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

Ohio food distributors 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 grocery wholesalers in Ohio 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 Ohio 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 wholesale food distributors in Ohio

Many small business owners pool their buying power to maximize their savings when buying from food distributors. Ohio buying groups can use their leverage to negotiate with distributors for the best possible prices.

I recommend: Meadow Rise Farm in Bellville provides a newsletter and an overview on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). GreenPeople can locate CSAs in Ohio and also offers extensive information on CSAs.

Purchase food from Ohio food distributors 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: The Center for Innovative Food Technology is located in Toledo and provides extensive information on the food brokerage business. SpecialtyFoodResource.com lists food brokers by state and also publishes an online magazine for food entrepreneurs.

Place orders with local Ohio beverage distributors

Water, soda, beer and sometimes wine may also be sold by a beer distributor. Ohio food distributors or wholesalers may not provide beverages.

I recommend: Heidelberg Distributing in Cincinnati provides several informational links related to the alcoholic beverage industry in Ohio. Superior Beverage Group distributes premium beer and wine in Ohio and also publishes a newsletter.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy perishable foods from local Ohio beverage 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 food distribution Ohio companies specialize in a particular type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.

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

Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Ohio 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. Ohio 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 wholesale food distributors in Ohio, 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 grocery wholesalers in Ohio

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. Nash Finch is a leading wholesale food distributor in the United States. It has a clickable map on its website showing its food distribution centers.

Fill your inventory with products from Ohio food distributors

Regional suppliers usually serve smaller businesses in the second tier markets of food distribution. Ohio distributors may also distribute gourmet and other specialty food items.

I recommend: Sofo Foods distributes ethnic foods in the Midwest and has a distribution center in Toledo. It also supplies food products such as pizza boxes to restaurants. W.S. Lee and Sons is a food distributor that primarily serves Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Select local independent Ohio beverage distributors

Smaller convenience and grocery store owners can find more personalized service with a local beverage or beer distributor. Ohio customers can create a business relationship with these distributors that is not found with larger distributors.

I recommend: Superior Beverage Group distributes premium beer and wine to central and northeastern Ohio. Regal Beverage distributes coffee, tea and water in the Columbus area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get frequent price checks from food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Ohio. The grocery market 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.

Americans eat out — a lot. According to the U.S. government's last census of such things, more than a half-million eateries and bars posted more than $321.40 billion in sales, a bit more than $1,000 a year per man, woman and child in the country. How all of these small businesses get the food and drinks they need to keep those tables turning is an industry unto itself, and a fragmented one at that, considering it involves timely delivery of perishables. Figuring out where you'll get the best and freshest foods at the lowest price is a matter of understanding the market, in particular, understanding how the wholesale beverage and food distributors work. This primer on selecting a wholesale food distributors for your own restaurant covers:

1. The different types of food and beverage distributors available for any restaurant.
2. Your options for food distributor alternatives.
3. How to make the most of purchased wholesale foods, by combining the buying power of multiple restaurants.
4. Advice for ensuring you are getting the best price for your wholesale foods.

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

Most of the business is done by food wholesalers

Whether its tins of tomatoes or piles of pork ribs, chances are you will start with a major supplier of wholesale foods, where prices are driven down because of the high volumes they handle.

I recommend: The largest food wholesalers include Sysco, US Foodservice, Performance Food Group and Gordon Food Service.

Buy direct from the manufacturer

Many food and beverage producers maintain their own delivery systems if your account is large enough. Going this route allows you to cut out the middle man, and avoid markups added on by the food distributor.

I recommend: Go to the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association site and search the membership directory for free. Search by "industry category" to quickly turn up food or beverage distributors near you. The American Beverage Association has a list of its (non-alcoholic) beverage maker members and Bevnet lists both manufacturers and distributors. The International Beverage Network covers alcohol beverage distributors worldwide.

Find a local independent broker

A good portion of the food distributed in the United States goes through an agent or broker.

I recommend: Search thousands of food and equipment suppliers through the Thomas Food and Beverage Market Place guide. Free if you register, although full company data is pricier.

