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

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

Make the most of a Washington, DC food distributor 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 DC food distributors 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 food wholesalers in Washington, DC

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

I recommend: Babes in the Wood has its own buying club and provides several informational links on pastured pork. The National Cooperative Business Association in Washington, DC. hosts a variety of information on cooperative food including a journal and news releases.

Purchase from food distributors in Washington, DC 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 Foodservice Group covers the Washington, DC market and also provides a calendar of events in the foodservice industry. Charles E. Blumer Co. is a food broker that uses RLB Food Distributors to serve the Washington, DC market.

Place orders with local beer distributors in Washington, DC

Water, soda, beer and wine may be offered by beverage distributors. DC wholesalers may not carry beverages.

I recommend: NKS Beverage Group serves the Washington, DC market and also provides a company newsletter and calendar of events. Reyes Beverage Group serves Washington, DC and publishes press releases and other information about the company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy perishable foods from a local food distributor. Washington, DC food distributors 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. DC food wholesalers frequently specialize in a particular type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.

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

DC 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 and beverage distributors. DC 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 in Washington, DC, 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 a major Washington, DC food distributor

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: 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. 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 from regional DC food wholesalers

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

I recommend: Prima Foods is a full service wholesale food distributor for grocery stores and restaurants in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC and Virginia. DPI Mid-Atlantic is a full-service specialty food distributor for Maryland, Washington, DC, eastern Virginia and southern Pennsylvania.

Select a local independent beverage distributor in Washington, DC

Grocery stores can receive more personalized service from local beer distributors. Washington, DC distributors can therefore create a business relationship not found with larger distributors.

I recommend: DC-based Hop & Wine Beverage supplies beer and wine to Virginia and Washington, DC. Capital Eagle is a wholesaler for Anheuser-Busch beers.

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 in Washington, D.C. 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.
• •  Get frequent price checks from food wholesalers in Washington, DC. 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.

Restaurant owners in the DC area should have a working knowledge of DC food distributors so that they can easily access the goods they need in order to prepare meals for their customers. You need to learn how to work with these companies if you're new to the food service business.

When it comes to working with food and beverage distributors in Washington, DC, it's much easier if you have at least a basic level of knowledge about the industry. To start with, you should take the following actions:

1. Look at some local food distributors and what they have to offer.

2. Check out beverage distributors, Washington DC area.

3. Learn how to talk to your distributors in a professional way.

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

Look at food distributors in Washington, DC

Before working with DC food wholesalers, you first need to, of course, find them. The Web is the perfect resource for this.

I recommend: If you insist on a Washington, DC food distributor, one to consider is WG Food Distributors. It doesn't have a website, but its contact information is available through Allbritton Communications. If you're willing to venture out about 20 miles, check out Prima Foods. It is a distributor based in nearby Baltimore that sells a broad range of products, including meats, produce and international foods. U.S. Foods also serves the DC area and has an online ordering system.

Find out more about beer distributors, Washington DC

When you're looking for beverage distributors, DC will not disappoint. They are super easy to find within the district's borders. These distributors can provide your restaurant with alcoholic drinks and sodas.

I recommend: Washington Wholesale can provide beer, wine and spirits to you at affordable prices. ACE Beverage sells everything from fancy wines to gallons of orange juice. It's great for stocking a bar, a quick service restaurant and anything in between.

Learn how to talk to your food suppliers, Washington DC, in a professional way

The biggest part of working with food and beverage distributors in Washington, D.C. is knowing how to come across to them in a professional manner. This will increase your chances of getting exactly what you want and at a good price. You want to be perceived as knowledgeable about the product.

I recommend: A good place to start is with Performance Food Group's customer contact form. It's an easy way to get your foot in the door with a food distributor. When you hear back from the distributor, you will learn exactly how preliminary discussions should go with these companies. For help working with beer distributors, read the National Beer Wholesalers Association's list of key terms. They will help you ask for exactly the right beverages and understand what the distributor's representative is talking about when describing the product catalog.