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

Texas 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 TX 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. Fill your customers' special food needs by using ethnic food distributors. Food distributors in Texas frequently 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 food from a Texas food distributor

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

I recommend: Earth and Green Living has an organic buying club in Dallas-Fort Worth and provides additional information on cooperative buying. The Organic Consumer’s Association provides a list agriculture and buying clubs in Texas.

Purchase from Texas 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: Windsor Foods is based in Houston and offers shipping specifications and nutritional specifications on all of its products. Sell Gourmet is located in Tomball and publishes a blog with information about food brokerage industry.

Place orders with local beverage distributors in Texas

Texas beverage distributors primarily sell water, soda, beer and sometimes wine. These beverages may not be available from a regular food distributor or wholesaler.

I recommend: Great Western Distributing Company is located in Amarillo and provides an overview of the beverage distributors Texas industry. Glazers is based in Dallas and provides information on the three tier system of beverage distribution.

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 distributors in Texas 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.
• •  Buy perishable foods from local food distributors in Texas. 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.

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

Texas food distributors 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. Texas 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 Texas, 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 distributors in Texas

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: Golden State Foods is one of the largest diversified food suppliers in the industry and primarily serves restaurants. It lists the city, state, address and phone number of each location. 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.

Purchase food wholesale from regional TX food distributors

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

I recommend: H&R Foods distributes food, primarily beef, to supermarkets in a 220 mile radius around Amarillo. Labatt Foods Service distributes food and related products to restaurants and grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Select local independent Texas beverage distributors

Local distributors can provide more personalized service to smaller convenience and grocery store owners. This additional time and attention can create a business relationship not found with larger distributors.

I recommend: Austin-based Brown Distributing is one of the leading Anheuser-Busch beer distributors in Texas. Houston-based Mexcor Distributors is a distributor of beer and spirits from around the world.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get frequent price checks from a Texas food distributor. 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.

Employees who undergo food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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. Texas 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 TX food distributors

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: South Texas College offers a Culinary Arts Program as a Certificate and Associate of Applied Science program. North Lake College in Irving offers several business courses in foodservice.

Become a food distributor in Texas who is an accredited Food Service Manager (CFM)

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

I recommend: Texas AgriLife Extension Service is approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide courses that prepare students for the CFM exam. The Fort Worth Independent School District offers adult education classes in food management and is a licensed test site for the CFM program.

Learn through trade organizations for food and beverage distributors in Texas

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 Texas Restaurant Association offers a variety of academic programs in foodservice and also has resources for new members. The Greater Houston Restaurant Association sponsors regular seminars and lectures on foodservice topics.

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 Texas 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.