Category: News

The food business consulting field is an exciting one, bringing ingredient manufacturers and producers together to create delicious meals. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about a food business consultant.

What exactly is a food business consultant?

As food business consultants, we work with businesses to help them build their perfect food products. We help them track down the ingredients they need so that they meet their quality goals while still controlling their packaging and production costs.

Our consulting services can help businesses take their production to the next level in other ways, too. Thanks to our extensive network of ingredient distributors and connections throughout the industry, we also help brands uncover co-manufacturing opportunities, leverage better buying prices through group buying, and even helping to diversify the broker base to increase brand exposure.

By helping our clients meet challenges in their food production, we position them to increase their profit margins and share their love of food and their delicious products with their entire market base.

Why would I need to hire a food business consultant?

As food business consultants, we help our clients take the delicious products they already produce and share them with the world. You already have some fantastic ideas for your food business. Clients turn to a food consultant, however, when they realize that they would like some help improving their production costs and building their profits.

Food consultants work behind the scenes. We have built extensive networks of other food producers and ingredient manufacturers. We get you the ingredients you need to succeed, connect you with other businesses to reduce purchasing costs, find ingredients you want at prices you love, and can even offer advice when it comes to food production and safety.

Customers hire us when they face problems such as:

• They can’t get the ingredients they need to make that dish perfect.
• Their dish is good, but it is just not hitting the right quality or texture that they want.
• They need ingredients that hold certain types of certifications but just can’t find what they need.
• They are struggling to find an ingredient supplier that is both reasonable in price and completely reliable.

How do food consultants accomplish all of these different goals?

We are able to help our customers because we have built networks that connect us around the world. The average food producer cannot be expected to be able to source ingredients on a global scale, which is why they turn to us. We also have been in the business for years, which has allowed us to build excellent relationships throughout the industry and given us the experience we need to know exactly how to find what we seek.

Together, these traits allow us to help our clients reach their goals and build their businesses.

How is the food industry changing?

The food industry continues to change as wholesalers consolidate and group procurement organizations dominate in certain sectors.

We are also seeing changes as the in-between grocers and restaurants get more blurred, with grocers offering more opportunities to eat in-house. These changes might influence how customers eat, but we are sure to be right in the middle, helping our clients navigate the changes with success.

Food business consulting is an exciting industry and we enjoy helping each of our clients thrive in the production of their delicious meals.

Once someone develops a fantastic idea for a food product and begins to manufacturer it, they have to figure out the best way to sell it. Although many food manufacturers often get their start working personally with different retailers and trying to convince them to sell the product, they quickly realize that a food distributor or a food broker might provide an incredible opportunity for growth.

Both food brokers and distributors can help manufacturers get their products on the shelves of retailers, but they go about it in different ways. Understanding these differences can help businesses make the best choice to build their organization.

What is a food distributor?

A food distributor works with product manufacturers to get their products to retail stores. They will generally buy the product in bulk and then sell their supply to the store themselves.

These organizations work to build relationships with retail establishments so that they have the network and connections that allow them to sell the products significantly easier than an independent food manufacturer. However, with distributors that manage numerous brands, smaller companies have to make sure that their business’s needs do not get overlooked.

Working with a food distributor does allow the food manufacturer to hand off many of their tasks, including delivering food to the retailer, taking requests and orders from the retailer, managing product returns, and overall managing the relationship with the retailer.

What is a food broker?

A food broker can also help manufacturers market and sell their products through retailers. A food broker will use their extensive network and relationships with various retailers to build selling opportunities for a food manufacturer. The broker will encourage retailers to sell the product and then typically charge a commission based on the products that get sold.

How to understand the differences between a food distributor and a food broker

The differences between a food distributor and a food broker can be difficult to see at first. Both help food manufacturers get their product out to retailers and help them manage many of the tasks associated with the relationship between retailers and the manufacturers.

However, the food distributor personally buys the product. They will purchase a certain amount of a given product at wholesale prices and then sell it themselves to retailers to make their profit. Since they purchase the product themselves directly, they handle more of the responsibilities involved with managing orders and inventory from the retailer.

The broker, however, does not buy products from you. Instead, they function in a sales role. They promote your product. This makes them more invested in the long term plan for your product. A plan that indicates more opportunities for growth also positions them to build their profit margins from your product.

For food manufacturing brands that want to work with professionals to encourage retail sales opportunities for their products, both food distributors and food brokers offer potential solutions. Understanding the differences between these two types of companies and how they work with retailers can help every food manufacturer make the decision that will work best for their organization.

