Quicklinks: Summary, products and services, successful companies | Income and profitability | Expenses | History, strategy and challenges
Summary, products and services
Summary of the wholesale food service supplier business: how do wholesale food service suppliers work? How do they make money?
Wholesale food service suppliers are businesses that sell food and other products to restaurants, caterers, and other food service businesses. They typically offer a wide variety of products, including fresh and frozen foods, dry goods, paper goods, and small wares. Many wholesale food service suppliers also offer services such as delivery and equipment rental.
Wholesale food service suppliers typically make money by charging their customers a markup on the products they sell. The markup is usually a percentage of the product’s wholesale price. For example, if a wholesale food service supplier charges a 10% markup on a product with a wholesale price of $100, the customer would pay $110 for the product.
There are a few different business strategies that wholesale food service suppliers can use to compete in the market. Some suppliers focus on offering low prices, while others focus on offering a wide selection of products. Some suppliers also offer value-added services such as delivery or equipment rental. Typical products that wholesale food service suppliers offer include fresh and frozen foods, dry goods, paper goods, and small wares.
List and description of the five most successful companies in the wholesale food service supplier business. How big are they and what is their market value?
- Sysco Corporation: Sysco is the world’s largest foodservice company with a market value of $32.4 billion. They serve over 400,000 customers in the United States and Canada.
- US Foods: US Foods is the second largest foodservice company with a market value of $8.3 billion. They serve over 250,000 customers in the United States.
- Performance Food Group: Performance Food Group is the third largest foodservice company with a market value of $5.4 billion. They serve over 150,000 customers in the United States.
- Gordon Food Service: Gordon Food Service is the fourth largest foodservice company with a market value of $4.6 billion. They serve over 100,000 customers in the United States and Canada.
- McLane Company: McLane Company is the fifth largest foodservice company with a market value of $3.9 billion. They serve over 50,000 customers in the United States.
Income and profitability
List of the top three sources of revenue for wholesale food service suppliers (AKA how do they make money?) – including percentages of income and examples in US dollars for each
- Food and beverage sales: This is the bread and butter for most wholesale food service suppliers. They make money by selling food and beverages to their customers, who are typically restaurants, caterers, and other food service businesses. The average wholesale foodservice supplier generates about 60% of their revenue from food and beverage sales. For example, a wholesale foodservice supplier that does $10 million in sales per year would generate $6 million from food and beverage sales.
- Equipment sales: Many wholesale food service suppliers also sell equipment to their customers. This can include everything from small kitchen appliances to large commercial ovens. Equipment sales typically account for 20-30% of revenue for these companies. For example, a wholesale foodservice supplier that does $10 million in sales per year would generate $2-3 million from equipment sales.
- Service fees: In addition to selling food and equipment, many wholesale food service suppliers also offer services to their customers. These can include things like menu planning, kitchen design, and staff training. Service fees typically account for 10-20% of revenue for these companies. For example, a wholesale foodservice supplier that does $10 million in sales per year would generate $1-2 million from service fees.
Pricing: What are average prices among wholesale food service suppliers
The average prices among wholesale food service suppliers can vary greatly depending on the type of food being purchased, the quantity being purchased, and the location of the supplier. In general, however, most wholesale food service suppliers will offer discounts for bulk purchases.
For example, a supplier may charge $1.50 per pound for chicken breasts if purchased in bulk, but may only charge $2.00 per pound if chicken breasts are purchased in smaller quantities. The location of the supplier can also affect pricing, as suppliers located in areas with higher overhead costs (such as New York City) will typically charge more for their products than suppliers located in areas with lower overhead costs (such as rural areas).
What are the profit margins in the wholesale food service supplier business? In a percentage range.
Some industry experts estimate that profit margins for wholesale food service suppliers generally fall somewhere between 2% and 6%. This means that for every $100 in sales, a typical wholesale food service supplier could expect to make between $2 and $6 in profit.
Of course, there are many factors that can affect a business’s profit margin, such as the cost of goods sold, overhead expenses, and pricing strategy. So, while 2% to 6% is a general range for profit margins in the wholesale food service supplier industry, your actual margin may be higher or lower depending on your specific business circumstances.
Expenses
What is the cost to build a wholesale food service supplier business? With an example.
The cost to build a wholesale food service supplier business can vary depending on the size and scope of the business. For example, a small business may only require a few thousand dollars to get started, while a larger business may need tens of thousands of dollars.
The following is an example of how much it might cost to start a small wholesale food service supplier business: -Rent or lease a commercial kitchen space: $1,000 – $3,000 per month -Purchase commercial cooking equipment: $5,000 – $10,000 -Hire staff: $2,000 – $5,000 per month -Obtain necessary licenses and permits: $500 – $1,000 -Marketing and advertising: $500 – $1,000 per month Total estimated cost: $10,000 – $25,000
List and description of the top three ongoing expenses for wholesale food service suppliers. What percentage does each represent?
The top three ongoing expenses for wholesale food service suppliers are inventory, labor, and overhead. Inventory represents the cost of the raw materials used to produce the food, labor represents the cost of the workers who prepare and package the food, and overhead represents the cost of the facilities and equipment used to store and distribute the food. These expenses typically represent about 60%, 30%, and 10% of the total cost of goods sold, respectively.
History, strategy and challenges
What is the history of the wholesale food service supplier business? With examples for each continent of the world.
The first wholesale foodservice supplier was probably a butcher or baker who sold their wares to local businesses. In the 19th century, large cities began to see the rise of specialized wholesale foodservice suppliers that provided a wider range of products.
Today, there are wholesale foodservice suppliers all over the world, supplying a wide variety of food and other products to businesses in the hospitality industry. Recent challenges for the wholesale foodservice sector include the rise of online ordering and delivery services, which have cut into traditional suppliers’ business. In response, many suppliers have started offering online ordering and delivery themselves.
Another challenge has been the increasing cost of transportation, which has made it more difficult for suppliers to get their products to customers in a timely and cost-effective manner. Despite these challenges, the wholesale foodservice sector is still thriving.
Some interesting facts about the sector include: -The United States is the largest market for wholesale foodservice suppliers, followed by Europe and Asia. -There are over 500,000 wholesale foodservice supplier businesses in the United States alone. -The average wholesale foodservice supplier employs 20 people.