Maximize your profits by making the most of food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Florida. These companies distribute food at wholesale prices to delis, caterers, grocery stores and restaurants.

Florida food distributors deliver foods within a specified delivery area and also may provide cash and carry services that allow you to pick up items directly from the warehouse.

Make the most of FL food distributors by doing the following:

1. Get frequent price checks from food distributors, especially on seasonal items. A distributor that has a surplus of perishables will be more willing to negotiate on the price. You can then use these price breaks to plan promotions or make advance replenishment orders.
2. Use Florida food wholesalers that specialize in foods from your customers’ ethnic groups. Many wholesalers also specialize in a particular type of food such as pizza ingredients, snacks or desserts.
3. Select food wholesalers that provide reliable food delivery. This will allow you to minimize lost sales due to lack of stock and make it easier to determine your optimum re-order point.

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

Join a group for buying Florida food wholesale

Many small business owners pool their buying power to maximize their savings. A food service buying group can use its leverage to negotiate with distributors for the best possible prices.

I recommend: The Organic Produce Buying Club of South Florida publishes articles on co-ops in Florida. The Organic Consumers Association lists food buying groups by state and hosts a variety of resources on buying organic food.

Purchase from a Florida food distributor through a broker

Foodservice brokers represent manufacturers of food, food equipment and food supplies. They can help you find the best prices for a wide range of food products.

I recommend: Southeast Food Service News publishes news on the food brokerage industry for the southeastern United States. Florida Lookup lists food brokers in the Tampa area and provides links related to food service in Florida.

Place orders with local Florida food and beverage distributors

A beverage distributor primarily sells water, soda, beer and sometimes wine. These beverages may not be available from a regular food distributor or wholesaler.

I recommend: Beer Industry of Florida publishes current articles and newsletters of interest to beverage distributors in Florida. Gold Coast Beverage Distributors is the largest beer wholesaler in in the state of Florida and also offers an overview of the beverage distribution industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy perishable foods from local Florida food distributors. These companies can make deliveries faster and help you make a profit on these items. Prompt deliveries also make it easier to manage your inventory.
• •  Identify any particular buying habits of your customers. Many FL food distributors specialize in a particular type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.

Choosing the right food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Florida is essential for convenience and grocery store owners. Buying food wholesale in Florida is a highly competitive business with high customer expectations and complex factors that affect product replenishment.

FL food distributors must allow you to implement proper inventory management. This is especially important in maintaining profitability on low-margin items where knowledge of customer buying patterns is critical when choosing food distributors. Florida food and beverage distribution can be further complicated by promotions, seasonal availability and the large differences between wholesale and resale purchase units.

When selecting one of the Florida food distributors, choose one that will increase your bottom line by allowing you to do the following:

1. Maintain your stock levels to prevent lost sales by minimizing the impact of excessive shrinkage and expiration. Reliable delivery, therefore, is crucial for determining the optimum order quantity and re-order point.

2. Save on shipping costs through advance replenishment, order consolidation and optimized price breaks. This will help you plan promotions and other sales-related events.

3. Increase customer retention and service levels.

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

Buy Florida food wholesale from major distributors

Some food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Florida cover most of the country and usually cater to grocery store chains. However, they also may be able to deliver to regional franchises and independent stores.

I recommend: U.S. Foodservice provides food and related products primarily to restaurants. You can select a region of the United States on its website to display specific locations within that region. Sysco is a leading supplier of food, preparation and serving items. A clickable map on Sysco's website displays its locations throughout the United States and Canada.

Purchase food from regional Florida food wholesalers

Regional suppliers usually serve smaller businesses in second tier markets. They may also distribute gourmet and other specialty food items.

I recommend: Southeast Wholesale Foods distributes a range of food items, non-foods and general merchandise to supermarkets throughout Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. The Associated Grocers of Florida is a full-line food distributor for the southeastern United States.

Select local independent Florida food and beverage wholesalers

Local distributors can provide more personalized service to smaller convenience and grocery store owners. This additional time and attention can create a business relationship not found with larger distributors.

I recommend: Miami-based Florida Beverage Distributor is a Florida food and beverage wholesaler that sells a variety of beverages and snacks. Miami-based Gold Coast Beverage is one of the largest beer distributors in Florida.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Identify any particular buying habits of your customers. For example, if your store caters to a particular ethnic group, you will want to use a distributor for Florida food that specializes in foods from that ethnic group. Many wholesalers also specialize in a particular type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.