Whether you’re producing a new product or you’re looking to have an assessment of your current food production, hiring a food consultant is beneficial for much-needed advice. Having a great idea for a new product is one thing, but the steps to getting it to market can be a tedious hassle.

That’s where a food industry consultant steps in, working with your needs and matching you with the right companies, manufacturers, retails, and other businesses to bring you the best possible product. 

For businesses who are currently making food products and either want to expand to work on something new, or need advice on where to improve, a food consultant can be brought on for business advice. They can take a look at the functionality of your business and even help coach your staff. 

Finding Companies with Similar Interests Through a Vast Network

Consultants have a wide range of connections and can help you connect with people in the food industry who match your company’s needs and ethics. 

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs notes that “it’s essential to find a partner that fits with your business objectives, as bigger is not always better, especially for smaller food firms. Selecting this partner requires careful consideration and homework.”

We are a company based in Ontario but being a food business consultant has a wide reach. We recently secured a $1 million sales contract in Europe, and have experience selling to global markets by sourcing online and in-person. 

Find the Right Consultant For You

When looking for the right food industry consultant to work with, it’s often recommended to stay with a local company. We specialize in helping Ontario businesses, which brings the advantage of in-person meetings and site visits. Meeting in person and being there onsite strengthens the working relationship with your consultant and gives them a better understanding of your needs. 

Keep in mind not only location, but what communication is like with the consultant. Being clear and listing specific deliverables effectively tells the consultant what you’re looking for. The Alberta Agriculture Industry says to “work with your broker in the same way that you would a salesperson. Make the broker part of the planning and strategy as it will make them part of the team.”

Food Certification & Quality

Not only do the quality of the company, products and ingredients get taken into consideration, but a food industry consultant also brings the knowledge of food health and safety. The many rules and regulations can be confusing, but a consultant has a good knowledge of the industry and keeps these in mind when looking for the right products. 

At Greater Goods, we also specialize in organic and non-GMO ingredients and can help you achieve certification in those areas as well. We strive ourselves on finding a cost-effective way to manufacture products while still having the most high-quality ingredients possible. 

Through one of our case studies, Luisella Chocolate Spread, we aided our client in finding the right ingredients, negotiating pricing with vendors, and seeing the product through to manufacturing. 

Pre-Audits & Assessments

Getting your products certified before heading to market can be a jumble of rules and regulations to follow, and a consultant can help give support and guidance on what is required to pass food safety certification programs. 

Performing pre-audits and risk assessments will assure a product is at its best quality for going to market. A consultant can walk staff through these procedures and provide any necessary coaching. 

Bringing a food industry consultant takes you on the easy path to bringing your product to market or helping your business work more efficiently. The relationships you build not only with the consultant, but with the companies they connect you with, can help expand and integrate your business even more in the food industry. 

The food industry is very dense, with consumers wanting everything from low-priced foods, to organic goods, to locally-sourced food. The options can be endless and some things aren’t as easy to find, and markets are searching in an endless list of products to sell in stores.

This is where food brokers come in. If you provide them with a description of what kind of groups of people you’re trying to reach, a food broker can find the right fit for your product and take it directly to the market. 

Food brokers provide the guidance that brings your product to the markets, using their connections and industry skills to help you sell your product to the right retailers. If you’ve just started production on your product or are struggling to find the right retailers to sell to, that’s where a broker can come in and help. 

Effective Communication

When bringing a food broker in to help your product, effectively communicating what it is you want is essential. They can make sure they give you the necessary tools and coaching to succeed. 

The Alberta Agriculture Industry says that to best communicate with a food broker, make sure to talk about your needs:

“A productive relationship is based on communication and trust. Because your broker is putting your sales plan into effect, seek the broker’s advice during the planning stages. Inform the broker about your product. Work with the broker to develop product information sheets to leave with the buyers.”

Knowledge of the Food Industry 

Food brokers have a handle of the food industry and what your product is most suited for. They’re a great resource to get a good sense of what the market is like, especially for your product. For example, The Greater Goods specializes in chocolate, cocoa, dried fruits, nuts and nut butters, and can provide a lot of insight on what a product needs to get in the retail market based on our previous experience in the industry.

