Setting up a convenience store: finding the right food supplier
Opening a convenience store is a significant investment. One of the first decisions you will need to make is where to buy your stock. The wholesale supplier you choose will affect your margins, your shelf availability, and how much time you spend chasing orders instead of running your shop.
What products sell in convenience stores
The core categories for most convenience stores are soft drinks, confectionery, and snacks. These are high-turnover, impulse-buy products that customers expect to find in any local shop. Soft drinks alone can account for 15-20% of a convenience store's revenue.
Start with the brands your customers know: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Monster Energy for soft drinks. Mars, Snickers, KitKat, Cadbury for confectionery. Build your range around these, then add value lines and local favourites as you learn what sells in your area.
Choosing between cash and carry and delivery
Cash and carry means driving to a depot, loading up, and driving back. You control exactly what you buy and you can see the stock before you purchase. The downside is the time it takes, especially if the nearest depot is not close.
Delivered wholesale saves you time. A good supplier will deliver to your door on a schedule that works for your business. The trade-off is usually a minimum order requirement. For most suppliers, including us, the minimum is around £100 for delivery.
Many convenience store owners use a mix of both. They have regular deliveries for core stock and visit a cash and carry for top-ups or special offers.
What to look for in a supplier
Reliability matters more than the cheapest price. A supplier who delivers on time, every time, is worth more than one who is 2% cheaper but misses deliveries. Empty shelves cost you more than a slightly higher wholesale price.
Look for a supplier who stocks the brands your customers want, delivers on days that suit your schedule, and is easy to contact when you need to change an order or ask a question.
Getting started with us
We supply convenience stores across the Midlands with soft drinks, confectionery, and fresh foods. Our depot in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent serves businesses from Newcastle-under-Lyme to Stafford and beyond.
Call us on 01782 873547 or request a callback to get a price list and discuss what your new store needs.