Employees who undergo food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Utah 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 perform food distribution in Utah 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 Utah 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. Utah 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 sell wholesale food in Utah

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: Salt Lake Community College offers Utah's only culinary arts program that is by the American Culinary Federation. The Culinary Arts program at Davis Applied Technology College provides the student the basic skills and knowledge needed to enter the food service industry.

Learn the food safety regulations that food manufacturers in Utah must follow

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

I recommend: The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food provides the complete rules regarding food safety training in Utah. State Food Safety provides region-specific information for food handler's permits in Utah.

Learn through trade organizations for a food distributor in Utah

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 Utah Restaurant Association provides a variety of educational and training opportunities for its members, including classes, meetings and regular newsletters. The Utah Beef Council provides food safety educational resources for the beef industry in Utah.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Students with mentors are more likely to pursue a long term career in Utah beverage distribution. 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.

Food service managers need a lot of consideration for getting supplies from beverage and food distributors in Utah. If you’re in the state of Utah, 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 beverages, 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:

1. For accurate re-inventory for a kitchen that goes through a lot of food on a weekly or monthly basis, where ordering from food suppliers in Utah can be a very efficient solution.

2. To get what you need for a last-minute catering job or a large-scale event that is rare for your business.

3. For getting the table goods and opening volumes for a new business, establishing relationships with suppliers of wholesale food in Utah.

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

Find Utah beverage distributors to complement orders from food suppliers in Utah

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 stores to get your needs met for beverage serving.

I recommend: Archer Distributing in Wellington serves customers deals on both domestic and imported beers. Bottleneck Wines and Spirits, a Utah beverage distribution company, teams up with renowned wine makers to deliver results to business clients in the region.

Get wholesale food in Utah from in-state distributors

When it comes to wholesale foods, you have a lot of options. Look for wholesale food distributors in Utah with good bulk prices or convenient services you can rely on for day to day operation of your restaurant, café or other food service venue, whether you're buying meat, produce, condiments or any other necessity.

I recommend: Vegetable Express, LLC sells fresh-cut produce through a selection of wholesale distributors to outfit restaurants with what they need to serve customers. For meats or other purchases, try Sniders Family Meats in Ogden.

Locate great specialty foods with local shops offering food distribution in Utah

For other kinds of purchases, you may want to take advantage of the specialty foods the state of Utah is famous for. Try buying from shops that specialize in local western products to get an authentic Utah style cuisine into your shop.

I recommend: You can order salsas and sauces at Wild Coyote Foods, a Utah food distribution company offering local flavors to shops and customers across the state. Valley Game & Gourmet is a Utah food distributor that works with local farms to deliver great meat and other products for food service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always keep your kitchen staff in mind. The cooks are the ones who know how much of everything you need; consult before buying from food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Utah.