How to Find Wholesale Grocers
How to Find Wholesale Grocers
How to find Wholesale Grocers on the internet may be difficult, so I would visit www.wholesalegrocersdirectory.com. We provide a list of over 2,000 wholesale grocers and over 2,500 food service distributors.
The following issues have to be kept in mind while looking for a wholesale grocers for your product
- Portfolio of wholesale grocers – There are different types of wholesaler grocers who supply products to Grocery store and Supermarket chains and also grocers which consist of only food products. Some wholesale grocers have their own vendors supplying food products which are sold to grocers and c store distributors under their own brands. If the wholesale grocer has too many products which can be your competitors then avoid them.
- Outreach of wholesaler – If you are planning to have a nationwide launch for your products then a wholesaler with reach into regional or statewide markets will not be effective. You need to carry out extensive research about a wholesaler’s distribution network and the time he will take to distribute your products across grocery stores. As your products have to be available on shoppers’ shelves after a marketing campaign it is essential that your distribution cycle is effective too.
- Experience of wholesaler – While making a sales pitch to these wholesale grocers make an attempt to find out if they have sold products similar to yours in the past and what has been their experience. This will give you a fair idea if they will be able to distribute your product effectively or if they will be able to identify potential markets.
- Does your wholesale grocer supply to both c store chains and grocers – Decide whether you want your product stocked at a convenience store or a grocers chain stores. Remember a convenience store is not always the best place for your food products but in a remote location it is the likeliest place customers will drive in for their daily requirements.
Before you find wholesale grocers for your product you need to perform necessary steps as a form of groundwork for your products which will help sales once they land on grocers’ shelves.
- Collecting necessary permits and insurance – To make your product suitable for sale in grocery stores you need to have necessary permissions and certificates from state’s health department to show that your product is fit for consumption. Insurance to protect yourself from perceived injury that a customer might face from your product.
- Packaging and labeling – An attractive package with information about quantity of ingredients, product manufacturing and expiry dates and details of nutritional value of each product will be required to make your product suitable for display. Though suitable ready made containers can be purchased from suppliers, their designing and labeling has to be done in a professional manner to give your product a unique look and feel.
- Participate in trade shows and network – Participate aggressively in farm markets and trade shows in your area to spread word about your products. Network with wholesale grocers at trade meetings and shows to showcase your products and the value it can add to their product portfolio. Share samples and contact information with them along with attractive discounts you can offer for bulk purchases.
- Prepare a suitable media campaign to back your product launch – Just distribution of your product will not sell it, you have to convince buyers of benefits form your products. Make a convincing media campaign which can be shown via television commercials or online advertisement campaigns through social media. Have an interesting website with videos or audio clips about how to use your product and its benefits.
- Can you meet growing demands of business – While setting up a advertisement campaign or ironing out your distribution channels check if you have the capacity to scale up if demand for your product increases. Keep contingency plan and resources in place which can be helpful if you are given a big order which can make or break your business.
Are you going to use full service or limited service wholesale grocers – As the name states, full service wholesalers provide a host of services to their vendors which include assistance in stocking, pricing and display across grocery stores they service. Limited service wholesalers generally service local stand alone stores and convenience stores chains and have limited storage and distribution facilities.
Zeroing on the right wholesale grocer to sell your product – The packaged food industry within United States is extremely competitive with sub categories of every product which makes it confusing for buyers to remain with a particular brand for a long time. While some producers want to remain limited to their local markets and loyal customers, others want to make a splash in national markets. Every grocer has to make a detailed study of market and reach of wholesale grocers before zeroing in on the right one who can meet their existing distribution needs and future growth requirements.
Make a marketing plan and distribution strategy when you are going to meet a potential wholesale grocer who can be your partner in profits. Unless you convince him about utility or unique sales point about your product he cannot convince grocers to stock your products. A strong channel partner with a powerful list of convenience chain stores in its client list can help take your products to right customer base. When you are using a wholesaler network for marketing your products remember to meet each and every grocer where your product is likely to be displayed to develop a sustainable promotional strategy.
The only way you can find a list of wholesale grocers is through the Wholesale Grocers Directory http://wholesalegroce.wpengine.com. Research and frequent meetings with their management and also with the store owners where they distribute their products. Choosing the right distribution channel can help sell a product and give it a competitive edge over others who may have similar ideas.