Employees who undergo food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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. A food and beverage wholesaler in South Carolina 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. South Carolina 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
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Take business courses needed to work for food distributors in South Carolina

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 Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College offers advanced training opportunities for students seeking a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The Culinary Institute at Carolina offers a culinary arts program that provides a well-rounded foodservice and culinary education.

Learn the food safety regulations that a food wholesaler in SC must follow

Food safety is an essential part of a food distributor's training. There are many facilities in South Carolina that offer training classes and provide educational resources in the various aspects of food safety.

I recommend: The South Carolina Department of Agriculture provides extensive educational information on the laws regarding food safety in South Carolina. Proactive Food Safety Training provides food safety training programs for businesses in the food service industry.

Learn through trade organizations for a food distributor in SC

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: South Carolina's Tourism & Hospitality Educational Foundation provides professional education and training opportunities for foodservice professionals. The Myrtle Beach Chapter of the American Culinary Federation offers membership to any restaurant industry professional and also provides culinary education and training.

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 South Carolina 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.

For restaurant or food service managers, getting South Carolina food wholesalers is critical. If you’re in the state of South Carolina, 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, 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 from a South Carolina food distributor:

1. To re-stock a kitchen where goods in the pantry are running low.

2. For ramping up purchasing before opening a new shop or café where an initial buy from South Carolina food wholesalers will make or break a start-up budget.

3. To get what's needed for a last-minute catering job or a large-scale event that is rare for business.

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Get drinks purchases from food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in South Carolina

One consideration for busy managers is getting the right quantities and qualities of beer or wine into a shop or serving space. Use state or local South Carolina beverage distribution companies to get your needs met for beverage serving.

I recommend: If you're looking for deals on quantities of beer or other beverages, Pavilion Discount Beverage Beer & Wine will get you prices you can deal with. Get all kinds of fine wines from Owen's Liquors in Myrtle Beach.

Get staple foods from South Carolina food distributors

Look in-state for restocking shelves with all kinds of food products for your operation. Getting help from a food wholesaler in SC can mean lower prices for delivery and fresher foods. Find South Carolina food distributors you can deal with long-term to really provide for your kitchen.

I recommend: Buyers can get quality service on a wide range of food products distributed by Harvest Foods, a Carolina company that promises to work with clients for great transactions. Francis Produce Company, founded in the 1920s by the Francis Brothers in Greenville, South Carolina, provides leafy greens to shops across the state.

Use food distributors in South Carolina for local flavor

In other kinds of large food purchases, you may be looking for something that gives your shop a local feel. Find gourmet or specialty foods from state producers and distributors that showcase the kinds of products the state of South Carolina has to offer.

I recommend: Out on Pawley's Island, Wild Rooster Sauces, another food distributor in SC, is coming up with products like the Sunburn sauce line for local cooking with flavor. Get authentic Carolina seafood for cooking up maritime dishes from the Charleston Seafood site, where dealers offer to bring quality to the table.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Any time you are getting a lot of goods in, whether it's fresh, frozen or canned, it's a good idea to talk to your kitchen. Doing a little research beforehand will help you make the best buying decisions when you're making deals with supply shops and food wholesalers in South Carolina.

South Carolina food and beverage distribution and wholesale is a huge business that literally feeds the state of South Carolina. From commercial kitchens and restaurants to supermarkets and more, the distribution and wholesale business within the state supplies these companies with the products that stock their shelves and feed their customers.

Take the time to learn about a few of the key terms associated with the South Carolina food and beverage wholesale and distribution business so that you can easily interface with these businesses. Here are a few of those key terms with some resources to help get you started.

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Age requirement

Age requirement, in terms of beverage wholesalers and distributors within the state of South Carolina, refers to the law that requires both the wholesale purchase and signing of a delivery to be performed by an adult over the age of 21.

