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"Never buy what you do not
want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you."
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Food Service Directories || Kitchen Tools
Specialty Food ServicesBefore delving into the links to suppliers, here’s a few ChefDesk comments about Buying…
Experienced chefs realize that profits start with controlling costs. After you have decided the quality specifications of the foods you want, take the time to talk to your sales rep about the prices of the items on each order. ASK for better prices, frequently. You will often get what you ask for! Cut your costs before they show up on an invoice. This may sound obvious, but it is a rule some chefs ignore because they think they are too busy to "deal with salespeople".
So, the next time your sales-rep comes by for the order, ASK for better prices on items again. Keep asking - every time! Then, read your invoices upon delivery. Make organized, written notes regarding any increases in prices. Do this before your rep comes back. Tell your reps what you have noted, so they know that you are paying attention. They are not the enemy, but they are trying to make money - Your Money! Be fair. Suppliers need a minimum amount on a delivery in order to send the truck, and they need to hit their profit margin, too. It isn’t all going to go your way. Asking for a better price will not get you "blanket" discounts. But if you seldom ask for a lower one, you won’t even get the "easy" discounts that you could! Got it? JUST ASK!
End of lesson…
The restaurant market is HUGE! There are thousands of suppliers serving our industry.
Many "full-line" suppliers (Sysco and Alliant, for example) can simplify product searches. You may at times pay extra for this convenience. A large number of us use these large suppliers because they do provide steady service and convenience. Yet, they do not try to be everything to everyone. Hence, thousands of other suppliers are getting parts of the pie by specializing in custom products, quality, and personal service, or they are the actual manufacturer of the item you want.
The links will help you find sources of equipment, foods, and supplies. Regarding food, try to buy it locally and fresh. Contact your area’s farm bureau. They can tell you who grows what in your area and point you to markets where you can find fresh ingredients. There may also be local sources of premium quality seafood, game, meats, cheeses, beer, wine, coffee, and "ethnic" foods. Join or at least contact your restaurant association and use their lists to connect with local sources.
| Food Service Directories |
| Bakery-Net |
| http://www.bakery-net.com/ |
| A tremendous source for bakers. Links to suppliers of pastry and baking equipment, ingredients and services. |
| Food Service Directories |
| Food Master |
| http://www.foodmaster.com |
| A source guide for ingredients and food processing equipment used in the manufacture of food and beverage products. |
| Food Service Directories |
| Foodservice.com |
| http://www.foodservice.com |
| Supplier Listings, Employment Boards, "Talent Available" postings, Trade Show Information, News and Information Industry Data, a Foodservice Bookstore, and a Biweekly magazine! |
| Food Service Directories |
| NAFEM |
| http://www.fstec.com/nafem.cfm |
| North American Food Equipment Manufacturers Association. Visit this site to learn about the latest food equipment trends and shows. |
| Food Service Directories |
| Prepared Foods Buyer's Guide |
| http://www.preparedfoods.com/ |
| This is a database of sources of food ingredients geared for food manufacturers. Quite comprehensive! |
| Food Service Directories |
| Produce Marketing Association |
| http://www.pma.com/ |
| The PMA’s site features a members’ link page for clicking through to large producers and distributors, a "Products & Services" page for browsing through its booklets, reports and training aids related to produce (and foodservice) and its annual Expo page which does list hundreds of produce-related exhibitor’s contact information. |
| Food Service Directories |
| Restaurant Operator.com |
| http://www.restaurantoperator.com |
| This site is an efficient way to find foods, supplies, equipment, services, software, restaurants for sale, business opportunities, etc. ... plus Employees! It is well organized, describes the supplier and gives you a link to their online pages. Very handy! |
| Food Service Directories |
| Thomas Food Industry Register |
| http://www.tfir.com/ |
| Thomas’s searchable database lists 30,000 U.S. and Canadian suppliers of items in 6,000 product categories. You’ll go through a brief registration process in order to start searching. With so much there, searches take more than a single step but you are likely to find a source for most items: foods, supplies and equipment. |
| Food Service Directories |
| Yahoo |
| http://www.yahoo.com |
| Go here and type in the item or type of service or product you are looking for and click "Search". Can't get much easier, eh? |
| Kitchen Tools |
| BIG TRAY |
| http://www.bigtray.com/ |
| Shop for and buy restaurant and bar equipment and supplies online. Good prices and extensive inventory. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| Chef Knife .Net |
| http://www.chefknife.net |
| An excellent online source of chef's knives, featuring the Russel Dexter line, as well as other kitchen tools. Their website is also rich in links for cooks and chefs. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| Culinary Cookware |