Lots of tables? Join an alliance and get volume discounts

Joining a cooperative could save you money if you buy enough food regularly to qualify. This is usually true for institutional dining operations like hospitals and schools, but a regional chain restaurant could easily muster the same volumes.

I recommend: Some cooperatives include UniPro and Progressive Group Alliance. Premier focuses on healthcare institutions.

Check specialty suppliers for deals

Over the years, regional suppliers have sprung up to serve smaller, mom-and-pop eateries in second-tier markets. There are also specialty gourmet food distributors.

I recommend: Smart & Final operates in six western U.S. states and northern Mexico. McClane serves 18 cities across the country. Cheney Brothers trucks are a common sight in the southern United States.

Shopping clubs are an alternative

Most warehouse shopping clubs offer wholesaler discounts and special ordering rules that get you in and out in a jiffy. If you have the time and inclination to go get the food, these can save you money.

I recommend: Check prices for membership against potential savings at Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club. Similarly, retailers Target and Wal-Mart (type ZIP code and choose "supercenter") both have opened gigantic grocery stores which can cut pretty close the warehouse prices without annual membership fees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To get the best price on your wholesale foods, always run the numbers on your wholesale food distributors, the more often the better. Some will low-ball early on at a loss then try to raise prices later.
• •  If you don't do gigantic volumes, consider forming your own coop with other local restaurant owners. Deliver to your door then break the packages for savings.
• •  Never count out your local grocery store. Their loss leader might be your best margin of the week. If there's not enough on the shelf, talk to a manager about buying up the back stock, especially on non-perishables like wine and canned foods.
• •  Negotiate with your food distributor, always. The food is doing them no good on the warehouse floor, and they could easily have overbought in anticipation of demand. If you are a regular customer or a bigger customer, demand discounts.

When you are ready to begin purchasing from Ohio food and beverage distributors and wholesalers, consider where you will buy your produce. Customers look for the freshest produce and meats, so finding Ohio-based distributors and wholesalers not only means faster service, but perishable products will usually be fresher. Check into Community Supported Agriculture distributors for top-quality seasonal produce.

When you are dealing with food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Ohio, 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 operate your grocery, convenience store, or restaurant. Also be aware of professional organizations that support food industry professionals.

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

Ohio Department of Health

Ohio Department of Health oversees food safety for the state. The department provides training, announces food recalls, and offers guidance and technical assistance to those in the food industry.

I recommend: Ohio Department of Health lists some of the food safety areas that are their jurisdiction and has links to state food codes.

Three-tier system

Ohio law requires beer to pass through a three-tier system--brewery, distributor and retailer--to encourage competition and to reduce price fixing and excessive consumption. Because each tier must be independent, the system functions as a form of anti-trust law.

I recommend: Heidelberg Distributing discusses the three-tier system and other Ohio regulations on alcohol sales.

Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT)

The Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT), based in Ohio, offers a variety of programs and resources for food industry professionals. One of their initiatives is training businesses in the best food safety practices.

I recommend: The Center for Innovative Food Technology discusses food safety and explains the programs they offer.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Ohio has many farms that participate in Community Supported Agriculture. The farms act as distributors to local customers, proving fresh produce in season. While many of the people who use CSAs are individual consumers, it can be a good source for wholesalers, distributors and restaurants who are looking for top-quality produce.

I recommend: Meadow Rise Farm in Ohio discusses the advantages of buying from Ohio CSAs.

MOQ

Often when you order a product, the distributor or wholesaler may impose an MOQ, or minimum order quantity. For Ohio stores doing a small business or needing to restock only a few items, this can pose a problem. Ordering in bulk often cuts costs, but if you don't have the storage space or turnover to support large quantity orders, look for distributors or wholesalers who do not require MOQs.

I recommend: For an explanation of MOQ, visit sticky-marketing.net.

Northwest Ohio Green Products Center

Northwest Ohio Green Products Center offers support to food businesses that want to go green. They provide technical assistance, business expertise and other resources to those who want to use bio-based resources or other eco-friendly products.

I recommend: Northwest Ohio Green Products Center discusses their support to the food industry and lists the benefits of going green.