Different types of food distributors

Wholesale Food Distributors

Food distribution has been a serious concern for society since times immemorial. With the enormous rise in population, the issue has turned out to be graver. Generally speaking, food distribution involves the collection of food from producers, by various companies, organizations and programs who then store it in warehouses. Thereafter, they distribute the food to manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, government aid programs, etc.  Most wholesale food distributors work in an independent manner, and hence, manufacturers and producers can easily create a supply chain. All they need to do is, hire a distributor that caters to their specific needs. While some food distributors use warehouses for the storage of food for a short time, others may resort to refrigerate trucks for the purpose of transporting goods directly to food service operators. The kind of food that is being distributed determines the timeframe and the mode of transport. Some wholesale distributors of food are also concerned with the marketing and selling of the products that they are distributing. The different types of food distributors are as follows:

a. Cash and carry distributors: they are not concerned with transporting goods, but operate warehouses. Usually food service operators visit these warehouses, where they can choose which products to purchase. Restaurants, caterers, and nonprofits use these distributions normally.

b. Redistributors: instead of selling directly to food service operators, redistributors purchase directly from manufacturers, following which they distribute small amounts to distributors who are not equipped to handle voluminous quantities.

c. Specialty distributors: they specialize in a specific product category, and often work with only niche food service operators. Though they mostly work with small niches, some businesses actually have to depend on these distributors.

d. Broadline distributors: they belong to the most general category of food distributors. They are often used by grocery store chains and other large-scale retail food businesses, since they generally handle bulk products in huge volume. Since they deal with an enormous volume of products, they also offer enticing discounts.