Food and Beverage Distributors and Wholesalers in Virginia

Locate a food and beverage distributor in Virginia to stock your shelves
By Emmet McMahan Choosing the right food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Virginia is essential for convenience and grocery store owners. Buying food wholesale in Virginia is a highly competitive business with high customer expectations and complex factors that affect product replenishment.

Food distributors in Virginia must allow you to implement proper inventory management. This is especially important in maintaining profitability on low-margin items where knowledge of customer buying patterns is critical when choosing food distributors. Virginia food and beverage distribution can be further complicated by promotions, seasonal availability and the large differences between wholesale and resale purchase units.

When selecting one of the food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Virginia, choose one that will increase your bottom line by allowing you to do the following:

1. Maintain your stock levels to prevent lost sales by minimizing the impact of excessive shrinkage and expiration. Reliable delivery, therefore, is crucial for determining the optimum order quantity and re-order point.

2. Save on shipping costs through advance replenishment, order consolidation and optimized price breaks. This will help you plan promotions and other sales-related events.

3. Increase customer retention and service levels.

Buy food and beverage wholesale in Virginia from major distributors

Some food distributors in VA cover most of the country and usually cater to grocery store chains. However, they also may be able to deliver to regional franchises and independent stores.
Try:  Sysco is a leading supplier of food, preparation and serving items. A clickable map on Sysco's website displays its locations throughout the United States and Canada. Golden State Foods is one of the largest diversified food suppliers in the industry and primarily serves restaurants. Its website lists the city, state, address and phone number of each location.

Purchase food wholesale in Virginia from regional distributors

Regional wholesale food distributors in Virginia usually serve smaller businesses in second tier markets. They may also distribute gourmet and other specialty food items.
Try:  Southeast Wholesale Foods distributes a range of food items, non-foods and general merchandise to supermarkets throughout Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. Merchants Distributors is a wholesale grocery store distributor that supplies retail stores in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Select local independent Virginia beverage distributors

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.
Try:  Waynesboro-based Blue Ridge Beverage distributes a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in central Virginia. Hampton-based M. Price Distributing distributes Anheuser-Busch beverages in Virginia.

• Identify any particular buying habits of your customers. For example, if your store caters to a particular ethnic group, you will want to use Virginia food distributors that specialize in foods from that ethnic group. Many wholesalers also specialize in a particular type of food such as ice cream, cookies or chips.