As any food service distributor knows, the food industry never stands still. What's hot on menus today could be stone cold tomorrow, so, as an industry supplier, you need to stay on top of news, trends, and everything else in the foodservice industry if you want to keep your stock rotating and your customers happy.

How do you keep up with the major distributors and wholesalers to foodservice? React to industry news and trends quickly, keep on the lookout for price increases and new ingredients, and keep your customers informed about the news you uncover. Think about:

1. Reading the latest in foodservice distributors news at industry sites.

2. Turning to food service supply pros for innovative food ideas and trends.

3. Watching foodservice wholesalers industry trends at financial and industry sites to find new ingredients and ideas.

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

Ferret out wholesale foodservice news and blogs for the latest industry tips

Foodservice distributors and wholesalers keep lots of stock on hand, and to keep that stock moving, you need to know the latest news in the food service and restaurant wholesale industries. Look for news sites that offer breaking news, new trends, and insider information to make informed decisions about what to stock and what to drop from your inventory.

I recommend: Hoover's offers a news feed with up-to-the-minute news from all around the food distributor and foodservice industry. Food Business Review offers national and international food business news, and you can search analyses of specific food groups, too.

Create new food items and innovations by finding wholesale foodservice pros who know their stuff

You need to turn to wholesale foodservice innovators if you want to bring new products and ideas to your customers. New food sources and innovations are happening all the time, and to stay on top of them, check news feeds, blogs, and industry innovators to keep ahead of the game and your competitors.

I recommend: The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade offers a comprehensive feed of new, innovative food products they showcase at the Fancy Food Show each year. The American Wholesale Marketers Association offers industry news and trends at their website. The Food Institute offers daily news sent directly to your email address.

Watch wholesalers foodservice websites for industry prices, trends, and financial information

To make the most of your food service supply distributorship, you need to know just where the industry stands at any given time. Look for industry trends and financial information from a variety of sources to make sound financially decisions about what food service wholesalers to trust, and what food distribution companies to avoid.

I recommend: GlobalSpec offers a detailed group of new product announcements where you can find new ingredients and machinery to help make your restaurant wholesale business more profitable. US Foodservice offers updated weekly pricing trends on a variety of food distribution products. Yahoo! Finance offers complete financial information on the top food service distributors in the nation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Distributors and wholesalers to foodservice news and trends can make or break your business, especially when tough financial times hit. There is more to wholesale foodservice distribution than just moving product quickly. You need to serve your customers with the best quality food products that help them keep their profitability while bringing in new customers.
• •  Customers will turn to you for ideas, new products and recipes to develop their menus, so keep a staff of cooks, nutritionists, and recipe developers on hand to help you develop new business and keep your company ahead of all the other food distributors out there.

Dealing with distributors and wholesalers to food service can be difficult. It's not hard to find foodservice distributors and wholesalers because they are everywhere. The issue is identifying foodservice distributors and foodservice wholesalers you can count on to deliver the best quality produce at the lowest price. And, you must constantly re-evaluate your choice of foodservice distributors and wholesalers based on the changing market.

It is tempting to stick with one food distributor and just order what is available, but if you do this, you will pay the price. Your food distributor will suddenly offer you prices that are less competitive. Also, your customers may notice a drop in quality, which could be devastating in a competitive market such as food service.

Keep these things in mind when buying fresh produce for a restaurant :

1. How far did the produce have to travel from the field to the foodservice distributor to your restaurant?
2. Are the foodservice wholesalers knowledgeable about this particular product?
3. How reliable has the restaurant distributor been in the past?

Action Steps
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Get the skinny on foodservice distributors

There are so many distributors and wholesalers to foodservice, it is hard to know where to start. Every industry has a standard, and wholesale food is no exception. You can rely on information from those who set the standard for the industry.

I recommend: The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) is the authority on restaurant wholesale. Take the time to contact the IFDA to get some information about any restaurant distributors you consider dealing with.

Keep an eye on the wholesale foodservice industry

When foodservice distributors and foodservice wholesalers buy perishable products, they take a gamble on how much they can sell before the produce expires. It's important to know what's happening in the foodservice distribution industry. When you understand and follow the trends in this business, you'll make smarter buying choices.

I recommend: Foodservice Distribution Online Magazine is a source of news in the industry and corporate profile information on various food service supply companies.

Monitor the commodity market

When it comes to fresh meat and produce, the market changes with the seasons. Restaurant wholesale is based on that fluctuating market. Supply, demand, weather and natural disasters can all have an effect on the price of food.

I recommend: Check the weekly market reports on Foodservice.com to keep up with current price trends.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When your produce arrives, take notes on its quality and freshness, and record which foodservice distributor it came from. Since the market in fresh produce changes daily, use those notes for the next day's order. Don't sacrifice quality to be a loyal customer because the benefits will never outweigh the price.
• •  Learn to negotiate with your restaurant distributors. Food distribution is extremely competitive. The longer the distributor has to hold fresh produce, the less it's worth. When you deal with restaurant distributors, remember they are holding the 'hot potato.'