| http://www.culinarycookware.com |
| The entire Matfer Boureat catalogue of culinary tools, cookware, molds and supplies at wholesale pricing. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| Food Service Direct.com |
| http://www.foodservicedirect.com |
| Foodservicedirect.com offers over 12,000 items for your kitchen or dining room. Dry foods offered include cereals, nuts, spices, and most canned goods. The site also offers a complete line of kitchen equipment including cookware and cutlery. Most items ship prepaid within 2 days. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| JB Prince Co. |
| http://www.jbprince.com/ |
| This firm specializes in fine tools and has a comprehensive Garde Manger offering of high quality tools. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| PRO Cutlery |
| http://www.procutlery.com/ |
| An excellent source of professional cutlery, food preparation equipment and supplies. Their website also contains very useful info on knife care, sharpening, carving and much more. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| Professional Cutlery Direct |
| http://www.cutlery.com |
| A variety of culinary tools… not just cutlery. Excellent prices and fast service. |
| Kitchen Tools |
| The Chef’s Store |
| http://www.chefs-store.com/ |
| Offering equipment, tools, clothing, books for home and professional chefs. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Bay State Milling |
| http://www.baystatemilling.com |
| A supplier of quality flours: wheats, whole wheats and ryes. Their links to associations serving the bakery trade is quite helpful. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| California Specialty Farms |
| http://californiaspecialtyfarms.com/ |
| This company provides foodservice operators with an extensive line of baby greens, pre-trimmed vegetables, garnishes and other hard-to-find produce items. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Chef2Chef |
| http://www.chef2chef.net |
| Chef 2 Chef is an amazingly rich website dedicated to professional chefs. You will find a wide range of supplies, contacts and current information here. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Earthy Delights |
| http://www.earthy.com |
| These folks supply some of the best restaurants nationwide with specialty products: wild mushrooms, dried fruits, cheeses, nuts and chiles, to name a few. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Egg Farm Dairy |
| http://www.creamery.com/ |
| Establishing a reputation for excellence, this New York cheese and butter specialist is selling to top restaurants around the country. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Flavor Roux |
| http://www.flavorroux.com/ |
| A manufacturer of prepared Roux of various flavors based on fats from Beef, Pork, Duck and Chicken as well as butter and oils. Pale to Dark Roux are available. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Frieda’s |
| http://www.friedas.com/ |
| Frieda’s distributes to the produce retail biz but her site invites a chef’s visit for its worthwhile information on a wide assortment of produce. She is best known for popularizing kiwifruit. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Hubert Company |
| http://www.hubert.com |
| If you retail food in a deli, bakery or market this is the place to find all your special merchandising and display supplies. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Indian Harvest |
| http://www.indianharvest.com/ |
| An excellent source of exotic grains, rice and heirloom beans. Indian Harvest’s web pages contain bushels of interesting information on its many products. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Johnny’s Selected Seeds |
| http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ |
| Another excellent supplier of quality garden seeds. This page links to a valuable list of gardening sites. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| KONTOS Flatbread & Pita |
| http://www.kontos.com |
| This company specializes in a wide selection of well-made flatbreads and pita bread products. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Penzeys, Ltd. |
| http://www.penzeys.com/ |
| Their catalog is well know for its thorough offering of herbs and spices as well as its infomative history, lore and recipes. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Quickspice: Asian Foods & Supplies |
| http://www.quickspice.com |
| This site sells a very good array of Chinese, Japanese and Thai foods and related supplies. Products are packaged for retail. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Shepard’s Garden Seeds |
| http://www.shepherdseeds.com/ |
| Shepherd’s printed catalog is a font of inspiration for developing a kitchen garden. Their selections of lettuce varieties, vegetables, herbs and tomatoes are terrific. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| The Global Food Market Place |
| http://www.globalfoodmarket.com/ |
| More of a retail outlet, the "Market Place" does carry a diverse assortment of products that may pique your interest; blocks of French goose liver, for instance. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| The Herb Shop |
| http://www.theherbshop.com/ |
| Selling bulk herbs, dried aromatics and other flavorings. Quite a complete product line. |
| Specialty Food Services |
| Winblecker Enterprises |
| http://www.winbeckler.com/ |
| A fantastic source of CAKE DECORATING and Candy Making supplies and related materials. |
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