Employees who undergo food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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. Food distributors in Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin 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.
   

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Take business courses needed to work for a WI food distributor

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 Blackhawk Technical College offers a program in culinary arts that is accredited by the American Culinary Federation. The culinary arts program at Madison Area Technical College is designed for students seeking a mid-management position in the food service industry.

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

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

I recommend: Tavern Eagle of Wisconsin offers a Professional Food Manager's Certification Course that is approved in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Health Services provides extensive information on the food safety requirements in Wisconsin.

Learn through trade organizations for a food distributor in WI

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 Wisconsin Restaurant Association provides networking opportunities and educational resources for its members. Madison Originals is a non-profit organization of restaurants that provides marketing programs and special events for its members.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Students with mentors are more likely to pursue a long term career with a WI food wholesaler. 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.

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

Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, 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.

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Buy food and beverage from major Wisconsin food wholesalers

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 from a regional food wholesaler in WI

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

I recommend: S. Abraham & Sons is a wholesale distributor of grocery and other consumer items to retailers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Fox River Foods is a broadline distributor that serves groceries to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Select a local independent Wisconsin beverage distribution company

Local Wisconsin beverage distribution companies 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: Milwaukee-based Beloit Beverage Group primarily distributes domestic beers to southern Wisconsin. Appleton-based Wisconsin Distributors Appleton is an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler for the Fox Valley.

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 a food distributor in WI that specializes 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 Wisconsin. 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.

Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Wisconsin transport food from their distribution centers and warehouses to supermarkets and commercial kitchens all across the state. Through their distribution systems, they keep the shelves and refrigerators fully stocked.

Take some time to learn a few of the key terms associated with food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Wisconsin so that you can understand operations and negotiate the best deal for your company. Here are some of those terms along with some helpful resources to help get you started.

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Space management

Space management refers to a service commonly provided by the distributor where they will help the client properly stock the shelves of their store according to marketing and sales reports. This is meant to maximize profits for the store and maximize sales for the distributor as well.

I recommend: Visit the website for S. Abraham and Sons for further information on space management. S Abraham and Sons distributes to the state of Wisconsin and has a satellite office in Milwaukee.

Suppliers

Suppliers refer to the companies that send their product to the distributors and wholesalers. So a Wisconsin based beer distributor may receive beer from 20 different brands. Those 20 different brands are the suppliers. The beer is then sent along to commercial kitchens, bars and supermarkets for sale.

I recommend: Go to the website for Beloit Beverage Group for more information on suppliers and listed examples.

Market reports

Market reports are published weekly by the American Restaurant Association and detail everything from price fluctuations to consumption trends. Food distributors work with their clients utilizing the information in these market reports to form the menu and maximize profits.

I recommend: Visit the website for Sysco for more information and examples of market reports. Sysco has two locations in Wisconsin.

Food service

Food service is a form of food distribution by small wholesalers. Food service deliveries are usually tailored toward the type of business. For instance, the shipment to a restaurant kitchen will be different than that to a convenient store. Smaller wholesalers such as dairy farms commonly use food service.

I recommend: Visit the website for Organic Valley for an explanation of the various food service options it offers their customers.

Product recalls

Product recalls occur when a manufacturer of food or beverages discovers there has been some form of contamination that puts consumers at risk. Food distributors and wholesalers often list product recalls on their websites so that they can alert their customers, and in turn, their business customers can alert the public in the supermarket or restaurant.

I recommend: Go to the website for US Food Service for more information and an example for how product recalls are listed. US Food Service has a location in Wisconsin.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance is a set of standards that ranges from food safety to taste and flavor. Many food and beverage distributors and wholesalers will outline their quality assurance program on their respective websites to alert the client of the standards and practices they follow to ensure a safe, fresh tasting product.

I recommend: Check out the website for Reinhart Food Service for additional information on quality assurance and what the process entails. Reinhart Food Service has a location in Wisconsin.

Food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Wisconsin pricing and costs are greatly affected by the number of companies or "middlemen" between the grower and the consumer. Retailers must consider the buying patterns of their customers in order to determine their optimum replenishment point, especially on items with a low profit margin. Prices on fresh produce also can vary greatly since these items may only be available at certain times of the year. Retailers can frequently negotiate a discount with a distributor who has a surplus of a perishable food product.

The cost of food distributors in Wisconsin primarily depends on the specific type of food or beverages being sold. The following are three general types of food and beverage distributors:

1. Food wholesalers in Wisconsin of perishable products. These products frequently need to be refrigerated and are generally more expensive to transport than other types of food.
2. A food wholesaler in WI for ethnic foods. These distributors may focus on a particular type of food such as Mexican, Italian or Asian food to achieve competitive pricing.
3. Beverage distributors. This commonly refers to alcoholic beverages and soda, but it also may include coffee, tea and bottled water.
   

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Get prices on Wisconsin food distributors that sell meat, seafood and dairy products

These wholesalers must carefully consider the perishable nature of their products in order to minimize the cost to their customers. It is especially important to buy perishable foods from a local supplier, as these foods are greatly influenced by the distance they are transported.

I recommend: Wisconsin River Meats purchases meat directly from the farm and provides a current price list of its products. JMG Wholesale Meat is located in Milwaukee and provides a list of its current specials.

Find pricing on Wisconsin food wholesalers for ethnic foods

Many food distributors specialize in food from a particular part of the world. Employees of these companies typically have specific expertise with these types of foods and personal relationships with the manufacturers.

I recommend: Gourmet Foodstore is a distributor that offers a variety of ethnic foods at wholesale prices to Wisconsin retailers. Shaw Specialty Foods in Milwaukee specializes in selling gourmet food from around the world and also lists current discounts for wholesalers.

Obtain prices for Wisconsin beverage distribution companies

Large brewers typically sell through a Wisconsin beer distributor, although smaller 'micro brewers' may market directly to the consumer. Beverage distributors frequently provide marketing services for the brands they sell.

I recommend: Great Dane Pub is a brew pub that actively solicits wholesalers and also sells beer and related products to the general public. New Glarus Brewery distributes to retailers and charges a set price for admission to the tasting room.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A Wisconsin beverage distribution company is subject to many more laws and regulations than distributors of other common goods. Alcohol is the subject of two constitutional amendments and the laws on the distribution of alcohol can vary widely between states, or even counties within the same state. A beer wholesaler is often prohibited from distributing to 'dry' counties that would otherwise be within that company's distribution area.