Dairy products are used so extensively that they make up a massive amount of the wholesale product industry. If you use large amounts of butter products, milk, cheese, or yoghurt, then you likely need a dairy product supplier.
From Butter Products to Cheese: What Are Dairy Products?
Dairy products are any milk-related product meant for human consumption. There are a number of products made from milk, so it’s not surprising that this is a large industry. Some of the more common products offered by a dairy supplier include:
Milk: Of course, milk is one of the more popular options for dairy suppliers and wholesale milk is available in everything from skimmed and 1%, to semi-skimmed and whole milk. This may be used in baking, cooking, or simply for drinking.
Yoghurt: When milk is deliberately fermented using a yoghurt culture or a collection of bacteria that create lactic acid, it produces yoghurt. This is a thicker dairy product that has a smooth texture and a tart flavour. It’s frequently flavoured with fruits and served as is, but it can also be mixed into recipes that require heat.
Cheese: There are so many different types of cheese that you could try a new one every day for a year and still not taste them all. Different cheeses are created in different ways, but most start out by being heated and having a bacteria added to culture the cheese. After that, rennet is added, an enzyme that will curdle the milk. Fresh cheese can be eaten almost immediately, but other cheeses must age to develop the full flavour. Cream cheese, cottage cheese and queso fresco are all fast cheeses, whilst cheddar, Swiss, and Camembert are cheeses that require ageing.
Cream: When whole milk is left to sit, the cream is the fatty layer that rises to the top. Different types of milk have different amounts of cream, but you’ll find that you can buy cream on its own. It’s a delightfully rich product that can be stirred into soups and gravies, whipped into whipped cream, or cooked into a delicious dessert. Cream is also the base for making butter.
Butter: Butter is a product that is made from cream. When the cream is agitated enough, the fat particles separate and become a solid lump of butter. This is then rinsed and (if salted butter is being made) salted. Butter can be used in cooking, baking or simply as a spread on bread, scones, and the like.
Which Industries Use a Dairy Supplier
So many industries require a dairy product supplier. Essentially, any business that uses large amounts of dairy products will need a reliable supplier. These include resellers such as supermarkets, convenience shops and hospitality businesses.
Many dairy products will also be purchased for use in cooking. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, bed and breakfasts, schools, hospitals and prisons all need large quantities of ingredients in order to cook the food they need or for use in drinks, such as milkshakes, teas, coffees and hot chocolates.
What to Consider While Choosing a Dairy Product Supplier
There are so many different dairy suppliers available that you may find it difficult to determine which is the best choice. Fortunately, you can rapidly narrow the options down by weighing up the following considerations.
Quality of the Products
One of the most important parts of choosing a dairy supplier is finding one that has consistent quality. This is more difficult to find than you may expect, but when you find a wholesaler who provides consistently high-quality dairy products, you know you have a good supplier. It’s best to test various products to determine just what you can expect from them.
Product quality often goes back to the original animals. How are the cows handled? Where do they live? What are their living conditions like? Most wholesale milk suppliers can’t tell you a lot about where their products come from, so it’s a good idea to look for a company that can provide you with that information. The better the dairy animals are treated, the better quality their milk and subsequent dairy products.
Variety of Products
Ideally, the dairy product supplier will offer more than just wholesale milk. They should provide a variety of cheeses, yoghurts, and other products related to dairy. The more variety, the easier it is to make all your purchases from one company.
It’s also possible that the company, like Freshways, will provide other types of products that are closely related to dairy products but aren’t actually made from dairy. For example:
- Juices
- Jams and spreads
- Bread and other bakery items
- Eggs
When you run a business dedicated to foodstuffs, it’s often simpler to purchase the majority of your products from one place. This way, you’ll have everything you need for the week, without having to juggle dozens of orders. For example, you may order Hovis bread and scones or bagels, then add some cream cheese, jams and juices, along with butter, eggs and milk. When you serve your customers breakfast, you will have everything you need to create a delicious meal and would have only had to buy from one supplier.
Minimum Order Quantity
Before you make too many inquiries about a business, you should ask about their minimum order quantity (MOQ). This is the amount that you must order, though you can order anything above that, too. If you can’t make the minimum order quantity, you should look elsewhere.
The MOQ is a precaution designed to protect wholesale prices and to ensure the company doesn’t have too many small orders. This can cause costs to go up and may even destroy the demand process. Ideally, there will be a nice balance for everyone.
Ease of Ordering
How easy is it to order from the dairy supplier? If you have to jump through too many hoops, it will tend to reduce the number of orders going through. Ideally, your perfect supplier will make it simple to place an order. It’s a good idea to see if the supplier has a way to order through your preferred means, such as by phone call or on your laptop or tablet. The process should be relatively easy.
Customer Service
The customer service provided by a dairy supplier may make or break the relationship. If you want to work with a supplier, it’s essential that they provide timely answers to your questions and strive to make sure you are happy with your order. Unfortunately, some companies lack this even from the start.
A simple way to check if customer service will be an issue is to contact the supplier and ask some questions about their products, where the milk comes from and such. This will give you some information to work with, but it also allows you to note just how friendly the customer service people are and whether or not they are knowledgeable and able to answer your questions.
If you’re still not certain about their customer service, take a closer look at the company’s online reviews. This should provide you with a good overview of how others see them and what people’s experiences are like.
Pricing
Of course, pricing will be a factor, though quality should certainly be the first thing you consider. From there, you want to ensure their butter products and wholesale milk is not overpriced. When you find a company that provides high quality products, along with good pricing, you’ll easily be able to determine if they’re a good fit for your business.
Keep in mind that wholesale prices often fluctuate, depending on the cost of the milk and how much you intend to buy. Larger quantities tend to cost less, so if you’re going to use plenty of dairy products, consider asking what the levels for lower pricing are. This will help you determine how much you want to order. For example, if the price drops after 25 lbs of butter and you intended to purchase 22 lbs, it may be worth it to purchase the extra three pounds just to get the discount.
What’s Next?
Now you need to actually start contacting various dairy suppliers. You can find out what their prices are like, what the minimum order quantity is and more. It’s best to do some research before you contact the companies to determine which are the best choices for your needs. Then you can begin to make some decisions and find the right supplier for you to work with.
Many companies will allow you to test their products by offering samples, and this can help you determine the quality.
If you’re looking for a dairy supplier, Freshways is one of the best options available. With fresh, wholesale milk and other products, you can ensure your customers are always happy when purchasing your supplies from us. Contact us today to learn more.