How to Find an Organic Food Distributor
Have you decided to start selling organic groceries in your online store? That’s a smart move. According to the 2019 Organic Industry Survey, the sales of organic foods rose 5.9% to reach nearly $50 billion. Now that you know what you want to sell, you’ll have to find the right organic food distributor. So let’s take some time to learn how to find the best supplier to help grow your sales.
Research the Right Food Supplier
If you’re trying to find the right organic food supplier, be sure you use the following steps:
1) Choose your type of Supplier
There are two basic types of suppliers (sometimes called distributors):
- Wholesalers
- Dropshippers
The traditional wholesaler/supplier enables you to purchase the products from them to resell online while a dropshipping supplier stores the products and handles the shipping. You don’t need to buy wholesale products from your dropshipping supplier. You will only pay for that product when you get an order. The profit you make will be the difference between the supplier’s wholesale cost and the price you decide to sell the item for.
Choosing a dropshipping supplier is the easiest way to sell food and gourmet products online because instead of focusing on logistics, you can focus on your marketing efforts. You’ll have more time to promote your store as you won’t have to manage the inventory.
2) Use a supplier directory
There are plenty of organic food distributors out there of varying quality. In fact, you’ll probably find that many of them will not be the right fit for your store. Luckily for you, there are distributor directories with lists of pre-screened dropshipping distributors. These include:
Please note that not all of these directories are free. So, if you want your startup costs to stay low, then this might not be the best choice for an organic food e-commerce store.
3) Choose Your Niche
Research the market and choose your business niche. Then you can find a distributor that specializes in that niche. For instance, here are some examples of niches in the organic food industry:
- Vegan Food
- Healthy Snacks
- Coffee & Tea
- Kombucha
- Dark Chocolate & Sweets
- Protein Powders & Workout Food
3) Contact the manufacturer
If you’re looking for a different solution, you can always try to contact the organic food manufacturer. Because organic food is such a well-defined niche, this might be highly effective. By contacting the manufacturer, they’ll be able to refer you to authorized organic food distributors.
Don’t forget that manufacturer is distinct from a supplier or distributor. The manufacturer actually made the product while suppliers or distributors buy directly from manufacturers and then retailers buy from them at wholesale prices.
Organic Grocery Leaders
Choosing the right natural food distribution company can be challenging but not difficult. As long as you stick to someone with the products, knowledge, tools and experience necessary to get customer orders out quickly you’ll be in good hands. Here’s a shortlist of reputable wholesale natural product distributors to consider.
One of the largest natural food wholesalers and distributors in the country, KeHE offers a massive range of natural food products. They have locations all over the U.S., to service retailers in all states.
Another big natural food wholesaler and distributor, Unfi has over 60 distribution centers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Greendropship is a natural and organic dropshipping supplier with an inventory of over 20,000 products that are purchased from KEHE and Unfi. Inventory is stored in GreenDropShip warehouses. We offer access to our dropshipping platform to resellers who join us for an annual membership fee. We’ve also developed an innovative method for packing perishables so that food stays fresh on its journey from our shipping centers to your consumers’ front doorsteps.
What To Ask Your Food Distributor
There are a few things you should consider when you choose an organic food distributor:
- Product Availability – Are the products available and ready for shipment to your customers? Does the natural and organic food distributor have a good range of products in various categories?
- Organic Certification – Your customers will want food that’s certified organic, so make sure you ask if they’re USDA-certified.
- Inventory Management – Do they offer fresh foods and if so, how do they manage the rotation of products?
- Tools – Many natural food distribution companies will have technological tools and software programs to help with each of the above issues. Ask what systems or software the distributor can provide to make your decision easier. Can you track deliveries and arrival times?
- Reputation and Experience – Do a little background research of your own. Search the company name online and check for unresolved issues or major complaints from previous clients.
It’s useful to think of your organic food distributor as a collaborator in your business venture. The success of your online store is linked to the quality and efficiency of the distributor, so make sure you choose one that will help you thrive in the organic foods market.
Choosing A U.S-Based Supplier
If you’re trying to find organic food distributors for your dropshipping store, you will find many suppliers that may be based overseas.
However, distributors based overseas don’t have the same product quality or safety standards. That is why we recommend picking a US-based supplier with products that are USDA certified organic.
The United States has higher standards for organic food. We have a system of certifying organic goods (USDA-certified organic), meaning that manufacturers have to follow these standards in order to be certified.
It’s also easier to source the products if you use a USA supplier. For organic food consumers, it’s important that they know where the products come from and that the quality levels are consistently high. This also means that the products are generally safer, especially in times of a health crisis.
Finally, shipping is much faster with a US-based supplier. The product does not have to travel as far to reach the end consumer. Plus, many organic food distributors will have multiple warehouses throughout the country in order to make the shipping times that much faster.
GreenDropShip is a natural and organic food distributor with over 20,000 products. Most of these are made in the USA. Plus, we’re located in the United States with multiple warehouses throughout the country. This ensures that shipping times are fast and that your customers will get their items quickly.
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