Local specialty food supplier to cafés

Independent cafés, delis, small grocers, restaurants and food trucks that are too small to get good service from big distributors.

You buy at wholesale or case prices and sell at a markup, often with minimum order sizes or delivery fees. Regular standing orders matter most for steady income.

• Sales and relationship building
• Organizing stock and delivery routes
• Basic bookkeeping and pricing
• Reliable driving and lifting

• Check whether your state or county requires a food warehouse or distributor license or registration, and whether FDA food facility registration applies to you
• Storing food for resale at home is often not allowed, so check local rules, or rent a small storage unit or shared space
• General liability and product liability insurance, plus commercial auto cover if you use a vehicle for deliveries
• Margins are thin and customers may pay on terms, so watch your cash flow
• Check expiry dates and labeling, and keep supplier records in case of a recall

Startup costs are typically around $2,500 to $12,000, depending on your opening stock, storage space, delivery vehicle and insurance. These are estimates, and a narrow niche of shelf-stable products helps keep equipment costs low.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many cafés and shops you supply, your product range and your pricing. Margins can be thin, so watch cash flow if customers pay on terms.

Check whether your state or county requires a food warehouse or distributor license, and whether FDA food facility registration applies. Storing food at home is often not allowed, so check local rules. Also check insurance and labeling and expiry records.