Choosing suppliers in the foodservice industry is an extremely strategic decision. Suppliers are much more than just service providers. They are, in fact, essential partners in the smooth running and success of your establishment.
If the raw material is of poor quality, you may have the best chef in the business, but this will be felt on the customer's plate. Repeated stock-outs due to late deliveries, a poorly varied product catalog, non-compliance with hygiene standards - all these can have a huge impact on your business. Simplify your life by reading this article and find the best suppliers for your restaurant!
Restaurant needs
In the foodservice industry, when we talk about suppliers, we're obviously thinking about the food products that are essential for preparing meals. Your restaurant's business depends on your ability to source fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, cereals, pulses, beverages and so on.
But... it doesn't stop there! You also need to equip your establishment with cleaning products, crockery, cutlery, kitchen equipment, paper products (towels, hand towels), furniture and decoration. All these elements require you to find the best suppliers.
Apart from the furniture, crockery and kitchen equipment you don't buy every week, there are 5 main categories:
- fruit and vegetables,
- fresh produce,
- processed products,
- hygiene products,
- packaging.
In each of these categories, you'll need to define your requirements. For foodstuffs, you can rely on technical data sheets listing ingredients and quantities for each dish.
Once you've decided on your budget, you can start looking for suppliers.
👉 To go further: supplies for your restaurant: the complete list
Sourcing
Sourcing is the process of selecting suppliers to provide you with goods and services. It begins with the identification of your needs and then of the various companies that can meet them. This is followed by information gathering, approach and evaluation. Once all this data has been analyzed, you'll need to formulate a short list and begin negotiations. Then it's just a matter of closing the deal!
Criteria for choosing where and how to buy
As stated at the beginning of this article, not all suppliers are suitable for all restaurants. Your future supplier must be aligned with your concept, your offer, the nature of your cuisine and your budget. The ideal supplier will therefore not be the same whether your establishment is a Michelin-starred restaurant, a fast-food joint or a community restaurant.
The evaluation criteria that will help you make your choice remain unchanged:
- price and product quality, and therefore value for money,
- the diversity of products on offer,
- the origin of products and the proportion of imported products in the catalog,
- delivery terms and deadlines,
- accepted payment methods and suppliers' banks,
- purchase conditions and payment facilities,
- services on offer, such as after-sales service, technical assistance, sales support tools, etc,
- compliance with food hygiene and safety regulations,
- certifications and quality processes,
- their ability to understand and meet your needs.
What type of supplier should I choose?
Defining your sourcing process also means choosing between local or mass-market suppliers. Are you torn between the 2? How about making your own mix?
Organic, local and short-distance products are all the rage. Always on the lookout for trends in the foodservice industry, you've certainly noticed! At a time when the environmental cause is at the heart of concerns, these three characteristics have become real selling points. Not only will this help you attract new customers, it will also commit you, as a catering professional, to doing something for the planet.
Sometimes, a restaurant's entire concept is based on highlighting local know-how and terroir. Is this the case for you? Then choosing suppliers who are geographically close to you is the right choice.
Mass retailing also has its advantages, particularly in terms of prices, which are generally more affordable. Are you on a tight budget or looking to increase your profitability? You can follow this rule of thumb: anything that doesn't end up on the consumer's plate will be bought in supermarkets. For the rest, opt for organic, local and seasonal produce wherever possible.
Alternatively, opt for organic and local produce for fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, and buy from supermarkets for groceries, B.O.F. (butter, eggs, cheese), processed products, frozen foods and all the little essentials (straws, garbage can liners, etc.).
The different types of supplier
Who's behind the so-called "suppliers"? We have identified no fewer than 5 different professions.
- Retailers are companies that sell goods directly to customers, rather than to wholesalers or distributors. They buy their stock from manufacturers and other suppliers at wholesale prices and resell it to restaurateurs at retail prices, generally higher than the wholesale price.
- Wholesalers who buy large quantities of goods from manufacturers or distributors and then resell them to other companies on a wholesale basis.
- Distributors who buy products from manufacturers or wholesalers and resell them to retailers at a price higher than the purchase price in order to generate a profit margin.
- Importers and exporters who, as their name suggests, import and export products. These professionals will be particularly useful if your restaurant specializes in world cuisine, requiring foodstuffs from the 4 corners of the globe.
- The manufacturers who produce and supply the raw materials.
Find your suppliers
There are many ways to find the right suppliers for you. Here's a quick overview!
Online platforms
Specialized ordering platforms are one of the most frequently used channels. They bring together multiple suppliers. This means you can order everything you need for your restaurant in just a few clicks and from a single location. Whether you're equipped with a tablet, computer or iPhone, you'll be able to do your shopping in no time, and without having to go anywhere.
Trade shows
And if a virtual meeting isn't enough to convince you, trade shows will! These events represent a financial investment and require a little of your time, but you'll soon make the most of these 2 precious resources. In a single day, you'll have access to a large number of industry professionals. There's no need to travel far and wide, as the main suppliers are all in one place, ready to answer any questions you may have: product provenance, packaging used, prices, delivery times, seasonality, and so on. Comparing their offers is child's play!
Trade shows are also the perfect opportunity to expand your network of suppliers and make yourself known to them. It's important to cultivate your visibility! 👉 To find out more: Trade shows not to be missed in 2023
Word of mouth
Looking for the perfect supplier? Put your trust in the restaurant professionals around you. To find the best addresses, turn to establishments with which you share commonalities: the same price range, a similar positioning, a comparable concept, and so on. If such restaurants have forged lasting relationships with their suppliers, it's because they're satisfied with them, and because these strategic partners have proven their worth.
Marketplaces
Marketplaces are another channel through which you can easily find suppliers. These are online marketplaces offering restaurateurs the possibility of obtaining products at the same price as wholesalers. These digital portals allow you to buy and sell food products according to certain geographical criteria.
Other means
If the main ways of finding your suppliers have already been reviewed, you should know that there are others that also deserve your attention: commercial databases, specialized directories, comparison sites, specialized media, and so on.
We've even decided to make your search a little easier by listing the main wholesalers:
- Agidra : Specialized grocery products (dried fruit, cereals, dried vegetables and salted roasted fruit)
- ALIA : Art of the table
- BEEZ: Dietetic and organic food
- Berard: Fresh produce, frozen foods, groceries, beverages and non-food items
- COURTIN HERVOUET: Poultry and game
- Dagivel: Fresh and frozen products
- Distram: All products, packaging and small equipment
- EdaPackFood: Fast food products
- ETS Roussel: New and used professional kitchen equipment
- FRIGOMAT: Ice machines
- Ilco Food: Beef, veal, lamb and pork meats and offal, world-class beef and exceptional meats
- J'Océane: Fresh and frozen fish, shellfish and crustaceans
- La Compagnie des Desserts: Ice creams and frozen desserts, pastries and breads
- La Cave de Rungis : Wines of France and wines of the world
- MCO: Household linen, table linen, bed linen, bath linen and beach linen
- Metro: All products, packaging and equipment
- MM Fish Delivery: Fresh and frozen fish, shellfish and crustaceans
- Prochef: Catering and kitchen equipment
- Krill Network: Meat and ice cream
- Sysco: Fresh, frozen and ambient products
- TerreAzur: Fresh produce delivery
- TransGourmet : All products, packaging and small equipment
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Are you a restaurant owner? Would you like to put digital technology to work for your business?
Contact an Innovorder consultant to find out how to improve your productivity, boost your sales and increase your margins.
