National Food Service Management Institute Section 7: Vendor Choices 1 Section 7: Vendor Choices (Step 4) Food Purchasing for Child Care Centers

Section 7: Vendor Choices 1 National Food Service Management Institute

Section 7: Section 7: Vendor ChoicesVendor Choices

(Step 4)(Step 4)

Food Purchasing Food Purchasing for Child Care Centersfor Child Care Centers


name the vendor choices in his/her community and list some of the advantages and disadvantages of each and

write an information sheet for vendors for his/her center.

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

The learner will be able to


Choices Available to YouChoices Available to You

Depend on the community where your center is located


Words Meaning . . .Words Meaning . . .

. . . “a business that sells . . . “a business that sells food and supplies”:food and supplies”:

Vendors Suppliers Stores Distributors Retail vendors Wholesale vendors


Identifying Your Choices . . .Identifying Your Choices . . .

. . . is called a market area

analysis.


Possible ChoicesPossible Choices

Specialty stores Local grocery stores Supermarkets Wholesale clubs Wholesale grocery

distributors Institutional distributors Institutional jobbers


Specialty StoresSpecialty Stores

AdvantagesAdvantages

Local meat/fish market Fresh produce stand

Exact amounts needed

Lower prices Bread outlet

Farmers market

Fresh food


Specialty StoresSpecialty Stores

Have limited variety Do not have CN labeled

convenience foods Usually do not deliver Takes time to pick up

items Make more stops to get

food

DisadvantagesDisadvantages


Fresh, frozen, and canned foods

Convenient location Charge accounts

One check at end of month Use of store’s money until

receive tuition or government payment

Local Grocery StoresLocal Grocery Stores



Local Grocery StoresLocal Grocery Stores

Limited variety of food No CN labeled convenience foods Small cans and packages

More time needed to prepare meals No delivery



Wide variety of fresh, frozen, and canned foods

Weekly promotions with cost savings

SupermarketsSupermarkets



24/7 No. 10 cans

Reduced time for meal preparation

Charge accounts





No CN labeled convenience foods

Limited delivery



Wholesale prices No. 10 cans and

other quantity pack items

Phone orders

Wholesale ClubsWholesale Clubs



Wholesale ClubsWholesale Clubs

No charge accounts No CN labeled convenience foods Annual membership

fee No delivery



Charge accounts Delivery Order by

Salesperson Phone Computer

Wholesale Grocery DistributorsWholesale Grocery Distributors



Wholesale Grocery DistributorsWholesale Grocery Distributors

Small home-size cans Very few frozen foods No CN labeled

convenience foods Minimum delivery

requirements possible



Institutional DistributorsInstitutional Distributors

AdvantagesAdvantages Charge accounts Delivery Order by

Salesperson Phone Computer

CN labeled convenience foods


Institutional DistributorsInstitutional Distributors

Minimum delivery requirements may apply.

Containers may be too large for your center.

It is necessary to carefully evaluate your center’s needs.



Food delivered immediately upon being sold Combination of large and home-size

containers

Institutional JobbersInstitutional Jobbers



Institutional JobbersInstitutional Jobbers

Must pay for food when purchased

Offer limited selection of food Do not know in advance what is for sale Often do not have refrigerated trucks



If You Are Not Sure . . .If You Are Not Sure . . .

Ask questions. Ask other

child care centers, schools, restaurants, nursing homes, or hospitals.



Ask your State CACFP Agency or licensing agency representative.

If you have a sponsoring agency, ask its representative.



Read the names of companies on the delivery trucks you see.

Copy the phone numbers.

Call the vendors.

Ask the vendors if they are interested in your business.


Information Sheet for VendorsInformation Sheet for Vendors

Purpose: Tell vendor about

your center Provide credit

information



Name of the center

Address

Phone number

Fax number

E-mail address



Organization of the center Non-profit, for-profit, or

public

If non-profit, list of members of board of directors

If for-profit, list of owners



Number of meals served daily Days and hours of operation Name, address, and phone number

of the center’s bank and the officer who handles the center’s

account Names of the center’s employees

authorized to place food orders

Documents

National Food Service Management Institute Section 7: Vendor Choices 1 Section 7: Vendor Choices (Step 4) Food Purchasing for Child Care Centers