I need some ingredients, in bulk, and cheap!

Hey guys,

I am about to embark on a slight cooking project, and am needing the following quantities in bulk:

Oreo Crumbs
Chocolate Pudding/White Pudding Powder mix
Whipped Cream
8" pie tins and lids, unslanted sides.

I contacted sysco, but it's more expensive going to SYSCO than going to Wal-Mart. Any suggestions?

Jeremy

I would like to find 50 lbs of Dried Ancho Chile Peppers....Russ

quote:

Originally posted by kf4qhk

Hey guys,

I am about to embark on a slight cooking project, and am needing the following quantities in bulk:

Oreo Crumbs
Chocolate Pudding/White Pudding Powder mix
Whipped Cream
8" pie tins and lids, unslanted sides.

I contacted sysco, but it's more expensive going to SYSCO than going to Wal-Mart. Any suggestions?

Jeremy

I doubt that you'll find a foodservice company to be cheaper than any retail store. Price is not the strong suit of foodservice companies. I'd think your best bet would be SAm's or Costco.

BTW, what's white pudding?

http://www.country-pantry.com/bulk_foods.html

I typed in "Bulk" with one of your ingredients and found the above source. You may want to try the same thing for your listed ingredients. RJF

Depending on how quickly you need the items, you might want to contact Troyer Cheese Co. in Millersburg, OH, Walnut Creek Foods in Berlin, OH, or Dutch Valley Foods in Myerstown, Pa. They are the three biggest distributors for Amish and Mennonite bulk food stores.

Try your closest Chef's Warehouse.

Gotta go with jman on this one! I use Costco for a lot of items for the bar that I manage. Food service companies have to charge more for their products to cover the cost of fuel. Also there is usually a minimum order so that is not feesable to you.
David O.

"I contacted sysco, but it's more expensive going to SYSCO than going to Wal-Mart. Any suggestions?"

Uhhhhh.........shop at Walmart

Do you have any GFS Marketplace stores down there? Be worth a shot to check their prices. (www.gfs.com)

Actually, I don't have anything.

I didn't state this at the beginning, but the reason that I am looking for these ingredients, in bulk, is that I am looking to start a dessert business. So, buying in bulk, after the business starts, will be something that I will need to do. For the start, I am just going to be doing this on the side.

Jeremy

Jeremy, there has to be something there... Talk to local food establishments and see who supplies them. You should be able to work something out there.

Best of luck!
73

quote:

Originally posted by kf4qhk

Actually, I don't have anything.

I didn't state this at the beginning, but the reason that I am looking for these ingredients, in bulk, is that I am looking to start a dessert business. So, buying in bulk, after the business starts, will be something that I will need to do. For the start, I am just going to be doing this on the side.

Jeremy

Have you really thought this thing through? Are you gonna specialize in cheap or good? Who will you be your customer base? Where will you be making these desserts?

I still want to know what white pudding is.

White pudding was a typo. I meant White chocolate pudding.

Yes, I have got a game plan going on, I believe. Check it out.

I am in negotiations with my church now. We have a commercial grade kitchen that they may let me borrow on Saturdays, and maybe in the evenings, when our school is not in session. Barring that, I have a bakery that I can start talking to when it opens in 2 months.

I am going to focus on homemade, which should be good, and moderately priced. This dessert, going to Wal-Mart, costs me a little bit over $4 to make. I am thinking that I can retail it for $10.

My business plan is relatively simple. I will go hand out samples during the day to businesses around town. My samples will consist of 2 oz soufle cups, so, just enough to get the taste into their mouth. When I give out the samples, I'll give a business card, with a phone number and a website that the product can be ordered. I'll either deliver it, for a small fee, or I'll have partnerships with local businesses that they can go pick it up from. In exchange for this, I'll give them a small percentage.

Also, one local restaurant, I'll let him slice it up and sell it by the slice, which, should give him 50% gross margin on these slices.

Also, I have a method of giving out "paid for samples." From the last restaurant I managed, I have a few pharmaceutical reps that I have established relationships with, and they said that they'd be happy to buy a large quantity for sales meetings. Say one rep buys for an office with 20 people, I now have 20 people that have the taste in their mouth, and have the ability to purchase it directly.

I am also looking to market online, eventually. An order to ship.

Anyway, that's where I am.

Jeremy

Don't know if you have Smart and Final where you are, but they do bulk in a way that Wal-Mart doesn't, so they would fit the bill the best for what you are looking for.

Also, you could look around for small catering businesses in your area and ask where they get their bulk stuff. As long as you are not in direct competition with them, I would imagine that they could be a good information resource.

Jeremy,

How far out of Headland to you expect to sell your products? If I remember correctly, when I drove through there two weeks ago, it's not much more than a wide spot in the road. Do you see your big market as Dothan? There's at least 22 "mom & pops" in Dothan that more than likely have "home made" pies that they'll sell whole for $10.00 or less.

When you say it will cost you a little more than $4.00 to make, is that for the ingredients? If you're using a bulk pudding mix, prepared oreo crumbs and processed whipped cream, what makes your desserts special? An 8" generic pie for $10.00 doesn't sound too great, IMO. Unless you're gonna sell a boatload of these things, by the time you add up your cost of ingredients, your time for making them and distributing them, the cost of the use of a kitchen, and any other related costs, there's not gonna be much left for profit.

Contact Troyer Cheese Company @(800) 524-4732. They have a major sub-distributor that services Alabama. They might be a good source for the pudding mix and possibly the cookie crumbles.

Actually,

I am wanting Dothan to be my primary market. The niche that I think I'll have is that no one, to my knowledge or experience, goes out and directly markets them. Everything is a "come and buy" product, rather than a "get the taste in their mouth and sell" experience. Also, I have a "twist" for my product that you wouldn't expect, which, I believe, makes it even more valuable.

I am hoping not to have to pay anything for the use of a kitchen, at least initially. I am hoping to partner/work with an organization that has a commercial grade kitchen.

Thank you for your suggestions of Troyer Cheese.

Also, I have a few other avenues up my sleeve.

My goal, at least initially, is to be able to sell around 100 pies a week. At least, I believe that I'll be able to do that.

And, to add to that, although some may believe that foolishness is represented by this statement, I am going to say that I am working from the Favor of the Lord.

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by kf4qhk


And, to add to that, although some may believe that foolishness is represented by this statement, I am going to say that I am working from the Favor of the Lord.
Jeremy

What's foolish about that? I believe we all do that. One of my businesses was absolutely founded by God's Will and my current working relationship with my kitchen was also. No one will ever convince me otherwise.

Maybe you need to call your business "Divine Pies".

Well, the reason that I said that is that some believe that it's foolishness to even introduce the impact of God's design and favor. However, I recognize that I will truly only succeed by His hand upon it. I realize that a God directed business will have a God sized blessing upon it.

Actually, I already have a title, and it's catchy enough so that people will not forget it.

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by kf4qhk

However, I recognize that I will truly only succeed by His hand upon it. I realize that a God directed business will have a God sized blessing upon it.

Jeremy

Don't forget that God also gave us free will. We're free to fail when we make bad decisions.

Absolutely. However, in serving Him, nothing is lost. There are lessons, and redirections, in everything. I Praise His name!

It's funny you mention Free Will. I am Free Will Baptist, by background.

Jeremy