If you own a small restaurant, café, bar, or other food and beverage service, full-scale menu planning and recipe development may be beyond your reach. However, working with your local distributors and wholesalers to foodservice establishments like yours may be the solution to your menu planning and development dilemmas.

Planning or changing your restaurant's menu can be tricky, but keeping an updated menu is key for keeping customers happy and coming back for more--and restaurant distributors can help you achieve that. For a sparkling new menu, you can:

1. Discuss your menu options with food distribution sales reps.
2. Turn to specialty food service wholesalers to add a new dimension to your menu.
3. Work with established food distribution services to ensure the highest quality and customer satisfaction.
   

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

Plan your menu with food distributors' knowledge and expertise

Many foodservice wholesalers offer complete lines of prepared food and beverages that you can highlight in your restaurant. In fact, they have sales reps and planners on hand to help you develop a menu around their products and services. This makes it easier for you to change or expand your menu, and it helps keep costs down, too.

I recommend: Sysco offers a variety of food and beverage options across the country. Become a member to talk to a sales rep about menu planning and development. Shamrock Foods offers a wide variety of recipes using their many restaurant wholesale products to help you develop the perfect food items for your menu.

Uncover specialty food service wholesalers to kick up your menu and give it pizzazz

You can look nationally for a food distributor, but some local and regional companies offer specialty foods that will perk up your customers' taste buds. Some national suppliers also offer their own unique mini-brands that help you put together interesting menu combinations that will enhance the items you already highlight in your operation.

I recommend: Specialty Foods offers fresh vegetables, herbs, and some prepared meals for your establishment. Bob Evans Foodservice offers a full line of their favorite restaurant products to restaurants around the country.

Seek out well known and established foodservice distributors and wholesalers in your area

Dealing with a large and established wholesale foodservice operation ensures you'll get high quality foods you're proud to serve in your restaurant. They usually have more distribution centers, which means you'll get your food quicker and it will be fresher, too, and they offer credit terms that can be easier on your bottom line. Look for a food service supply house that carries more of what you need, like paper products and kitchen equipment, too, so you can shop centrally and save even more.

I recommend: US Foodservice is one of the largest restaurant distributors in the nation. They offer a variety of their own brands, and a quick and easy locator to find the distribution center closest to you. Performance Food Group offers locations throughout the East and South representing several well known food brands.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you develop your menu, remember that you don't have to rely totally on your local food service distributor. Look around for small, local food producers who may sell wholesale in your area. Use fresh foods from your local wholesaler to develop your own unique recipes, and use your distributors' sales and marketing experts to be sure you're making the most of distributors and wholesalers to foodservice.

The wholesale food distribution industry annual sales is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Distributors and wholesalers to foodservice are the cornerstone of the industry, because they safely bring food from the thousands of food producers around the country to the millions of people who eat it. Distributors and wholesalers are concerned with transportation, food storage, quality control, branding and other factors that play a major part in the foodservice industry.

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

Quality assurance companies

Quality assurance companies are outside agencies that test the quality of the food, including while it is in storage. Quality assurance companies act as a control to guarantee the quality and safety of food products.

I recommend: The Maryland Department of Agriculture describes its Food Quality Assurance Program. SQF is a quality assurance company for distributors and wholesalers in food service.

Branding

A brand identifies a product or service by means of a logo, visual or slogan. It is a key marketing concept that is important to distributors and wholesalers in foodservice. Food marketing, or food branding, is important to distributors and wholesalers.

I recommend: BrandSolutions keeps a food branding blog where you can get the latest news in the industry.

Shelf life

The shelf life of food is a very important component in foodservice for wholesalers and distributors. Stability and shelf life are scientifically analyzed to determine how long foods can last without losing any quality.

I recommend: Kemin Industries provides shelf life stability expertise to major organizations.

International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA)

Trade associations are important because they represent industries in government, and help companies to work together for the benefit of their common interests.

I recommend: International Food Distributors Association is an example of a trade association for distributors. Note it provides information on government regulations, research and educational events.

Food and Drug Administration, or FDA

This is the regulatory agency that makes and enforces the rules for distributors and wholesalers to the foodservice industry.

I recommend: The FDA is accountable to U.S. citizens for promoting laws and regulations concerning the handling of food. Distributors and wholesalers to the foodservice industry recognize its authority and comply with its regulations.

Master distribution agreement

A master distribution agreement is a contract between a food producer and distributor, whereby the distributor agrees to transport a full line of the producer's food products to participating customers.

I recommend: Foodservice Distribution Online Magazine has a guide to master distribution agreement distributors.