10 Things to consider when buying & selling wholesale foods

Buying in bulk has always been an option, but it is one that very few of us use. Instead, we choose to pay over the odds for smaller amounts in the supermarkets when we could be getting some great deals on some exciting new foods, or simply enjoying more of our old favourites. Here are a few tips when it comes to buying wholesale foods.

1. Cost cutting

When selling a product, the producer will always need to think about their profits. Their cost levels will include packaging and transportation, as well as the margins being paid to wholesalers and retailers. However, those who sell food in large quantities are much more likely to do so at lower prices. There is less emphasis on packaging and branding, so the costs involved in supplying this food tend to be lower.

Buying in bulk allows you to keep your cupboards stocked, but it can also help to reduce the amount that you are paying. However, it is only cheaper if you are buying what you need – leaving food to go to waste is like pouring money down the drain.

2. Reduce waste

We are all conscious of minimising our waste. This is because it impacts on the environment as well as our bottom lines, and when it comes to food stuffs, there are often higher than normal levels of waste. Buying food in bulk is a great way to cut down the waste of packaging. There are less single-use plastics and fewer cartons, boxes or bags needed when selling in bigger quantities and you are free to buy the amounts you actually need.

3. Cutting transport miles

As these bulk goods require less packaging, they can also be transported more easily. By packing more into the back of a lorry or van, you are putting less vehicles on the road and make the whole transportation process more efficient and more carbon friendly.

4. Food freshness

Selling food in bulk might seem like it makes food freshness a bigger challenge, but this is not always the case. Consumers are freer to buy exactly the quantities that they need, and so food will often move off the shelves more quickly as it is being used as it is needed and not sitting in cupboards for months on end. By choosing the exact amount that you want, you are then less likely to leave an open bag or box of something to rot at somewhere in your kitchen until the next time that you need it.

5. Greater availability

Once upon a time, buying food in bulk was only available to other businesses, but these days this is all changing. Many cash and carry outlets and wholesalers will now accommodate private individuals, as long as you are buying for personal use.

If you are not sure whether your local wholesaler will sell to you, just ask. It costs you nothing to find out. If you are looking to buy online, there are a great many options available, and there are good deals to be had on postage and packing, just make sure you understand the size of the quantities you are buying.

6. Restrictions

If you are buying in bulk as an individual, it is important to remember that you may still be subject to some restrictions. If a great offer is in place, there may be limits as to how many of a particular item you are allowed to buy. It’s important to read the small print, as some of the prices that you see might only be available to those with trade accounts or buying in much larger quantities.

7. Do your maths

Always double check that a great deal is really a great deal. Take some time to break down the prices and compare them to what you would pay if you were buying in smaller quantities to make sure that there is really a saving to be had. Remember, no matter how good the offer might be, it is only a saving if you are going to use it. Buying too much and leaving it go past its sell-by date never amounts to a good deal.

8. Make sure it will keep

Buying certain dried goods can be great as they seemingly last forever, but when it comes to fresh food, you need to ensure that you can store it properly. If something needs to stay refrigerated, for example, think about whether you realistically have the space to do this.

Buying huge amounts of fruit and vegetables always seems to be well intentioned, but you need to be confident that you are going to use them before they have seen better days. Often, canned, jarred and bottled goods are better candidates for buying in bulk as they have a much longer shelf life.

9. Think about batch freezing

Sometimes you can take advantage of great offers by freezing what you are not going to use right away. Check that the food you are buying is suitable for freezing and make sure that you do it as soon as you get home to keep the freshness.

10. Buy your usual food

It can be tempting to walk around a wholesaler and buy some weird and wonderful ingredients that you would never normally try. However, if you are buying in bulk, you might not want to buy large quantities of something that you have never tried.

If you want to make buying wholesale food work for you then you need to be sure that you will actually use what you are buying, which means sticking to the items that you would normally add to your shopping list.

Buying in bulk can be a different shopping experience to the one that we are used to, but it can be incredibly beneficial too. By thinking more about what you want, it is possible to shop consciously and therefore help to save the planet and your bank balance.