Food and Beverage Distributors and Wholesalers in Wisconsin Key Terms

Learn the terms associated with food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Wisconsin

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.

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

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