Choosing the right Wholesale Food Supplier for your Small Business

Quality

Look for a supplier that prides themselves on the quality of their product selection and will readily specify information about provenance. Strict process control means the supplier should be able to provide full traceability on all products and maximise shelf life, so only the freshest and the best gets delivered. 

If something should go wrong with your order, a reliable wholesale food supplier will be ready to go above and beyond to rectify anything of this nature for their customers at once.

Safety 

Wholesale food suppliers must meet the minimum health and safety standards expected by enforcement authorities. They should comply with all HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles, as well as maintaining an up-to-date Food Hygiene & Safety Certificate.

SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) is a robust food safety certification scheme which holds local food producers and processors to a high industry standard. Look for a wholesale food supplier who has gone through the thorough process to achieve this accreditation, and you can be sure your food will be produced and delivered safely every time.

Value

For any business a primary concern is how to keep costs down, but this is especially true for small businesses where profit margins are usually even tighter. It’s therefore vital you look for a local wholesale food supplier who can provide great value products without compromising on quality. 

At J.Buckland, we pride ourselves on always offering our customers the best value for money, through our wide-ranging product selection and our fantastic monthly special offers, which help local catering outfits make the most out of their menus.

Variety

The best approach when choosing a wholesale food supplier is to opt for one who can supply a full range of goods, including non-food items such as packaging, cleaning products and other vital items for those in the catering trade. By choosing a supplier who can provide non-food as well as food items, you can keep costs down and save yourself some serious time too.

Variety is also the spice of life, so you’ll want to choose a wholesale food supplier with the flexibility to source items for you should your requirements change or you want to try something new. Look for suppliers who are equipped to stock seasonal products and you’ll never be short of stock for your seasonal special offers. 

Service

For all small businesses serving food, a dependable supplier of ingredients is of the utmost importance. Look for a long-established wholesale food supplier with an intimate knowledge of the catering trade, so you can rely upon them to understand your needs and trust them to fulfil your requirements.

A reliable wholesale food supplier will have a first-rate customer service operation, and deliver on their word every time. They’ll also deliver your products in a fresh and fast fashion; look for a supplier with first rate delivery options such as free next day delivery.  

At J.Buckland, we strive to deliver a combination of excellent service, great quality products and unbeatable value. But don’t just take our word for it, here’s a testimonial from one of our customers:

‘I have been dealing with J.Buckland since 2012 and have always found all the employees to be consummate professionals. From the owner to the delivery drivers we could not have asked for better service. Keep up the good work!’

Harry Nichol, Director of T. Harrisons, Butchers in Leigh-on-Sea

To discuss how we can help supply your small business in the catering trade with a range of products, call us on 01268 966056 or email [email protected].