Specialty food distributors are the key players behind almost every manufacturer of food items and also restaurant/eatery. These are the people who ensure that fresh products reach the restaurant tables in a timely manner. These entities have the responsibility for making sure that your preferred store on the corner gets all the snacks that you love and also that the restaurant/eatery nearby gets all the items that you prefer having on a regular basis.
To put it simply, the top food distribution companies buy their products from a producer and then sell the same to restaurants and major retailers. This entire industry is worth a whopping $424.7 billion annually and here are some of the things worth knowing about if you wish to start your journey in this sector.
1. Always ensure that your idea is top-notch– You should always have an idea which sets you apart from the competition. There is huge competition in this entire arena and your product and idea should always make you stand apart from the crowd. Doing market research and homework is compulsory before you venture into food distribution. Always identify market gaps and then plug them innovatively with the right product and distribution ideas and strategies. For instance, suppose no global food items are available in your area which is otherwise cosmopolitan, you may wish to tap into this gap by offering international cuisine related products.
2. Always create your own special segment– Once you have taken a final decision with regard to the products that you are selling, you should work out the particular needs of the segment. Experts usually recommend more emphasis on higher personalization or bulk selling.
3. Paperwork aspects– Food distributors in Gulf usually take care of items which are consumed by individuals on a daily basis and there are immense regulatory things to note including licenses, permits, insurance and what not! You should be strong and pro-active when it comes to paperwork.
4. Dynamic operations– You may be great at making any particular food item. You should not always need a distributor to get the word out. Rather, you can start retailing directly yourself and can juggle the hats of both a retailer and distributor.
5. You should always invest in marketing– You should always invest in marketing your food distribution or retail entity. This is vital for establishing your own brand name. You can focus on platforms like Facebook and Google along with other social media networks.
Al Maya Trading was founded by L.K. Pagarani and is a business conglomerate based in Dubai with several business segments under its belt. It already has more than 90 outlets for retail in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and also the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
