Bulk Buying Club Best Practices Toolkit - The Food Security Network ...

Step 8: Source Food
One of the most important things a bulk buying club
will need to determine is where the food will come
from.
Many potential food suppliers exist – including
grocery stores, supermarkets, wholesalers, cooperative
suppliers, farms, and online retailers - and
you can shop from more than one. The first thing
you should do is find out as much information as you
can about the possible suppliers for your group, to
allow you to make an informed decision.
It is useful to develop an agreement with your supplier that provides your group
with discounts on prices, delivery, and sale items to help you maintain your
budget. Farmers and other food producers may be interested in selling their
products directly to your group, which will ensure that you are receiving the
freshest, healthiest food possible.
What to Order
The decision about what sort of food to order may have been agreed upon in
your initial group meetings. Different bulk buying clubs can focus on different
foods; some clubs may focus on local, organic, or allergen-free food, while
others may specialize in large quantities of dried goods such as rice, lentils, milk
powder and flour.
Be sure to keep healthy local options in mind when you‟re sourcing vegetables,
fruit, dairy, fish and meat. A wholesaler or other supplier may be willing to offer
reduced prices or transportation rates if your group will commit to buying a
certain amount of food each month. You need to consider time for
transportation, whether goods are shipped fresh or frozen, best before dates
and maximum shelf life of all the foods you order.
Supplier Conditions
Each store, supplier or distributor will have conditions that your group will have to
follow. These might include opening an account with the supplier, committing to
a minimum order, agreeing on how orders are placed, how often they are
placed, shipping costs, return policies, and shipping methods. Make sure the
ordering conditions are spelled out clearly for your members from the beginning.
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