Fruit wholesale from a small cool store
Rent a small unit with cold storage, buy fruit in bulk and supply stallholders, shops and food makers.
- A$20k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small leased unit or shed with a cool room where you receive pallets of fruit, repack into smaller lots and sell to trade customers who collect or get delivery. You can also supply fruit to juicers, jam makers and caterers.
Your first three steps
- Price up small industrial units or shared cool storage near your market or growers and compare with renting space in an existing produce facility
- Set up supply agreements with two or three growers or agents and ask for trade terms
- Line up a few anchor customers, such as market stallholders, before committing to a lease
Who pays
Farmers market and roadside stallholders, independent grocers, juice and smoothie businesses, caterers and small food processors.
How it makes money
Margin between bulk buying price and the price per carton or kilo you sell at. Selling seconds or surplus fruit to processors can add extra income from stock that would otherwise be wasted.
Skills that help
- Stock control and rotation
- Negotiating bulk deals
- Handling and forklift or pallet jack work
- Building trade relationships
Watch out for
- Council approval for the premises and food business registration, check with your local council before signing a lease
- Cool room running costs and equipment failures, which can wipe out stock
- Cashflow tied up in stock and customers paying late
- Public liability and product liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
- Manual handling injuries, so use proper equipment and training
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: fruit wholesale from a small cool store
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a small fruit wholesale business?
Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $90,000, depending on the unit you lease, your cool room and handling equipment, and how much stock you buy. These are estimates, so get real quotes before signing a lease.
What should I check before leasing a unit for fruit wholesale?
Check council approval for the premises and food business registration before signing a lease. Also check public liability and product liability insurance, workers compensation once you hire staff, and manual handling safety, using proper equipment and training.
How much can a fruit wholesale cool store earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your trade customers, volumes and stock mix. Cashflow can be tied up in stock and late payments, and cool room costs matter. Plan for at least about 35 hours a week.
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