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

New Hampshire 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 food wholesalers in New Hampshire 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 food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Hampshire 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 from New Hampshire food wholesalers

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

I recommend: D Acres sponsors a buying club in New Hampshire and hosts a variety of articles on organic farming. The Concord Cooperative Market is a community buying club that publishes a calendar of events and newsletters on a periodic basis.

Purchase from a food and beverage distributor in New Hampshire 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: Vandenburgh & Associates is a full service food broker in Nashua that serves the New England market. Hospitality Services Group is a food broker based in Bedford that hosts a variety of articles related to the foodservice industry.

Place orders with local New Hampshire beverage distribution companies

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: R.P. Imports distributes a variety of prestige wines in New Hampshire and also publishes a newsletter. The National Beer Wholesalers Association lists members by state and provides an overview of the beer distribution industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy perishable foods from a local food and beverage wholesaler in New Hampshire. 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. A New Hampshire food wholesaler may specialize in a specific type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.

For restaurant or food service managers, getting suppliers is an important step, and using the power of the web to find New Hampshire foord distributors is a winning strategy. If you’re in the state of New Hampshire, you want to rely as much as you can on local suppliers to cut down on shipping. For all kinds of bulk, wholesale or specialty food and beverage purchases, you can find suppliers online located in-state to get food and drink to your shop for resale.

Whether it’s alcoholic beverages, sodas, table foods or bulk orders for the kitchen, use the power of the Internet to get results on local shipments you can rely on for the day to day operation of your business. Business and restaurant managers use wholesale or specialty food deliveries:

1. For ramping up purchasing before opening a new shop or café where an initial buy will make or break a start-up budget.

2. For accurate re-inventory for a kitchen that goes through a lot of food on a weekly or monthly basis where buying from food distributors in New Hampshire can make a difference.

3. To get what you need for a last-minute catering job or a large-scale event that is rare for your business from a food and beverage distributor in New Hampshire.

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

Find beverage solutions from food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Hampshire

For getting a variety of wines or beer to your shop, or contracting for soda and fizzy drinks for customers, use wholesale beverage distributors in New Hampshire to arrange your necessary drink volumes.

I recommend: Capitol Distributors, a New Hampshire based facility, serves up variety to clients across the state. The New Hampshire office of R.P. Imports brings wines from around the world to the region for distribution to clients.

Buy staples from food wholesalers in New Hampshire

Restaurant managers can find wholesale sellers for almost any need. Search for providers of the raw materials to stock a kitchen, from choice cuts of meat to fresh green produce.

I recommend: Get poultry, veal, pork, Boar's Head deli products and more from The Meat House. Among New Hampshire food wholesalers, the Meat House offers local clients a wide range of food options. For fresh produce from an organic food distributor in NH, try Edgewater Farm, where you can find various fruits and vegetables for the table.

Find specialty foods from New Hampshire food distributors

For other kinds of purchases, you may want to take advantage of the specialty foods the state of New Hampshire is famous for. Try buying from local New Hampshire food distributors who specialize in local foods to get an authentic New Hampshire style cuisine into your shop.

I recommend: You can find local New Hampshire salsas and chips at Better Than Fred's, a food wholesaler in NH with an interesting history. Healthy Solutions Spice Blends, LLC., a shop in Hooksett, NH, ships healthy blends of fresh spices all over the country. Another family-owned NH food distributor, Lollipop Tree has a collection of products for sale including jellies, jams, baking mixes and syrups.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your kitchen. If you're making any kind of buy for a pantry, talk to the people who use the products you're buying. Consult on amounts, flavors and other aspects that will help you get more accurate purchasing for your business when you shop from food distributors in New Hampshire.

Employees who undergo food & beverage distributors & wholesalers in New Hampshire education and training must learn to provide 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 New Hampshire food wholesalers 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 and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire 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 wholesalers in New Hampshire

There are many classes from colleges and online learning that teach students how to be a food and beverage wholesaler in New Hampshire. These courses not only provide training in food distribution, but also help students keep up with changes in foodservice regulations.

I recommend: The University of New Hampshire College of Life Sciences and Agriculture provides a Dietetic Internship which includes the supervision and management of food and nutrition services. The New Hampshire Culinary Institute of White Mountains Community College offers an Associate in Science Degree in culinary arts, which includes courses in food service management, purchasing and marketing.

Become a New Hampshire food wholesaler with a food service license

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

I recommend: The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services provides the requirements for obtaining a food service license in New Hampshire. Training to Excel provides ServSafe certification in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Learn through food and beverage distributor in New Hampshire trade organizations

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 New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association provides education and training for its members. The New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection provides a variety of educational resources for food distributors in New Hampshire.

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 New Hampshire 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.