Rice and grain delivery to local restaurants and shops
Buy rice and grains in bulk and deliver regularly to takeaways, restaurants and corner shops in your area.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
4,011 UK companies in this field, 38% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 46380 “Wholesale of other food, including fish, crustaceans and molluscs”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You buy basmati, long grain, jasmine and other rice and grains in large sacks from an importer or cash and carry, then repackage or deliver them to local food businesses on a regular round.
Your first three steps
- Visit local takeaways, restaurants and shops to find out what rice they buy, how much, and what they pay now
- Ask importers and cash and carry wholesalers for trade prices and minimum orders, and compare at least three
- Arrange a small first stock, a clean dry storage space and a delivery vehicle, then offer trial deliveries to a few customers
Who pays
Takeaways, restaurants, cafes, caterers and independent grocery shops that use a lot of rice and want a reliable local supplier.
How it makes money
You sell at a margin above your bulk buying price, usually per sack or per case, with repeat weekly or fortnightly orders from regular customers.
Skills that help
- Negotiating with suppliers
- Reliable driving and route planning
- Basic bookkeeping and invoicing
- Building relationships with business customers
Watch out for
- Check whether you need to register as a food business with your local council, including any storage premises
- Check food labelling and traceability rules if you repackage or relabel rice
- Public liability and goods in transit insurance, plus vehicle insurance for business use
- Sacks are heavy, so plan lifting safely
- Customers may pay late, so check payment terms before extending credit
- Check whether storing stock at home is allowed by your landlord, mortgage lender or council
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: rice and grain delivery to local restaurants and shops
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 rice delivery round?
Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your vehicle and any storage. These are estimates, so check supplier terms and insurance costs before committing.
How much can a rice and grain delivery business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how many regular customers you win and how much they order. That is revenue, not profit, and customers may pay late.
What should I check before supplying rice to food businesses?
Check whether you need to register as a food business with your council, including storage premises. Also check labelling and traceability rules if you repackage, insurance for goods in transit, and permission to store stock at home.
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