Our food brokers and food industry consultants have the experience and education necessary to have a full understanding of how the industry works. Here’s just some of the skills food brokers can bring to your business, as outlined by Upserve: 

• “Create and maintain food safety procedures.
• Assist with culinary development and menu design.
• Assist with revenue generation, food costs and menu engineering.
• Develop food production facilities and kitchens up to code.
• Create products and dishes that are nutritionally viable and tasty.”

Brokers provide that much-needed step in the door to contact retailers. They’ve dealt with lots of different businesses and companies and know how each one functions. It can be helpful to have a broker when you’re looking for businesses on the retail market to sell to. They’ll be able to reach as many people as possible, who will also fit your company’s interests. 

Quality Assurance

Bringing a business consultant in like a food broker will provide that extra step to quality assurance. Food brokers make sure packaging and ingredient costs remain as affordable as possible while still keeping the product at top quality. Our staff at The Greater Goods can also provide consultation in food supply and packaging to help get you set up with what you need to get your product to the retail market. 

Seeing the Product from Beginning to End

It can be difficult to navigate the food market, but trusting food brokers to reach out to the right people can be that big leap from production to getting your product on shelves.

Brokers specialize in different processes of food production, from planning and concept to maintaining sales after-market release. Consider how long and for what stage of the production process you would need a food broker for.  
If you’re interested in learning more specifically to your business, you can book a consultation with us free of charge.

Bringing your food product to market is not an easy business, but it can be done with the right help. The following are the six basic steps you’ll need to take to bring any type of food product to the consumer.

1. Work With a Food Business Consultant

A food business consultant will help to ensure that you are can source the highest quality ingredients at the best possible price. For a food product business, the ingredients are the most important part of the product. If the ingredients aren’t high quality, the entire product suffers. Food ingredient brokers also ensure that the supply chain is unbroken so that you can be assured of a steady supply of quality ingredients to fulfill your purchase orders.

2. Get to Know Your Target Customer

You’ll want to spend some time getting to understand your target customer so you can market to them effectively. Among the things you want to learn are:

Where do they hang out online? (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, forums, etc.)

How will they use your product? (everyday use, celebrations, etc.)

If you plan on selling to retailers or wholesalers, you’ll want to know things like

how will your food product be displayed? (end cap, register counter, etc). The more you know about the person or entity that will be buying your food product, the better you can focus your marketing efforts.

3. Hone Your Packaging

Attention to packaging is important for any product but in particular with food products. Food product packaging decisions need to take into account appetizing appeal in addition to package attractiveness. Large corporations spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on packaging testing alone. This is an area where the services of a food business consultant will be invaluable. The food business consultant will advise you on details about food packaging that you probably hadn’t even considered before.

4. Adhere to Government Food Product Regulations

Whether you’re manufacturing and selling your food products in the U.S. or Canada, you’ll need to comply with food product regulations such as those set forth by the FDA in the U.S. These regulations include things like weights and measures, product labeling and even the verbiage that you use on your labels. You’ll want to either make sure you understand these yourself or hire a food business consultant to help ensure your business is in full compliance.

5. Implement Marketing Strategies

Once your ingredient supplies are sorted, you understand your customer and you’ve decided upon your packaging, you’ll need to implement your marketing strategies. This may include attending marketing events such as trade shows. For this, you’ll appreciate the support of food business consultants, who can help you navigate marketing events for the first time or even accompany you to the event.

6. Stick to Your Branding

Your company branding sends out important messages to your target customer. No matter what you’re doing, you want to stick to your branding with everything from the way you communicate with buyers to the packaging to the delivery. Again, your food business consultant can help to show you the ropes and ensure that your branding is consistent across all areas of your company.

As you can see, there are several important steps to take to bring your food product to market. Enlisting the services of a food ingredient consultant and a food business consultant will prove invaluable to the success of your food product business at every step along the way!

When you’ve invented a new food product, you need to find companies to buy your wares. How do you get your food products carried by grocery stores or used on a restaurant menu? There are many companies that are looking for the best foods to offer their customers. You will need to decide what customer base you are targeting and which retailers are going to fit your brand. In many cases, a food broker can help you target the best buyers for your newly invented food product.

