B2B food sourcing: where to start
B2B food sourcing sounds formal, but at its core it's simple: find someone who makes a thing, and buy it repeatedly. The hard part is knowing where to start when you don't have a network yet.
Start with what you already buy
The best first suppliers are the ones behind the products you already know and like. Look at a label, find the brand, reach out. You'd be surprised how many small producers are happy to sell directly, or to point you to their distributor.
Trade shows are the fast track
Once you know roughly what you want, a trade show compresses months of searching into a few days. You meet dozens of suppliers, taste the product, and get real numbers on price and minimum order. We wrote more about that in our sourcing guide.
Buy small before you buy big
Never start with a huge first order. Get a sample, then a small batch, then scale. Every step tells you something about the supplier before you've risked real money.
Sourcing is a skill you build by doing, not by reading. But starting small and starting specific gets you further than most people expect.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a distributor or a brand?
Either works. Brands can sell direct, distributors handle bigger volume.
What's a normal first order?
Small. A sample or a small batch, before any real commitment.
Where do I find suppliers fast?
Trade shows, and the labels on products you already like.
Keep reading
The logistics behind bulk gift boxes
Sending forty boxes to forty addresses is where good gifting ideas go to die. Here's how the bulk logistics actually work.
Client gifts that don't end up in a drawer
Most client gifts get forgotten by Friday. The ones that don't are edible. Here's why food boxes beat branded notebooks every time.
What is SIAL and why does it matter for food
SIAL is one of the biggest food trade shows in the world. Here's what it is, who it's for, and why a small shop keeps going back.