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

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

Make the most of NJ 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 food distributors in New Jersey 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 in 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 food wholesale in New Jersey

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: Morangie Farm has locations in Far Hills and Peapack. This buying club accepts a specified number of memberships from businesses and families each year. H&H Purchasing Services is in White Plains and provides traditional food buying services along with other services such as invoice analysis and product sourcing.

Purchase food wholesale in New Jersey 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: Prestige Sales & Marketing is a full-service sales agency for food service professionals located in Franklin. Key Impact Sales & Systems is a food brokerage based in Burlington that services Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Place orders with local New Jersey beverage distributors

Beverage distributors in New Jersey primarily sell water, soda, beer and sometimes wine. Some of these beverages may not be available from your regular food and beverage distributors in NJ.

I recommend: Jersey Eagle Sales Company is an Anheuser-Busch distributor based in Jersey City. Kramer Beverage Company is located in Hammonton and distributes Coors and other top-selling beers in southern New Jersey, especially along the Atlantic coast.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy perishable foods from local food distributors. NJ companies can make deliveries faster and help you make a profit on these items. Prompt deliveries also make it easier to manage your inventory.

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

Food distributors in New Jersey 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. New Jersey 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 New Jersey, 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 food and beverages from major New Jersey food distributors

Some food and beverage wholesalers cover most of the country. Grocery store chains are among the top customers for these food distributors. NJ distributors may be able to deliver to regional franchises and independent stores, as well.

I recommend: 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 on its website. C&S Wholesale Grocers has a nationwide network of distribution centers. You can find its warehouse locations sorted by cities within each state it serves.

Purchase food from regional NJ food wholesalers

Smaller businesses in second tier markets are the usual customers for regional food and beverage distributors. NJ food distributors also may distribute gourmet and other specialty food items.

I recommend: Mil-Ray is a broadline food distributor that serves the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas. RLB Food Distributors delivers produce, deli and bakery items to New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.

Select local independent New Jersey beverage distributors

Smaller convenience and grocery store owners can get more personalized service from local beverage distributors. New Jersey customers can create a business relationship with these distributors that is not found with larger distributors.

I recommend: Hunterdon Brewing distributes wine, beer and spirits to customers throughout New Jersey. High Grade Beverage is a wholesale beverage distributor of beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks for service retailers in New Jersey.

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 food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Jersey that specialize in foods from that ethnic group. Many wholesalers also specialize in a particular type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.

You will need to stock your grocery store or restaurant by using food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Jersey. Local suppliers can make it easier to implement proper inventory management since they can make deliveries faster. This is especially important when trying to make a profit on low-margin or perishable items.

Choosing the right New Jersey food distributors is especially important for convenience and grocery store owners. These businesses are highly competitive and the best choice can also change rapidly due to dynamic factors like promotions and seasonal availability.

Use food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Jersey to do the following for your business:

1. Retain your customers by maintaining the service level they have come to expect of you.

2. Plan promotions and save money by taking advantage of advance replenishment, price breaks and order consolidation.

3. Maintain your stock levels by minimizing excessive food shrinkage and expiration. NJ food distributors can provide reliable food delivery to prevent lost sales and the right distributor can help you determine the best re-order point and order quantity.

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

Buy food and beverage wholesale in New Jersey from major distributors

Many wholesalers have locations in many different states that deliver primarily to major grocery store chains. However, they may also serve smaller franchises and independent stores.

I recommend: Sysco is a leading supplier of food, preparation and serving items. A clickable map on Sysco's website will display its locations in Jersey City and South Plainfield. US Foodservice provides food and related products primarily to restaurants. You can select a region of the United States on its website to display the Bridgeport, Englewood and Swedesboro locations in New Jersey.

Purchase food wholesale in New Jersey from regional distributors

These companies frequently serve smaller businesses in second-tier markets. Many regional suppliers also specialize in gourmet and other specialty food items.

I recommend: Mennella’s Poultry Co. is based in Paterson and is one of the leading regional distributor’s of poultry and poultry products in New Jersey. Whitehouse Shady Hollow Farm is a wholesale food distributor located in Whitehouse and offers food products to both businesses and the general public.

Place orders with local beverage distributors in New Jersey

You may be able to get more personalized service with smaller New Jersey beverage distributors. These distributors are frequently able to serve smaller grocery stores and convenience stores.

I recommend: The Kohler Distribution Company is based in Hawthorne and serves wine and beer to northern New Jersey. Allied Beverage Group has its headquarters in Mt. Laurel and is one of the largest beverage distributors in NJ.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider investing in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) if you have a small business that needs fresh produce. Many food distributors in New Jersey have their own farms which they sell memberships in. Members come to the farm each week to pick up their share of the harvest.

When you are dealing with food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in New Jersey, you need to be aware of state regulations to be sure you are operating within the law. Know what licenses and permits you need to open and operate your grocery or convenience store.

Next, consider where you will buy your produce. Customers look for the freshest produce and meats, so purchasing from New Jersey food and beverage distributors and wholesalers not only means faster service, but perishable products will usually be fresher.

Finally, to open and operate a successful business, you also need to learn key selling principles to give your business the opportunity for maximum sales.

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

ABC Licensing Bureau

The ABC Licensing Bureau in New Jersey gives out licenses for wholesalers and retailers of alcoholic products. If you plan to sell liquor, contact the bureau to fill out the required paperwork. They are also responsible for renewing licenses.

I recommend: To find out more about the necessary permits, check with the ABC Licensing Bureau.

Efficient product replenishment (EFR)

To run an effective grocery or convenience store business in New Jersey, you must keep your shelves stocked. The best way to do this is to develop a system for efficient product replenishment (EFR). EFR used to be done by counting stock every week and then ordering replacements for items that had sold. Now most stores computerize this function.

I recommend: VU University Amsterdam discusses efficient product replenishment.

Direct Store Delivery (DSD)

Direct Store Delivery (DSD) saves stores money by eliminating the need for warehousing goods. Generally, distributors and wholesalers only do this for large orders, so unless you have high-quantity sales, it may not be an option. Many New Jersey stores use DSD for products with rapid turnover such as bread and beer.

I recommend: Interaction Media Group discusses DSD processes in New Jersey.

Green practices

With the present emphasis on going green, New Jersey grocery and convenience stores need to consider how to gear their practices to energy efficiency. Not only will this help you save money, it is also beneficial for the environment.

I recommend: DirectoryM.net talks about the environmental challenges faced by New Jersey food distributors.

Unsaleables cost

One large expense for grocery stores in New Jersey is the waste incurred when goods are damaged, making them unsaleable. Goods that are not in any condition to be sold decrease store profits. Loss prevention retail jobs are responsible for protecting your goods from shoplifting, employee theft and vendor fraud. Loss prevention retail jobs are also responsible for keeping your employees and customers safe while they are in your store. .

I recommend: Material Handling Management gives examples of how companies have cut their unsaleables costs.

New Jersey Food Council

The New Jersey Food Council is an association of food retailers and suppliers who work together to keep the members apprised of changes in technology, laws, and wholesale/retail practices. The group also lobbies for better legislation for its members.

I recommend: Find out more about the history and goals of the New Jersey Food Council at the group's website.