Determine Your Niche in the Food Production Market

You need to have your own place in the sea of food manufacturers and vendors. Your angle will help set you apart from other companies that offer similar food products or target a similar audience. You will need to determine what your current level of production is to pinpoint what volume is ideal for your current process

Discover Top Retailers with a Food Broker

It can be difficult to form the right relationships and find the top retailers for your brand. A middle-man, or food broker, can help facilitate these relationships. While you focus on what you do best (create appealing and innovative food products), the food broker can get you the best deals and connections to buyers. Your food broker is going to

Plan Your Approach for Sales

It will be important to also determine what kind of relationship you want to hold with the food companies you partner with. Will you sell to a manufacturer who handles the distribution or will you sell products ready-to-go to a retailer. Some foods may be prepared for the food-service industry, while other products need to be individually packaged for retail. When you decide your ideal target audience and buyer, you will have a better idea of how you need to prepare your products for sale.

Pitch Your Product to Buyers

You can pitch your product directly to your target buyer, or you can let your food broker do the presentation. You will want to bring samples of your product to show off exactly what the buyer can expect. You will want to be prepared to show barcode and packaging as well as information on price lists, conditions of sale, production capacity, and quantity discounts. During this meeting, you should be prepared to share your industry experience, your business plan, and a professional business card. Always listen carefully to buyer feedback and be prepared to implement ideas for improvement, like better packaging.

Launching your newly invented food product is a big deal that will have a huge impact on your business. At the end of the day, a food broker can really help bridge the gap between your expertise and the buyer’s needs. You can find a great food broker to help you problem-solve and grow your sales. In order to grow in a sustainable way, working with the best food buyers for your niche in the market.

As the name suggests, a food broker is someone who acts as a type of liaison between your business and the types of stores you depend on to get your products into the hands of as many people as possible. In a way, it can be helpful to think of a food broker as something like an agent – they work with you and they leverage their contacts to your advantage, all in the name of generating as much exposure (and business) as possible.

Therefore, if you’re in the process of expanding your business, a food broker is singularly positioned to become the best friend you’ve ever had. This is true for a number of different reasons, all of which are certainly worth a closer look.

The Power of a Food Broker: Breaking Things Down

By far, the most important benefit that a food broker will bring to the table is their wealth of experience and the connections they have fostered within the industry. This is especially true and valuable for a startup business, as they may find it challenging to navigate the system.

A food broker, on the other hand, is concerned with all of these details – and they can not only help you present your product in the most compelling way possible, but they can do so in the most efficient and cost-effective manner, too.

Along the same lines, a food broker is also a master negotiator – meaning they’re experts at working directly with you to figure out the best way to promote your product. If something like end cap placement will make a big difference in terms of how your items are received by the marketplace. They will help you put your best foot forward, no matter what. They’ll also work diligently to negotiate the best possible terms of your deal, removing all guesswork from the equation.

Remember that you can only make one first impression of your products. A food broker will help you make the best one possible.

But in the end, the most important thing to understand about all of this is that a food broker is someone who is singularly devoted to helping you bring you more business, and put you in a better position for success. Regardless of what your actual expansion goals are, a food broker is excellently positioned to help you achieve them – all without hiring additional employees and all in a way that improves your bottom line spending across the board. If you’d like to find out more information about why food brokers are the best way to expand your business, or if you just have any additional questions that you’d like to discuss with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t delay – contact us today.

If your business is getting ready to launch a big-time food product, obviously your number one concern comes down to the quality of the food itself. This is important, to be sure – but it’s also just one small part of a much larger story.

There are other things that you’ll need to consider to not only make your product as enticing as possible but to also secure the best supply line to ingredient wholesalers (among other factors) that you can.

Food Ingredient Brokers and More: What to Know BEFORE Your Product Launches

By far, the most important thing to be aware of before you launch your big-time food product comes down to all of those people who can step in and lend a helping hand when needed. A food ingredient broker is going to be chief among these people. At its core, a food ingredient broker is someone who will work directly with ingredient supply providers on your behalf. They’ll work hard to help you determine exactly what you need and exactly where you need to get it, all while working hard to develop relationships and deals that allow you to enjoy the highest rate of return that you can.

But beyond that, one of the major things you need to consider is that while there may be a lot of manufacturers who offer the ingredients you need, not all of those manufacturers will be created equally. You need to find partners who align with not only what you want to convey as a brand, but who can also meet your expectations in terms of the specific types of products you’re launching.

This is another one of those areas where a food ingredient broker will come in handy – they can match your products to the optimal manufacturer for each, all while guaranteeing the steady supply of all ingredients that you need to truly help you thrive.

