Whether you operate a restaurant or other food business, or simply need groceries for your office place, it's usually best to buy the bulk of your supplies from B2B food wholesalers. However, it's not always practical to purchase everything wholesale. Despite your best efforts, you may run out of supplies before you thought you would and need quick fill-in products. Or perhaps there are things on your grocery list you simply can't purchase from your grocery wholesaler.

In such cases, you'll need a list of grocery stores that can help you. But as you learn about food retailers basics, you'll soon see that local grocery stores aren't your only—or necessarily best—option. In addition to your local food retailer, consider:

1. A popular food chain that offers online shopping and local delivery

2. Commercial food retailers specializing in online grocery shopping

3. Online speciality and gourmet food retailers

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seek out popular online food retailer information

Many of the nation's top food chains now offer online grocery shopping with delivery. Just create an online account, browse and add food items to your virtual shopping cart, and soon groceries will be delivered to your establishment.

I recommend: Safeway offers online shopping and delivery for as under $7 if your order is $150 or more. Like many grocery stores online, they even offer special services to businesses. Albertsons also offers online shopping and delivery in many areas of the United States.

Create a list of food retailers that are online only

Many grocery stores are cropping up that are online only. A few only sell nonperishable items, but most now ship frozen, fresh and other perishable foods through FedEx and other delivery services.

I recommend: NetGrocer.com sells a wide variety of groceries, which are delivered to your business via FedEx. For $100 orders, shipping charges vary from $21 to $36, depending upon where in the country your business lies. Peapod sends personal shoppers to your local grocery stores, who then deliver your order in person.

Research an online gourmet food retailer

For gourmet foods, an online retailer is often the best choice. Not only is the selection generally much greater than anything you'd find locally, but the quality is often better as well.

I recommend: Gourmet Food Mall has a nice selection of specialty foods, from appetizers to desserts, spices to sauces, kosher foods to gluten-free foods. For superb fresh produce, treats and sweets, try Harry & David. Dean & Deluca offers everything from holiday turkeys to fine cheeses to wines.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When deciding whether or not to purchase food from online food retailers, always factor in shipping costs and convenience verses the cost of fuel and wages to have an employee shop locally.

When you own your own restaurant, food retailers are the main suppliers you will be using. You will buy food on a regular basis and will want to find the best values and products, save time and money, and make sure you have everything you need to run your restaurant.

There are a variety of companies you can use to purchase all of your food. Wholesale food retailers and B2B food wholesalers will save you the most money, but may not always be available for your needs. You will want to primarily use online food retailers, a food chain or two, commercial food retailers and gourmet food retailers. Make up a list of food stores and a list of food retailers that you will use on a regular basis, making sure you take note of the following:

1. Online food retailers are a great source for many of the foods you will use on a regular basis. Include the link, the customer service phone number and the items you normally purchase from each company on your list.

2. If your restaurant offers gourmet food, you will want to keep track of the gourmet food retailers you order the ingredients from.

3. Since many of your ingredients will come from grocery stores, keep a list of grocery stores in your area, and include which foods come from what store.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy your products from online food retailers

Ordering the majority of your food online will save you time and money. There are suppliers on the Internet that you can order from and have them deliver their products directly to your restaurant door.

I recommend: Bulkfoods.Com sells baking and cooking ingredients in bulk at wholesale cost. D'artagnan sells quality meats and gourmet desserts online, and offers a value club that will save you 20-30% on selected items. Venison America sells quality meats and game, and offers several specials throughout the year.

Choose delicious specialty food and desserts from gourmet food retailers

Add a special touch to your restaurant by preparing gourmet meals and desserts. When you use the right companies, gourmet food doesn't have to cost you much more than the non-gourmet foods you offer.

I recommend: Impromptu Gourmet is an online store that sells everything from appetizers to desserts, and offers various specials. Dean and Deluca offer appetizers, meats, desserts and wines, and they have different specials you can choose from. They are also an online store that will deliver everything to you.

Comprise a grocery list for the food retailers in your area for items you won't be ordering online

You won't be able to purchase all of your food from online retailers, so you need to have a grocery list for the food retailers in your area that sell the other items you need. You should include the retailers' name, location, phone number and the item prices for each store.

I recommend: ConAgra Foods provides a detailed, printable grocery list that allows you to select the products you need and the amount of each product for each grocery trip you make. Grocery Genie lets you set up a free account to build your grocery list, print your list and coupons to match the items on your list, and save, edit and remotely access your list whenever you need it.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You and other restaurant owners can talk about food retailer information for your area without giving away trade secrets to each other.

Receiving food retailers education and training before opening a food retail store ensure that your store has the best shot at success. This training gives you the skills to create a retail environment that is both inviting and that complies with all laws and regulations. All people who want to go into the food retail industry can benefit from this training.

Food retailers education and training consists guides, tips and hints to help start your business. Starting the business and learning to sell your products is an integral part of any store. Food retailers are regulated by the government. Learn about the government regulations to save both time and money. Creating a store design or layout that is maneuverable and provides your customers with the products they need with ease is also a vital part of a retail food store.

1. Learn how to become a gourmet food retailer.

2. Get familiar with the laws and regulations for food retailers.

3. Create layouts and designs for successful commercial food retailers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find tips about how to become a gourmet food retailer

Starting up food retail stores is a daunting task for any entrepreneur. Use tips and guides from other gourmet food retailers to help you learn how to gather start-up capital and how to sell the food products you choose to stock.

I recommend: Find tips on setting up and selling food as a gourmet food retailer at the Home Business Center. Read a guide to starting a grocery store business at StartupBizHub.com.

Locate a list of food retailers regulations

Federal and state regulations and laws are in place for all food retailers to keep employees and customers both safe and healthy. These regulations include food storage areas, coolers, freezers, liquor laws and safety information.

I recommend: Find national regulations for food chain stores at Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Visit the Department of Licenses and Consumer Services for liquor licenses and other information about food retailers by state. Visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety guides for grocery stores and their employees.

Learn about store layouts and designs for commercial food retailers

These guides and tips help design your food retail store to produce the most sales and convenience for customers. A comfortable layout keeps customers coming back, while an unorganized store can deter customers no matter how low the prices are.

I recommend: Discovery-Based Retail offers tips for creating layouts for commercial food retail stores. Associated Content provides tips about store layout and design for wholesale food retailers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When starting a food retail shop, some owners become online food retailers to supplement their store's income. Online stores are great places to sell non-perishable items and accessories.