You will need to stock your grocery store or restaurant by using foodservice distributors and wholesalers in Florida. Local suppliers can make it easier to implement proper inventory management since they can make deliveries faster. This is especially important when trying to make a profit on low-margin or perishable items.

Choosing the right Florida food service distributors is especially important for convenience and grocery store owners. These businesses are highly competitive and the best choice can also change rapidly due to dynamic factors like promotions and seasonal availability.

Use food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Florida to do the following for your business:

1. Retain your customers by maintaining the service level they have come to expect of you.

2. Plan promotions and save money by taking advantage of advance replenishment, price breaks and order consolidation.

3. Maintain your stock levels by minimizing excessive food shrinkage and expiration. Florida food distributors can provide reliable food delivery to prevent lost sales and the right distributor can help you determine the best re-order point and order quantity.

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

Buy food from major foodservice distributors in Florida

Many wholesalers have locations in many different states that deliver primarily to major grocery store chains. However, they may also serve smaller franchises and independent stores.

I recommend: FoodService Resource Associates provides extensive resources for the foodservice operator that are specific to Florida. Gordon Food Service serves southern Florida and provides access to a number of resources including a Customer Reference Library to help you market your business.

Purchase food from regional food service distributors in Florida

These companies frequently serve smaller businesses in second-tier markets. Many regional suppliers also specialize in gourmet and other specialty food items.

I recommend: Cheney Brothers has two main locations in Florida and provides links to a variety of resources including foodservice organizations. Roma specializes in Italian foods and has links to restaurant news and organizations.

Place orders with a local Florida food distributor

You may be able to get more personalized service with smaller Florida foodservice distributors. These distributors are frequently able to serve smaller grocery stores and convenience stores.

I recommend: M&S Foods has two locations in Florida and offers links to the network of vendors that it does business with. C&W Foodservice has a location in Tallahassee and provides extensive resources including related websites, local information and recipes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider investing in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) if you have a small business that needs fresh produce. Many Florida food service companies have their own farms which they sell memberships in. Members come to the farm each week to pick up their share of the harvest. The produce in these food shares can be highly seasonal so be sure to research the likely crops in advance.

Foodservice distributors in Florida offer all the products you need to run the perfect restaurant. However, it isn't always one-stop shopping. While some food service companies in Florida may offer all products imaginable under the sun, that doesn't mean you ought to get them all from one place. Certain restaurants have special needs that massive all-in-one companies just can't provide.

Florida foodservice companies present you with many options. Of course, having a vendor list that runs 4 pages long isn't practical, so be selective but prudent. Don't give yourself too much work when ordering product. It's best to keep these 3 things in mind:

1. Find a Florida food distributors with a large selection of products and a manageable ordering system.

2. Acquire your produce daily to ensure top quality fruits and vegetables from your Florida food service distributors.

3. Select a seafood vendor that you can trust.

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

Build a long-term relationship with Florida food service companies

If you own a restaurant, it's of prime importance to find and trust the people who deliver the product to your kitchen. Since you'll be in contact with your Florida food service distributors from 2 to 5 days a week, it's vital that you trust them and that they're able to meet your needs. Find a Florida food distributor that carries the products that bring your customers back for more.

I recommend: For the most bang for your buck, U.S. Foodservice and Sysco are nationwide distributors with comparably large inventories. Most importantly, their online ordering systems are customizable to your specific location, with time-saving printable inventories and helpful product descriptions. They are a perfect outlet for dry goods, frozen foods, paper and cleaning supplies. Florida Food Service is also good choice when looking for food service distributors in Florida.

Pick the right food distributor in Florida to grow with

Due to its short shelf life and labor-intensive handling needs, produce should have its own Florida food distributor. While the 'big-box' distributors deliver only once or twice a week, most restaurants require fresh produce on a daily basis. It's imperative to find someone local that offers consistent quality in fruits and vegetables. Make sure you don't just shop prices; when it comes to produce and seafood, sometimes it's worth spending a little bit more.

I recommend: Buying produce from your local food distributors in Florida isn't easy. This article on Business Network offers some helpful tips on selecting quality fruits and vegetables. Try Freedom Fresh if you're near Miami.

Bring Florida foodservice from ocean to kitchen

Seafood, like produce, is important to get from a specific source. The difference in quality between fresh and frozen seafood is striking. Foodservice distributors in Florida that specialize in seafood will often offer product that is only hours off the boat. Finding a seafood vendor is extremely important. The Florida foodservice industry relies heavily on getting freshness and quality for their restaurant kitchens.

I recommend: Seafood is the one area where you don't want to just call and leave your order on an answering machine. Once you have a food distributor in Florida whom you can trust to provide seafood excellence, talk directly to him when you order. Find out what's fresh and never buy cheap. Water Street Seafood and FL-Seafood.com are great places to find a Florida seafood distributor.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The large food distributors in Florida, like Sysco and U.S. Foods, carry a large selection of baked goods, breads, and pastries. But if sandwiches are important to your restaurant, find yourself a good bread guy. Fresh loaves daily, custom baked to your needs, beat frozen sliced white bread any day of the week.

You can maximize your profits by making the most of foodservice distributors and wholesalers in Florida. These companies may distribute food at wholesale prices to delis, caterers, grocery stores and restaurants.

Florida food distributors can 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 Florida food service 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. Use food distributors in Florida 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 in 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 a Florida food distributor

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

I recommend: Organic Produce Buying Club of Florida is based in Miami and specializes in certified organic produce. Royal Buying Group in Lisle publishes a newsletter and issues regular press releases to help you keep up with current events for this buying group.

Use a broker to purchase from food service distributors in Florida

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: Seidman Hudon Food Brokerage in Coral Springs provides an extensive list of principals that they have an established relationship with. Windsor Foods allows you to search for brokers by state and also has links to resources related to food service.

Place orders with local Florida food service companies

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: Weyand Food has three locations in Florida and provides various produce reports to assist you with your food buying decisions. Florida Food Products in Eustis has detailed product lists for fruits and vegetables.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy perishable foods from local foodservice distributors in Florida. 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.