Although some businesses in the restaurant industry still stock their pantries by ordering via phone or email, wholesale ordering platforms have become very popular. Instead of using directories to find vendors, eateries can benefit from restaurant technology in the field of wholesale ordering. These solutions can be beneficial for both suppliers and wholesale buyers. In this post, we’ll share a few examples of some of the best SaaS platforms for restaurant wholesale ordering. We’ll also explain what these solutions are and what their benefits are. Make sure to check out our posts on how BlueCart helps vendors sell smarter, not harder, and how to grow a foodservice distribution business.
Key takeaway: Foodservice wholesale ordering platforms are used by restaurants, coffee shops, and small foodservice businesses like food trucks. They offer products in categories like meat, baked goods, staple food ingredients, produce, and more. They’re also used by distributors of restaurant supplies and equipment. The best SaaS platforms for restaurant wholesale ordering also have additional features and tools related to inventory management and analytics.
What Are Restaurant Wholesale Ordering Platforms
These are solutions that allow food service businesses to go through digital catalogs of suppliers and order products in bulk. Some platforms specialize in certain categories (like produce or gourmet food products) while others offer customers a wide variety of goods. These platforms can be used as part of the wholesale marketing strategy for distributors. That’s because they can generate sales and increase the revenue of suppliers. Furthermore, they are also beneficial for hospitality businesses as they make the wholesale ordering process much easier.
Modern foodservice ordering platforms can be integrated with POS systems, inventory management software, and other platforms. In addition, they also have restaurant data analytics capabilities that allow hospitality businesses to track purchasing data.
Benefits of SaaS Platforms for Wholesale Ordering
- These platforms are specifically designed for B2B sales. As such, they give distributors access to a variety of B2B marketing tools.
- Since they are SaaS, these platforms are easy to use and don’t require a complex installation process.
- In addition to wholesale ordering functionalities, these platforms offer other tools such as real-time inventory tracking or calculating the cost of goods sold.
- SaaS wholesale ordering platforms save time for both buyers and sellers.
- These solutions make not only the wholesale ordering process easy but also the payment of goods, tracking deliveries, and managing multiple locations.
- Some platforms also have vendor-managed inventory capabilities, which are excellent for medium and large businesses.
Examples of SaaS Platforms for Restaurant Wholesale Ordering
Various SaaS solutions specialize in the ever-growing hospitality niche market. That’s why there are different software options, platforms, and solutions for wholesale ordering in the foodservice sector. Here are a few examples of such products.
- BlueCart. We are proud to say that BlueCart’s Endless Aisle is one of the best SaaS platforms for restaurant wholesale ordering. Not only does it help businesses buy wholesale products, but it also has various additional tools. BlueCart’s Endless Aisle can be used to manage inventory, to track profitability, and to source new suppliers. It’s also a great solution for suppliers who wish to expand their distribution network and increase sales.
- Pepperi. Being a broad B2B eCommerce platform, Pepperi also offers products in the food and beverage category. It’s designed for enterprise-level businesses and supports features such as vendor inventory integration and order routing.
- Notch Connect. Notch (formerly known as ChefHero) is a lightweight SaaS platform for restaurant wholesale ordering that is primarily used by local and small businesses. It has fewer tools compared to other solutions.
BlueCart’s Endless Aisle for Restaurants
Ever since it was released, BlueCart’s Endless Aisle has been one of the best platforms for restaurant wholesale ordering. Allow us to share some of its key features.
- Calculating profit on single menu items or the establishment as a whole helps business owners in the food service sector make their business more efficient and profitable.
- Managing inventory is crucial when it comes to perishable food products. BlueCart’s inventory management, predictive ordering, and subscription orders can significantly help restaurants in that regard.
- Thanks to BlueCart, vendors can increase their repeat orders and subscriptions.
- BlueCart’s Endless Aisle is used by thousands of wholesalers. That means food service businesses get a wide selection of products in various categories.
- Tracking order history, price changes, and analyzing wholesale ordering patterns are further reasons why BlueCart is one of the best tools in foodservice wholesale sales.
Frequently Asked Questions about SaaS Platforms for Restaurant Wholesale Ordering
Whether you wish to know how to make your wholesale catalog stand out or are looking for information about B2B marketplaces for food distributors and restaurants, you’ll find resources on BlueCart. Check out our answers to commonly asked questions regarding restaurant wholesale ordering platforms.
How Do Restaurants Order Ingredients and Supplies?
Nowadays, most food service businesses use innovative platforms or other digital solutions to order in bulk. There are still some restaurant businesses that prefer to order by email or phone. However, distributors actively try to automate order management. Thus, suppliers integrate ordering solutions to make the process more efficient for them and for their customers.
A lot of eateries order their ingredients and supplies from broadline distributors. Other businesses prefer to use specialized suppliers. Visiting cooperative markets and inspecting their products is also common. Especially when it comes to seafood, produce, or meat.
How to Source Vendors?
Businesses that wish to find suppliers have multiple options. In recent years, using solutions like BlueCart’s Endless Aisle has become a preferred method to source vendors. It allows companies to quickly browse through products of different suppliers and find the best value for money. Combined with the fact that BlueCart allows wholesale buyers to track inventory and calculate restaurant profit margin, we can confidently say that BlueCart is a great way to source vendors. Searching for suppliers on wholesale directories or visiting physical wholesale cooperative marketplaces is still common for some food service businesses.
What Are the Trends in Restaurant Wholesale Ordering?
Digitalization is undoubtedly a major trend in the hospitality industry. Companies in this sector look for ways to integrate different systems and automate processes. That has resulted in the popularity of SaaS platforms for restaurant wholesale ordering. Fewer eateries prefer to order by phone or email.
Another trend in ordering ingredients is related to the integration of food inventory management with ordering. As food service businesses deal with a lot of perishable goods, they need to order more frequently in order to have fresh ingredients. Thus, inventory management can be challenging. Ordering in bulk based on current inventory levels and demand forecast makes it significantly easier for eateries.
BlueCart: The Wholesale Ordering Platform for Restaurants and Suppliers
Restaurant managers, coffee shops, owners of food trucks or other small businesses, retailers, and other companies can benefit from BlueCart’s SaaS platform. Thanks to tools like the predictive ordering feature of BlueCart’s Endless Aisle and its inventory management capabilities, BlueCart is one of the best restaurant wholesale ordering solutions. Sign up today and see for yourself why thousands of businesses in the food and beverage industry use BlueCart to order in bulk.
If you operate a distribution business, BlueCart’s Endless Aisle for wholesalers can help you increase revenue and automate various processes. Schedule a demo with our sales team and see why BlueCart is the powerful wholesale ordering software for your business.