Whether you're a manufacturer buying ingredients for food to create a finished product, a food ingredients distributor that supplies to retailers or a gourmet food market that caters fine foods to a distinct clientele, there's no doubt that just finding those ingredients is a time-consuming challenge. Locating an ingredients company that maintains steady supplies of the products you depend on every day cuts some of that work in half. Luckily, many food ingredient producers realize that one way to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction is by assisting businesses like yours in their daily search for essential ingredients.
Most large-scale food businesses today maintain a staff of trained professionals whose job is to satisfy your company's specific needs. Once these professionals get to know which food ingredients you rely upon, they will monitor your purchases to ensure that you never run out. They will also notify you of critical events which may affect the availability and price of your standard purchases. When searching for the ingredients you need, consider these options:
1. Purchase ingredients to manufacture or prepare a finished product.
2. Locate ingredients for re-sale.
3. Find importers of food ingredients for a particular market.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Define your specific food ingredients needs
Do you manufacture a prepared food, an entree or specialty dessert that requires a variety of food flavors or food coloring ingredients? Or perhaps you make bakery products and need raw staples, such as grains and dairy items. Your particular needs help narrow the field.
I recommend: Sun Opta Grains and Foods Group produces an extensive range of essential ingredients for manufacturers and can even process and package the end product. Sun Opta is even equipped to prime staple products, such as grains, so that they pass government standards. Likewise, the
American Ingredients Company manufactures and even supplies processed foods and ingredients. Its highly trained service representatives can assist you in choosing the right combination of products for your particular needs. Also,
Griffith Laboratories sells ingredients to boost the flavor and texture of the finished product. It caters to any food service-related business and also helps customers decide which ingredients will work best.
Get the lowest prices on premium baking and cooking ingredients for resale
If you're buying ingredients for resale, you need to find food ingredient distributors who keep a well-stocked inventory and who offer high quality ingredients at competitive prices.
I recommend: Diversified Foods Inc., a well-established food company that provides a multitude of ingredients for retail distribution.
BulkFoods.com is another company offering the convenience of purchasing raw ingredients--such as spices, sweeteners and flavoring agents--online.
Deal with importers of food ingredients
Artisanal shops often must import hard to find ingredients for their discriminating patrons. For convenience, opt for companies with some proximity to your own business.
I recommend: National Importers is an expert in locating specialty foods from around the world. The company stocks gourmet items, ranging from Asian delicacies to exquisite European truffles.
American Roland Food Corp. is another global importer of fine foods.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Don't think you have to promise all your business to one company. In fact, it's preferable to use several food ingredients distributors, since each offers a different product line.
The official source of Food Ingredients Producers and Distributors is
the Ingredients page at Business.com
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