Finally, you need to be able to think about things in terms of the bigger picture – meaning you need to be aware of all of the factors that will impact your product’s success BEYOND simply conception. You also have to make important decisions regarding branding, sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and even marketing – a roadblock in one area will absolutely impact the rest of the chain. This may indeed be the most important advantage that a food broker partner will bring to the table – they can help you mitigate risk at every single one of these points, creating the most exceptional experience possible, no matter what.

When you’re getting ready to launch a food product, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the event. But when the food industry is so tightly packed with competitors, it’s crucial to give your company the right advantages. Whether you’re competing on value, taste, or sheer novelty, food ingredient brokers can be the key to getting your product in front of the eyes of consumers.

What Do Food Ingredient Brokers Do?

Food ingredient brokers are well-versed in sales, but they are not salespeople. Instead of just following your directions and pitching your brand, they’ll consider the many facets of your new food product. From the pricing to the packaging to the food chain supply, they’ll help you make adjustments that can ensure success. You may need to schedule more demos or make your initial promotion a little more splashy. You may need to emphasize a certain feature a little more, such as the product’s health benefits.

Once the product is ready to compete in the wider market, your broker will negotiate deals with retail decision-makers that will ultimately bring your product to customers. A broker is a partner as opposed to an employee or vendor. When your success is their success, the broker should do everything in their power to improve your bottom line whenever possible.

How to Find the Right Broker

Finding a good broker starts with identifying the qualities you’re looking for and the rates you’re willing to pay. The type of person you need and the work you’ll need to be completed will vary based on everything from your target demographic to your location. Many food ingredient brokers will specialize in niche products, such as organic meats or specialty cookies. The more experience the broker has, the more likely they’ll be to predict the reception to your product.

Getting Ready

Before you even begin reaching out to brokers, it helps to have all of your ducks in a row. This includes listing all the stores you want to be in, all the stores you’ve contacted, which categories your product falls into, how you would like the business to grow, and how your margins will impact your distributors.

When there are so many new brands trying to get their voices heard, the constriction of profit margins has grown tighter with nearly every passing month. When you first meet with a broker, find out how long they’ve been working, who their references are, what kind of commission they charge, and which territories they handle.

Our clients look to us for help in matters large and small. (It’s not uncommon for tiny decisions can make or break your product.) If you want to know more about what we can do for you, book your free consultation with us today to see just how far our expertise can get your product.

Food Ingredient Brokers don’t exactly have an official playbook that spells out how to turn themselves into a success. There needs to be the right combination of skill, ambition, and instinct to be a highly effective professional. 

1. Picking the Right Manufacturers

Trust is the key here. Do you believe that their manufacturers will come through for you?

2. Tempering Expectations

An effective Food Broker knows that new companies can destroy their efficiency if they aim too high. A good and effective food broker will help you keep your wits about you as you set manageable goals.

3. They Tend to Specialize in Certain Products

A good Food ingredient brokers will usually find more success when they specialize rather than trying to broker all ingredients

4. They Keep Your Larger Strategy in Mind

Whether you’re accepting clients or renegotiating contracts, a professional Food ingredient broker will help you make sure each action is building toward a bright future.

5. Research, Research, Research

They work with you to create your sales goals every quarter, keep obsessive records of your sales, and look for ways to carve out a stronger foothold in the industry.

6. Helping You  So You Can Set Your Milestones

Your big success will come in small stages. It doesn’t have to be 100% linear, but you should have milestones that will keep you track.

7. Find Ways to Delegate and Helping You Discover Other Opportunities For Efficiency 

You’re not an island, and you won’t succeed if you’re always trying to handle every little problem along the way.

8. They Understand The Value Your Time

Money is potentially infinite, but your time is not. Don’t let yourself be weighed down with things that don’t matter.

9. Reduce Your Visits

All food ingredient brokers know that face time can be invaluable for them, but unfortunately, it can only be used sparingly when there’s so much else to be done.

10. Shorten Communications

You don’t have to write long emails or have lengthy phone calls. Get to the point and get back to work.

11. Spot the Trends & Making You Aware Of Them

Brokers have to be aware of what’s on the horizon if they want to plan ahead. If you’re too busy putting out fires, you’ll never advance in your career.

12.Knowing How & When To Invest In Marketing

People need to know you before they decide to work with you. Marketing is all about persistence, so you really need to invest both your attention and money to help leads become aware of you. A good Food Broker, with the right experience can help guide  or consult with you about the timing and strategy 

13. The Help Create & Foster Strong Relationships

Reliable, honest, professional: it doesn’t take more than the basic principles to earn a reputation that reassures your clients you’re the real deal.

