Supplies for Meat and Poultry Distributors and Wholesalers

Help meat and poultry distributors and wholesalers find the equipment they need
By Heidi Crossman New to the industry or well-seasoned, exploring supplies for meat and poultry distributors and wholesalers aids in a meat distributor's success. Obvious supplies include the meat cutting tools needed to process your meat. Knives, slicers, grinding machines and conveyor systems quickly come to mind.

With those supplies, a meat supplier can cut and process meat. But to get the meat to the retailer, the meat distributor cannot stop there. What happens with the meat after it is cut? To obtain supplies for the second half of the business, consider these questions and suggestions.

1. Who are the meat wholesaler's customers and how will their orders be tracked?

2. How will the meat from the wholesale meat distributor be contained and presented to the customer?

3. What information needs to be on the meat sent from the meat supplier?

Get software specifically for wholesale meat suppliers

Having software to aid in running a meat distribution center is often overlooked but it is an important part of running your business successfully. Imagine easily tracking costs, customers, cut records and instructions and more with one simple solution.
Try:  Meat Handler Company can set meat distributors up with a complete software system. They offer on-site setup and training of the software which can include assistance in gathering business specific information and inputting it into the program for you. For a distributor that does not need such a comprehensive software solution, Edible Software has an option specifically for inventory and accounting needs.

Find packaging supplies made for wholesale meat distributors

Smart meat suppliers know that attractive packaging is an asset when it comes to higher meat sales. Equally as important is food safety in the chosen package. Supplies can include pouches, bags, trays, liners, films or a custom solution for your product. With so many choices in packaging in both the meat and poultry markets, the meat supplier plays an active role in the success of the retailer and the happiness of the consumer.
Try:  With a focus on safety and efficiency, Sealed Air provides custom packaging solutions for any meat supplier. Choose your specific product and you are presented with available packaging selections. For a glossary of packaging options in addition to those listed above, visit the Food Safety and Inspection Service's page on meat packaging materials.

Choose between many labeling supplies for meat distributors

Meat wholesalers and poultry wholesalers who package meat not only need to have appropriate supplies on hand for the proper labeling, but they also need to have all the components brought together to put on the label: a label of inspection, the meat distributor's name and address, item weight, any needed warning statements and an ingredient list if there are two or more ingredients. If a product is organic, you must become certified and place a seal on the packaging.
Try:  The Agricultural Marketing Service aids in governing the labeling standards for organic meat and poultry. From them, you can find certifying agents, a list of substances prohibited in production and labeling and seal information. For innovative labeling of your meat, see Food Quality Sensor International. They offer a label that changes color to reveal the freshness of the meat by evaluating bacteria that causes food spoilage based on time and temperature. Traditional label supplies can be purchased from Color Label.

• Consider becoming a member of the American Association of Meat Processors. They offer advice and up to date information on meat processing equipment. Another benefit for members is workshops that talk about new products and technology for beef distributors and chicken distributors.