind of professional training from their potential hires. The job market remains competitive in the food industry and the best candidates are striving to show that they have completed both classroom and hands-on practical learning at accredited institutions. Whether your aim is to become a chef-owner of a restaurant or a food and beverage manager at a hotel, consider the many options available for developing the required skills:

1. Fulfill requirements for a degree in food beverage management at an accredited school.

2. Pursue training in the hospitality management sector of the food industry business.

3. Complete an internship and find out exactly what to expect in the foods and beverage industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select a school that offers a food and beverage management degree

You can find food and beverage management degree programs at trade schools and four year institutions. These programs usually provide theory and practice training in a wide range of subjects, from how to select wines to some key concepts in restaurant law.

I recommend: Lincoln Educational Services has provided technical training in many industries since 1946. Its food and beverage management training program combines classroom learning with hands-on practice in professional kitchens and food labs. Check out the course listings for the food and beverage management degree on the Johnson & Wales University website. This university is widely regarded as a leader in career-specific education in the United States.

Find out how a degree in hospitality management can open up opportunities in the food industry

You can choose between 2- and 4-year programs and whether or not you prefer an in-classroom setting or want to pursue a distance learning degree online.

I recommend: The New England Culinary Institute offers both associate's and bachelor's degrees in hospitality management. eCornell is a subsidiary of Ithaca, New York's prestigious Cornell University. eCornell offers distance learning programs for those seeking degrees in hospitality management.

Pursue hands on training with internships in the food and beverage industry

Internships offer the unique opportunity to get on the job training while building relationships with professionals in the field.

I recommend: Internships 4 America offers training through internship programs for those pursuing degrees in the restaurant and hospitality management industries. Contact Hyatt Hotels & Resorts to find out more about their hospitality internships for students. Also, schools like Kansas State University offer internships to students in the food and beverage management programs who are looking for hands on industry experience.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Enter a food and beverage management degree program with an open mind, taking courses in areas that at first don't appeal to you. This broad outlook is perhaps the best way to find your niche in this highly specialized field.

Throughout the life cycle of foods that are sold for public use, there are procedures, rules and regulations that must be followed. These all contain specific terms that may need further explanation or clarification.

In order to ensure that all food products meet or exceed these standards, you must understand the terms common in the food and beverage industry. Once you understand them, you can pass your knowledge on to your employees and contacts. Not only will this improve your quality standards, it gives your customers the opportunity to see your company's professionalism.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Food additives

A food additive is anything that is added to a food that doesn't naturally occur in that particular food. Color, flavor and preservatives are some food additives.

I recommend: You can find information about food additives on the US Food and Drug Administration website.

Organic

Organic food is any food that is grown without using artificial or synthetic herbicides and pesticides. In order to be classified as organic, the food must also be grown in undisturbed soil, meaning that the soil hasn't been exposed to inorganic chemicals.

I recommend: Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association offers detailed information about organic foods and how to grow organic vegetables.

Genetically altered foods, genetically engineered foods

Genetically altered foods, which are sometimes called genetically engineered foods, are any foods in which the genetic makeup is altered. This may be done by adding foreign materials into the food's genetic makeup. However, taking away part of the genetic code of that food is also genetically altered food.

I recommend: AllRefer.com provides information about genetically engineered foods.

Food-borne illness

Anytime that a person gets sick after eating, they have a food-borne illness. Just one instance of food-borne illness can negatively affect a food and beverage establishment. Practicing food safety measures is the the only way to minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses affecting your customers.

I recommend: A detailed explanation of food-borne illness is offered on the DuPage County Health Department website.

Federal Alcohol Administration Act

The Federal Alcohol Administration Act is a set of regulations for food and beverage establishments that serve alcohol. It provides rules for issuing permits and labeling regulations for alcoholic beverages.

I recommend: The US Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau provides information about how the Federal Alcohol Administration Act protects consumers and the integrity of the alcohol industry.

Nutritional labels

Nutritional labels are required to be on certain foods, including processed foods and some meet. These labels must contain information including the calorie count and amount of trans fat per serving to help consumers ensure they are eating as healthy as possible.

I recommend: The American Heart Association and Registrar Corp both offer information about nutritional labels.