Milk producers, dairy product suppliers and dairy manufacturers align their interests to build a supply chain to get the best and freshest dairy products to retailers. Knowing the process and the dairy companies through which your products pass can give you an edge to your purchasing power and product selection.
Knowing your dairy product suppliers and which dairy producers they deal with allows you to find the newest and latest products for your customers. Products that come from lactose producers and cream cheese producers change with trends in consumer eating habits. Build a relationship with your dairy product distributors to:
1. Stay in tune with dairy product company trends
2. Leverage costs directly with dairy producers
3. Receive the best service from your dairy supplier
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Keep up with changing diet preferences to offer customers the latest from dairy manufacturers
Trends such as flavored and enhanced yogurts, lactose-free milk products and exotic cheeses are in part created by the dairy companies that staff their offices with nutritionists and marketers with their fingers on the consumers' pulse. Dairy product distributors choose their best retailers to test new products and to introduce trends.
I recommend: Organic Valley and other health-oriented dairy product suppliers offer cooperative terms directly to retailers and are on the cusp of the newest trends. Order directly from dairy product distributors such as
Biazzo to get novelty dairy products others in your area may not carry.
Purchase the bulk of your dairy product from a large dairy product company for better deals
Milk producers who also process cheese, yogurt, cream and ice cream products can set you up with a dairy distributor who can deliver your orders promptly and at one time, eliminating delivery delays. Dairy manufacturers can keep you posted when they have excess product and get it out to you quickly for your customers to take advantage of the deals as well.
I recommend: Blue North Distributing carries a complete line of dairy production out of Wisconsin. On a larger scale,
Vitasu can deliver dairy in bulk from dairy supplier sources around the world.
Build good relationships with your dairy product distributors and you will be rewarded
Taking time to acknowledge the drivers and talk a moment to the corporate office when you place your orders with your dairy distributor creates a better environment for everyone, including your customers who will receive the finest dairy. Milk companies and dairy product suppliers can be pivotal partners in your success as a retailer.
I recommend: Moses Organic is an organization that builds relationships between dairy producers, dairy product distributors and retailers that you can utilize. Trade associations such as
SUSTA are also good places to join inter-relational organizations to take advantage of global relationships already in progress.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Listen to your customers as well as your vendors and don't be afraid to look for newer dairy product suppliers if your dairy supplier is not meeting your customers' needs.
The official source of Dairy Producers is the Dairy Producers page at Business.com
Subscribe to
Try our free weekly WhatWorks newsletter, with business how-to advice
& resources from Work.com.
Related Resources from Business.com
Comments
Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please 
