Specialty and Gourmet Food Distributors

Use specialty and gourmet food distributors to enhance your product offerings
By Angela King, Freelance Writer Specialty food distributors offer unique niche products that can attract customers to your business. Gourmet and specialty food – especially the organic variety – are a growing trend.

Building strong relationships with food distributors allows for profitable business opportunities for both parties. Experienced health food distributors and organic food wholesalers should:

1. Offer fresh foods at competitive prices.

2. Work within contract specifications.

3. Ship specialty foods at cost-effective prices.

Choose gourmet food wholesalers

Specialty food distributors should offer a wide variety of gourmet foods at competitive prices and should be capable of delivering the products safely and in a timely manner.
Try:  Use The French Farm as a gourmet food supplier. With a product line rooted in European cuisine and wholesale opportunities for your retail business, The French Farm offers fine food at competitive prices. Gourmet USA, a trusted name among gourmet food wholesalers, offers a large selection of specialty products such as caviar, meats and cheeses. Gourmet USA works directly with you to cut costs and increase your profits.

Find gourmet food supplier trade shows

Attend trade shows geared toward gourmet food distributors to evaluate the organic food distributors and gourmet food wholesalers that appeal to your needs.
Try:  The Gourmet Retailer is the source for information on gourmet food distributor trade shows across the country. Listing shows geared toward specific types of specialty food distributors and general shows on how to properly buy organic food, wholesalers are available to answer your questions and offer samples of products. The Green People keep an online list of health food distributors.

Look for organic food wholesalers

The word "organic" is a debated label because there are differences between food that is labeled 100% Organic, Organic or Made with Organic Ingredients.
Try:  Go to the USDA for a list of explanations of organic labels. Choose organic food wholesalers like Organic Valley. Remember that the freshest and healthiest specialty food supplier is likely to be found close to you, like at a farmer's market.

• Advertise your gourmet and specialty food lines. Work with the gourmet food distributors to promote the products properly.