International Food and Beverage Distributors and Wholesalers Key Terms

Some key terms you will come across with international food and beverage distributors and wholesalers

Key terms for international distributors and wholesalers of international foods and beverages abound because there are so many aspects from marketing to transportation to health and safety. The NASFT is a great resource on all aspects of the business of international distribution. Other terms here are designed to keep you aware of the governmental regulations surrounding the distribution of international foods and the health and safety to the public.

 

NASFT

NASFT refers to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade. The association is one of the most important food trade associations. It works with domestic and international wholesalers and distributors from around the world to encourage business growth and to foster grade.
Try: The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) offers newsletters, magazines, product searches and loads of information and resources for and about food and beverage distributors and wholesalers.

Quality assurance companies

Quality assurance companies are outside agencies that test the quality of the food--important when the food and beverages were not manufactured in the US. Quality assurance companies act as a control to guarantee the quality and safety of food products.
Try: Quality Assurance International is certified by the USDA to conduct quality tests on products from companies outside the US. Its website describes what this company and others like it do to insure quality of products.

International Food Information Council Foundation

This is a non-profit that concerns itself with international food safety. Distributors and wholesalers might want more "relaxed" conditions, while this organization is coming from a non-business perspective.
Try: International Food Information Council Foundation is but one major association within the international food and beverage distributors and wholesalers community. It concentrates on issues of food safety.

Supply chain

Supply chain refers to the moving a product from point A to point B. Consider olive oil from Italy--start with growing olives, bringing olives to the olive press, taking the oil to be bottled and so on and that's all before the olive oil has even left Italy. Distributors concern themselves with transporting their products and warehousing them.
Try: The definition of supply chain in business is supplied by BNet. Wondering why the products you want are more expensive? It is due partially to the increase in transport for the supply chain. This article at Supply Chain Management Review explains supply chain requirements as well as providing perspective on higher prices.

Recall management

Recall management is the process through which distributors handle recalls of products. Products can be recalled for any number of reasons. Problems like salmonella, for example, need to be contained without harm to anyone. Also, in recent years, bio-terrorism has been added as a reason food would need to be recalled.
Try: The International Food Distributors organization discusses recall management about three-quarters down the page. For more details about recalling food products, visit the Ohio State University website.

USDA food safety and inspection service and compliance

International food and beverage distributors and wholesalers must be inspected by the USDA. It is a big part of bringing their items to market.
Try: The USDA fact sheet describes its role in food recalls. Compliance Assistance and guidelines are published by the USDA.

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