Pricing and Costs of Wholesalers and Distributors of Fresh Fish

Fresh fish distributors offer your business quality seafood at competitive prices

Fish wholesalers export fish to thousands of restaurants, grocery chains and retail markets around the world. To keep up with the growing customer demand for fresh fish, businesses count on fish distributors to provide high quality fish at competitive prices.

The fish wholesaler market is highly fragmented with hundreds of firms operating as brokers, wholesalers and distributors. So how does your business know which fish companies offer the best products for the best prices? When looking for fish and seafood wholesalers, consider these tips for competitive pricing and costs of wholesalers and distributors of fresh fish:

1. What are the differences in wholesale and retail prices for fresh fish wholesalers? How much can your business save as a fish wholesale customer?

2. What fresh fish are seasonally available through seafood distributors at lower prices?

3. How much should your business plan to pay for fish distributor shipping costs?

 

Purchase from fish companies that offer wholesale pricing

Not all fresh fish distributors are fish wholesalers. Select seafood wholesalers who offer wholesale prices, rather than retail prices. Most seafood distributors set up special customer accounts for their wholesale clients; taking the time to register to as a wholesale customer will add up to a substantial savings in fresh fish purchases.
Try: MaineLobsterWholesale.com sells Maine salmon at wholesale prices for around $5 per pound. Suisan Company offers wholesale fresh fish to restaurants, supermarkets and hotels at competitive market prices, which change daily.

Buy from fresh fish distributors with seasonal availability

For the best prices and freshest purchases, buy from fish companies who offer products based on seasonal availability. Not only will seasonally available fish taste fresher, they will cost less because they are widely available for purchase.
Try: Get fresh catfish fillets for around $60 for a 15-pound case at ALSeafood.com. Buy Spanish mackerel in the spring or fall for reduced prices at Raffield Fisheries.

Calculate shipping costs before purchasing from wholesale fish distributors

Seafood wholesalers may offer great discounts, but most require a minimum purchase (usually around 20 pounds) in order to be eligible for wholesale pricing. So while you may save in fish costs, you will pay a hefty price in overnight shipping to keep your fish fresh. Before finalizing a purchase with a freshwater or saltwater fish distributor, ask about shipping discounts for bulk orders.
Try: Calculate shipping costs and get your shipping questions answered at Walleye Direct. When your business purchases fresh fish through FreshSeafood.com, expect to pay minimum shipping fees around $45 for the first 10 pounds and about $3 for each additional pound.

 

• Before purchasing fresh fish from a fish wholesaler, make sure the company is in compliance with local, state and federal food requirements and standards. All fish distributor companies are regulated by city or state health departments. Additionally, all distributors of fresh and frozen seafood in the United States must comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).

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