Fruits and vegetables are staples of any restaurant. If you have come across this article then you are either an owner of an eating establishment or someone who is tasked to find a supplier, a would-be restaurateur opening his or her first restaurant, or just someone who is looking for a wholesale grocer of fruits and vegetables.
Good fruit and vegetable suppliers are not hard to come by in Penang. They are scattered all over the island. Some farms and orchards may even sell directly, but a better range of choices are to be had from a local wholesaler.
The best fruits and vegetables suppliers in Penang are usually quite well established and have been the choice of many households and eating establishments in Penang for some time. The best are usually not difficult to find.
However, being “the best'' is relative. It all depends on your needs as a paying customer. No matter the reason for you to choose wholesale for your supply of fruits and vegetables, cost would usually be the main determinant. Wholesale purchases be it on a distribution level or grocer level involves considerable cost. You should weigh your options carefully to get “the best'' for your money.
Gauging by product quality
Not everyone needs premium fruits and vegetables. In fact you can opt to be a little less selective and have a mix of different levels of quality in your inventory. What is most important is food safety. Your vegetables and fruits supplier should be clearly practicing high food safety standards. The last thing you want is to receive a large order of contaminated ingredients.
The gauge for quality of food can also be quite subjective. Quality may refer to the level of freshness (i.e duration after harvest or production) and appearance of the produce. While usually the marketing tool of virtually all fruits and vegetable suppliers, the appearance and “quality” of the produce may have little impact on the quality of the end product. For example, there is virtually no difference between peanut sauces that were made from fresh unpeeled onions and freshly roasted peanuts, to those made with wholesale pre-packaged sliced onions and pre-roasted peanuts. While the latter may not have the same perceived quality and freshness it can save precious time and energy for very busy restaurants.
The best suppliers are also open about where they source their produce. They are confident in their choice of food supplies. Some would even go as far as allowing you to choose where you would like your produce sourced. Those who desire maximum freshness would typically opt for produce from local farms Some wholesalers are also proudly food producers themselves, either owning a manufacturing plant or running a small farm.
Ultimately, quality is in the eye of the restaurant manager. Wise compromises in certain aspects of the produce can save you precious time and money. The best food supplier is able to cater for different client requirements to maximize their budget savings with minimal compromises in quality.
More than just the product
The best fruits and vegetables supplier do more than just lean onto the quality of the produce and high standards in food safety. They also strive to give customers the best overall experience. After all, wholesale is also partly a service industry.
We at Bansan Penang for example periodically make improvements in our online shopping platform to make it progressively easier to shop and manage deliveries. The platform is more”humanized” and our services overall take into account the convenience of our customers rather than having overly rigid operating procedures.
The best wholesale fruits and vegetables supplier offers a more personalized service for each client. While it is convenient having an online shopping platform for B2B purchases, some clients can benefit from direct consultation with a sales representative. If you are looking for the best fruits and vegetables supplier for your restaurant, look for ones that are willing to consult your opinions and visions for your business.
Final thoughts
You can make the best out of any fruits and vegetables wholesaler in Penang. Most are reputable and have been well established in the community. They understand the local markets well and are able to give you the appropriate support and advice. New restaurant owners should start with more budget friendly options, but the cheapest may not necessarily be the best. Those offering better delivery service should also be one of the top choices.
