Employees who undergo food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland 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 work for food distributors of Maryland 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. Food distributors in Maryland 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. Maryland 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 food and beverage distributors in MD

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: L'Academie de Cuisine offers a one year program in culinary arts that includes an externship program. Baltimore International College offers a bachelor's degree in culinary management.

Become one of the food suppliers in Maryland who is an accredited Food Service Manager

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

I recommend: Baltimore County provides information on the classes for Level II Certified Food Service Manager Training. The Baltimore City Health Department provides the steps for operating food establishments and provides a Certified Food Manager application online.

Learn through trade organizations for food wholesalers in Maryland

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 Restaurant Association of Maryland offers many opportunities to learn about the food service industry through training courses and expos. The Maryland School Nutrition Association provides educational workshops and networking events for its members.

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 beer distributor in Maryland. 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.

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

Food and beverage distributors in Maryland 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. Maryland 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 food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland, 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 wholesale from major food and beverage distributors in Maryland

Some food and beverage wholesalers 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: 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. Performance Food Group distributes a range of brand name food and related products. It has broadline and customized divisions throughout the United States that it lists by city and state.

Purchase food wholesale from regional food distributors in Maryland

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

I recommend: McAneny Brothers is a broadline distributor to convenience and grocery stores throughout Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. W.S. Lee and Sons is a food distributor that primarily serves Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Select local independent beer distributors in Maryland

Licensed beverage distributors of Maryland can provide more personalized service to smaller convenience and grocery store owners than a larger beer distributor. Maryland local distributors can therefore create a closer business relationship.

I recommend: Easton-based Kelly Distributors distributes Anheuser-Busch and InBev USA products to the mid and upper eastern shore of Maryland. Hagerstown-based Wantz Distributors is an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler for Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get frequent price checks from food and beverage distributors. Maryland grocery prices can be extremely volatile, especially on seasonal items. Additionally, a distributor that has a surplus of perishables will be more willing to negotiate on price and a regular customer is more likely to get a discount.

Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland supply everything from supermarkets to restaurants to municipal kitchens with food and beverages. They are responsible for stocking the shelves so that food service based business can thrive.

Take the time to learn a little about food and beverage distributors and wholesalers within the state of Maryland so that you understand operational procedures and can negotiate a favorable contract for your business. Here are some of the terms you might come across along with some informational resources to help get you started.

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

Market reports

Market reports refer to information provided by the American Restaurant Association each week, which details everything from cost to consumption on a given category. For instance, there are categories on meat, poultry, dairy and more. Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland often work with supermarkets and commercial kitchens to fill orders based on these trends.

I recommend: Visit the website for Sysco for additional information on market reports. They also provide examples of market reports by category. Sysco owns and operates a distribution location in Maryland.

Customized distribution

Customized distribution refers to sending products to a restaurant or store that specializes in certain foods. For instance, a bbq restaurant will have specific set of meat, spices, sauces and more, which are unique to that type of restaurant, whereas coffee shop would have different needs. In this way, the distribution is customized.

I recommend: Go to the website for Performance Food Group for more information on customized distribution and how it operates. Performance Food Group has a distribution location in Maryland.

Plan-o-gram

A plan-o-gram is a design made by the distributor that helps the store owner maximize space when stocking shelves. Plan-o-grams are not merely designed on the size of packages, but are formed from market research, which details customer consumption patterns. Color, eye-line and type of food are all things that go into designing a plan-o-gram.

I recommend: Visit the website for McAneny Brothers for more information on plan-o-gramming. McAneny operates distribution locations within the state of Maryland.

Brand list, supplier list

The brand list or supplier list refers to a list of companies that send their products to the distributor. The distributor then groups them and passes them along to the commercial kitchen, bar or super market. For instance, a beer distributor might carry 20 brands of beer. They will list those 20 brands so that the client can prepare an order based on what they have to offer.

I recommend: Visit the website for Top Shelf. A distribution company with a location in Maryland, it offers an example of a brand list on its website.

FDA Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Program

The FDA Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Program (HACCP) is a program that ensures certain standards and qualities are met so that food products remain safe and uncontaminated. Many food distributors will detail their compliance with the FDA HACCP to give the supermarket or commercial kitchen the utmost assurance of their product.

I recommend: Visit the website for Metropolitan Meat, Poultry and Seafood for additional information on the FDA Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Program.

Imports

Imports refers to food which has been brought in from another country. The importer deals with the tariffs and associated taxes before reselling it to a supermarket, specialty shop or commercial kitchen.

I recommend: Go to the website for Prima Foods for more information on the importing process. Prima Foods is a distributor of specialty food in Maryland.

Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland literally stock the shelves of supermarkets and other food based businesses within the state. Reading up on the latest news and trends will keep you informed on everything from the latest products to commodity prices.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the latest food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland news and trends so that you may apply what you learn to your commercial food and beverage business. Here are some helpful links that provide quality resources to help get you started.

1. Go to the websites for food distributors in Maryland and read up on their latest press releases and other news articles.

2. Visit the websites of specialty companies for the latest information on food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Maryland news and trends.

3. Check out the websites for beverage distributors in Maryland for their latest news and trends.

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

Visit the website for food distributors of Maryland for the latest press releases

Many food based distributors with locations and operations in Maryland release the latest news on their company websites. Browse these websites for information on everything from the latest stock price and quarterly report, to the products the company is carrying. These websites are updated on a consistent basis.

I recommend: Visit the website for Performance Food Group, a Maryland based food distributor, for the latest information on news and trends affecting distributors in Maryland. The food distributor Sysco also releases news and information on its website. It distributes throughout the state of Maryland as well.

Find food distributors in Maryland that provide specialty items

There are many food distributors in Maryland that provide specialty items to restaurants and supermarket locations. These operations can range from small meat distributors in Maryland to very large companies that provide specialty food wholesale in Maryland. Visit the websites and read up on the latest news and trends that are posted.

I recommend: Go to the website for Maryland Quality Meats for additional information on the latest news and trends affecting the meat industry in regard to wholesale distribution within the state of Maryland. Also check out the website for Dot Foods. They distribute specialty items within the state of Maryland as well.

Read about news and trends on the websites for beverage distributors in Maryland

Whether it's a beer distributor in Maryland or one that specializes in wine or spirits, these companies are constantly posting the latest news and trends regarding the distribution industry on their websites. Take the time to browse the latest news so that you may determine what beverages to order for your food and beverage based business.

I recommend: Visit the websites for Romero & Miller and Bacchus Imported Limited for more information on the latest news in regard to beverage distributors in Maryland. Both of these companies are licensed beverage distributors of Maryland.