Fresh produce delivery to local cafes and restaurants
Buy fruit and veg in bulk from the market and deliver it to local cafes, restaurants and caterers.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
4,441 UK companies in this field, 33% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 46310 “Wholesale of fruit and vegetables”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small wholesale round. You buy fresh fruit and vegetables early from a wholesale market or a trade supplier, then deliver orders by van to independent food businesses.
Your first three steps
- Visit your nearest wholesale market or trade supplier, ask about trade accounts and compare prices on a typical basket
- Speak to 10 local cafes, restaurants and caterers about what they buy, how often and what they pay now
- Price up a second-hand chilled or well-ventilated van and get quotes for goods-in-transit and public liability insurance
Who pays
Independent cafes, restaurants, pubs, caterers, small grocers and care homes that want fresh produce without a big supplier's minimum order.
How it makes money
You sell at a margin above your buying price, usually per case or kilo. Regular weekly orders and a tight delivery route make the margin worth having.
Skills that help
- Judging produce quality and freshness
- Early starts and reliable timekeeping
- Pricing and basic bookkeeping
- Building relationships with chefs and owners
Watch out for
- Food business registration with your local council, normally needed before you start trading, so check how early to apply
- Food hygiene and traceability rules for storing and transporting produce, check what applies to you with your council or the Food Standards Agency
- Public liability and goods-in-transit insurance, plus van insurance that covers business use
- Thin margins and spoilage, unsold stock can waste quickly so buy cautiously at first
- Late payers, consider setting clear payment terms and credit limits for new customers
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: fresh produce delivery to local cafes and restaurants
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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 produce delivery round?
Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your van, opening stock and insurance. This is an estimate, so get insurance quotes and compare supplier prices before you commit.
How much can a fresh produce delivery business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your customers and order sizes. Margins can be thin and unsold stock can spoil, so buy cautiously at first. Allow at least around 20 hours a week.
What rules should I check before delivering fresh produce?
Check food business registration with your local council, including how early to apply, and what hygiene and traceability rules apply to storing and transporting produce. Also check you have public liability, goods-in-transit and van insurance that covers business use.
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