14. They Can Help You Build a Strong Culture

Do you take accountability for your mistakes? Are you always trying to go the extra mile?

15.They Will Always Help You Remember the Bigger Picture

Food ingredient brokers are so much more than salespeople. They need to have a greater mindset to outlast their competition.

The right food industry consultants can be the key to saving your sanity. The Greater Goods can help you with any of the above, making it easier to conquer the trials and tribulations you face every day.

Do you find yourself spending a crazy amount of time trying to find those unusual ingredients you need for your innovative menu items? Are you frustrated that as soon as you find a source it dries up or becomes prohibitively expensive? You may have considered outsourcing this task, but are confused about what type of business to work with, a food broker or a food distributor. We understand the terms are somewhat similar, but there’s a distinct difference between these two types of food companies.

What is a food ingredient broker?

A food ingredient broker works directly with a number of food brands, farms, and manufacturers to connect their products with restaurants, chefs, grocery stores, and other retail outlets. Many of the companies and farms that work with brokers are relatively small and offer ingredients you might not find from a large food distributor. Some brokers specialize in a particular type of food; others are more diversified. Unlike distributors, brokers don’t usually warehouse products. Instead, they facilitate the connection between the food producer and the restaurant or other purchaser. They generally charge a fee to the food producer for their services. Some advantages of using a food broker include being able to use the broker’s many industry connections to source difficult-to-find ingredients and saving time you’d usually spend on researching food sources and making food purchases.

What is a food distributor?

The big difference between a food distributor and a food broker is that the distributor purchases the food products from the farm or manufacturer upfront and then sells them to restaurants, grocery stores, and other retailers. Since food distributors invest in inventory and then sell it to customers, they are generally less likely to stock more usual, less commonly-used ingredients, such as organic items and those from overseas. Some advantages of using a food distributor include being able to take advantage of cost savings associated with the distributor’s large purchasing power. For chefs, restaurant owners, and kitchen managers, finding the menu ingredients you need for the right price can be a challenge. While both can help you outsource your food purchasing and free up time for you to spend cooking and interacting with your guests, knowing when to use a food ingredient broker and when a food distributor might be a better choice can help you obtain reliable, affordable sources of all the food you need.

Have you ever been frustrated that you can’t find a reliable source for the key ingredient to a fabulous new menu item? Do you stress about an inconsistent price and quality of your ingredients? Are you looking in vain for products and purveyors with organic and other certifications? Do you find yourself spending as much time looking for ingredients as you do cooking and managing your kitchen? Working with a food broker can alleviate many of these issues.

What is a Food Ingredient Broker?

A food broker can help you navigate these many issues associated with finding the ingredients that make your restaurant’s food so special. A broker works with a number of food manufacturers, distributors, and growers, and can help you negotiate excellent pricing as well as find ingredients you may have had difficulty procuring. However, securing a reliable source of all the food items you need for your menu is just one of the many benefits of working with a food broker.

The Benefits

1. We give you back time for your other responsibilities. The time we free up sourcing your ingredients for you allows you to concentrate on managing your business, interacting with your guests, and being accessible to your employees.

2. It’s more cost-effective to outsource your ingredient shopping. Sure, you can hire a person or a team to handle finding and purchasing all the unique ingredients for your restaurant. However, the broker’s fee is almost always less expensive than hiring an in-house purchasing agent.

3. Food brokers know the right people. A food broker’s sole focus is buying and selling food. That means he or she knows a lot of food people and can often find consistent, reliable sources for ingredients you’ve been having trouble securing.

Challenges to working with a food broker

1. You have to relinquish a little control. Giving over the responsibility of finding and purchasing your ingredients can be a little stressful to chefs who are used to being in control of everything in their kitchens. However, the results and with all the found time you’ll have will likely make you forget your control issues.

2. The broker may not be as passionate about organic foods or other values. If you’re the type of chef who will walk to the ends of the earth to source a rare, organic ingredient, working with a food broker may not be the right choice for you. While we have multiple, reliable sources for quality, affordable ingredients, even some rare ones, we probably won’t send a ship to Patagonia to pick up those Chilean peppers you need for your salsa.

Finding the ingredients you need to keep your restaurant solvent and still producing innovative, delicious dishes doesn’t have to be an impossible task. A food broker can help you source the ingredients you need and give you extra time to spend with your customers and staff.