Employees who undergo food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Florida education and training must learn to deliver food and beverages from the manufacturer to a food service operator. This may be a restaurant, grocer or another distributor that sells foods and beverages to the end consumer.

The training needed to become a distributor for Florida food primarily depends on the specific area of this industry that you are interested in. Food and beverage distribution jobs and training may be divided into three general categories:

1. Marketing. Florida food and beverage distributors must learn how to unite producers with consumers in a flexible and efficient manner. This is an especially complex process since many companies are typically involved in the manufacture of food.
2. Transportation. Florida food distributors also need to move food efficiently. The perishable nature of many foods means that they must frequently be kept at a constant temperature during transportation.
3. Food safety. The prevention of food borne illnesses through the proper handling, preparation and storage of food is of paramount concern to food distributors. This aspect of food distribution is highly regulated at both the federal and state level.
   

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

Take business courses needed to work for FL food distributors

There are many classes from colleges and online learning that teach students the business aspects of the food distribution business. These courses not only provide training in food distribution, but also help students keep up with changes in foodservice regulations.

I recommend: The Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management offers certificate programs in foodservice management. Education Programs is approved by the Florida Department of Professional Regulation Division of Hotels and Restaurants to provide food handler employee training.

Become a Florida food wholesale distributor who is an accredited Food Service Manager (CFM)

A CFM is trained in the principles of food safety to produce safe food products. This accreditation is essential for many foodservice positions.

I recommend: Safe Food Systems in Ft. Lauderdale offers the food safety certificate programs required by the state of Florida. The Florida Department of Health provides the steps and requirements for becoming a CFM in Florida.

Learn through trade organizations for a Florida food and beverage wholesaler

Professional associations frequently provide their own educational programs in food distribution. They also are an excellent way to establish contacts in the foodservice industry.

I recommend: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association offers a variety of training and education for foodservice workers in Florida. The American Culinary Foundation in St. Augustine provides extensive information on foodservice careers, including continuing education requirements.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Students with mentors are more likely to pursue a long term career as a Florida food distributor. A mentor can assist the student in developing career goals, fostering professional relationships and providing crucial feedback during the educational period. Many professional trade organizations also actively promote recruitment and retention programs to maintain a skilled workforce in this industry. These programs frequently include scholarships for high school seniors and undergraduates.

Learning food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Florida basics requires an understanding of the overall objective of this branch of the food service industry. The general purpose of food distribution is to unite food producers with food consumers. This requires skills common to many types of distribution such as logistics, storage and transportation. Food distribution also involves more specific areas such as food safety, refrigerated transportation and the storage of perishable items. The potential for widespread disease and other forms of contamination also means that food distribution is regulated to a much greater extent than the distribution of other types of products.

There are a variety of information sources on food distribution. These sources on food distributors in FL may be grouped in the following three general categories:

1. Organizations of Florida food wholesalers. Florida has a variety of professional associations for food distributors and grocers.

2. Food safety training classes. A distributor for Florida food needs food managers that are certified by the state.

3. Individual food and beverage distributors in Florida. These businesses may provide regional food distribution or they may distribute food specifically in Florida.

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

Join professional organizations for Florida food distributors

Food distributor organizations allow food distributors to exchange information on food distribution. These organizations may also include lobby groups for the food distribution industry in Florida.

I recommend: Associated Grocers of Florida is dedicated to helping distributors and retailers in the Florida food service industry. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is an influential trade organization in Florida that lobbies for legislation favorable to food distributors.

Research the food safety requirements for a Florida food and beverage wholesaler

Food safety training is an essential part of food distribution in Florida. These classes must meet specific state requirements in order to certify food safety managers.

I recommend: Florida Food Service offers food certification classes that the state of Florida requires. Safe Food Systems in Fort Lauderdale provides food safety training and general information on food certification in Florida.

Examine specific Florida food and beverage wholesalers

Food and beverage wholesalers provide information unique to their businesses. They may also have current news on the food service industry in general.

I recommend: Seidman Hudon is based in Florida and provides food distribution services throughout the southeastern United States. Food Supply is a leading food distributor in the Florida marketplace.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A Florida food distributor may also distribute food through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This food distribution program is called the USDA Commodity Food Distribution Program and it acquires various agricultural commodities through direct purchases, price support initiatives and surplus removal. The state of Florida contracts with commercial providers to acquire these foods and also contracts with various recipient agencies for the proper distribution of these commodity foods. The objectives of this program are to improve the nutrition of the program participants and to strengthen the American agricultural market.