I recommend: Visit the website for Owen's Liquors for a further explanation of the age requirement when a wholesaler ships an alcoholic beverage within the state of South Carolina.

Customized labeling program

A customized labeling program refers to a system that assists in the tracking, rotating and marketing of a given product. By utilizing the PLU and UPC codes, the customized labeling program keeps the store in constant communication with the wholesaler and distributor.

I recommend: Visit the website for Francis Produce, located in Greenville, SC, for additional information about how the customized labeling program operates.

Vacuum sealed

Vacuum sealed refers to the process of enclosing a piece of meat in a plastic wrap while simultaneously removing all of the oxygen. By removing the oxygen, the product stays fresher for a longer period of time. Vacuum sealed products and meats may also be frozen as well.

I recommend: Visit Charleston Seafood for additional information on how a product is vacuum sealed before being shipped from a wholesaler to a restaurant or commercial kitchen.

Product development

Product development, in terms of South Carolina food distributors and wholesalers, refers to an interactive process between the restaurant, commercial kitchen or supermarket and the wholesaler. This is most commonly found in bakeries where a client wishes to sell a certain kind of item. The wholesaler will then develop that product so it can be mass produced and sold back to the client.

I recommend: Goglanian Bakeries offers additional information on product development and how the process operates.

Suppliers

Suppliers refer to the actual farms that send meats, produce and dairy products to wholesalers. The wholesalers then create the dish, which is distributed to supermarkets and restaurants.

I recommend: Visit the website for the food giant Sysco for more information on how they operate with their suppliers.

Exporting

Exporting refers to the process of sending food to other countries, such as South America and the Caribbean. Because of South Carolina's proximity to the region, it is a popular exporter of wholesale food.

I recommend: Southeast Wholesale Foods has more information about exporting foods.

Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in South Carolina literally provide the ingredients needed for every food or beverage based business to thrive within the state. Therefore, the latest news associated with these companies and the overall market conditions is of extreme importance.

Take the time to learn where to locate the latest info on South Carolina food distributors so that you can apply industry trends and market news to your dealings with these companies. Here are a few resourceful links to point you in the right direction of finding South Carolina food and beverage distributor news.

1. Locate news by reading the official websites for food wholesalers in South Carolina.

2. Read the local newspapers that cover South Carolina food wholesalers.

3. Find associations with food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in South Carolina as card carrying members.

Action Steps
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Read the websites for food distributors in South Carolina to locate the latest news and trends

It is quite common for a food wholesaler in South Carolina to have a news section on their websites. It allows them to provide information to their customers in terms of market news, pricing, new products, new shipping methods and much more. Be sure to read the news section of the food and beverage distributors you deal with so that you get the most out of each transaction for your food based business.

I recommend: Visit the website for Harvest Foods and IFH Foodservice Distribution. Both companies own and operate distribution services within the state of South Carolina. They also both offer "news sections" on their websites.

Subscribe to local newspapers that cover South Carolina food distributors

When it comes to learning about South Carolina beverage distribution companies, or a particular food distributor in South Carolina, it is wise to read the local newspapers. Inside their business sections, they will periodically release news regarding the business of distributing food and beverages throughout the state. With virtually every food or beverage based business dependent on these companies, food distributors and wholesalers get a lot of coverage.

I recommend: Both The Sun News and the Daily Reflector are newspapers with large circulations throughout the state of South Carolina. Simply use their comprehensive search engines for the latest information for a food and beverage distributor in South Carolina.

Locate food & beverage distributors & wholesalers in South Carolina news and trends by associations

There are many associations within the state of South Carolina that count members of the food and beverage distributor and wholesale community as its members. These associations often have events, print press releases on their websites and even release newsletters periodically regarding the latest industry news. Join these associations or read their newsletters to stay on top of their latest trends.

I recommend: Visit the website for SC Hospitality.org for additional information on the latest news affecting the industry. Also visit the South Carolina Beer Wholesalers Association for the news regarding that industry.