Local rice and grain distributor

Restaurants, takeaways, caterers, independent grocery shops and ethnic food stores.

You earn the margin between your bulk buying price and your price per sack or case. Regular standing orders and minimum drop sizes keep delivery costs under control.

• Selling and building relationships with buyers
• Organising stock and delivery routes
• Comfortable with lifting and driving
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing

• Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence, especially if you import or sell across provinces
• Check your provincial and local public health rules for storing and repackaging food, and in Quebec the MAPAQ requirements
• Commercial general liability and vehicle insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire (rules vary by province)
• Pest control, dry storage and stock rotation, because spoiled or contaminated stock is costly
• Thin margins and slow-paying customers, so set clear payment terms and check your cash flow

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on how much stock you buy, the unit you rent and your delivery vehicle. Thin margins mean it is worth checking your numbers before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your customers, volumes and pricing. Margins can be thin and customers slow to pay, so set clear payment terms and watch your cash flow.

Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency whether you need a Safe Food for Canadians licence, especially if you import or sell across provinces. Also check provincial and local public health rules for storing and repackaging food, and MAPAQ requirements in Quebec.