The food industry has a lot of leading players, and if you are in the food sector yourself, whether you are operating a restaurant or dining establishment or are manufacturing various food products, you need to know who these leading players are. A leading supplier, for instance, can give you the ingredients you require, and if they are a good supplier, they will make sure that the ingredients they supply are of the best quality and are safe as well. If you are looking for a supplier of food ingredients, there are certain questions you shouldn’t neglect to ask first. Here are the top questions you should ask a food supplier before placing an order.
How much are their products?
Of course, the price of the product or ingredient will depend on what kind it is. You can expect to pay more, for instance, for fresh ingredients that are not in season in your area, and you can also expect to pay more for premium products such as truffles and extra virgin olive oil. But the good news is that, even if the products or ingredients are on the expensive side, there are suppliers which can give you great discounts for products ordered in bulk – you just have to find out from the supplier itself whether they are willing to offer you a good deal. Discounts can also be had when it comes to delivery (regular deliveries may give you certain discounts), and you may also receive discounts based on the packaging of the ingredient or how it is processed (sliced and cut, pasteurised, etc.).
How will they deliver?
You should also ask a prospective supplier how they are going to deliver your order. Are they able to deliver it themselves straight to your door, or do you have to arrange delivery yourself? What about the delivery schedule – is there a specific time for deliveries, or can delivery be arranged on a bespoke basis? Also, and more importantly, does their time of delivery coincide with your own schedule? The supplier you choose should be able to give you the ingredients you need when you need them so as not to affect your production and operations.
How long have they been in the business, and do they have any accreditations?
Another top question you should ask the supplier is how long they have been operating as a supplier. If they have years of experience, then that’s all well and good – but aside from this, it also pays to know if they have any accreditations or even awards. A supplier with the right accreditations and certifications such as www.kiril-mischeff.com (especially when it comes to food safety) should be considered – more so if they have awards from industry bodies as well.
