In the past couple of years, many new businesses have started offering matcha products. In fact, some companies specialize in the green powdered tea. Some examples include different matcha cafes, types of subscription boxes, or matcha tea ceremony masterclasses. That’s why we created a blog post on how to start a matcha business. These and other companies in the food and beverage industry need large quantities of this precious ingredient. That’s why, in this article, we’ll talk about the matcha wholesale business, where you can sell and buy in bulk, and the different types of matcha products on the market.
What Businesses Buy Matcha Wholesale Products
Cafes and Coffee Shops
Drinks such as iced matcha lattes or matcha smoothies have become the stars of cafe menus in the past few years. That’s why many coffee shops order large quantities of this green powdered tea. This way, they benefit from lower prices and maximize profits from their menu items. Lately, a lot of people are comparing matcha vs coffee and more customers are switching to the latter. Cafes need to adapt to the current coffee trends and change their menus to include more caffeine alternatives such as matcha drinks.
Juice and smoothie bars are also potential clients for a matcha wholesale vendor. If you’re planning on starting a business as a wholesaler in the matcha industry, these clients can be valuable. They rarely require as large quantities as known cafe brands or bakeries. Thus, they might not be of interest to other well-established matcha suppliers.
Restaurants and Bakeries
More and more recipes with matcha can be found online. Restaurants and pastry shops are benefiting from this trend in order to improve the customer experience at their venues. Matcha is often used for baked goods, but there are many dessert recipes as well. Restaurants might use matcha in a variety of dishes and sauces too. This is especially true for Asian cuisine venues. Bakeries offer matcha-flavored cakes, bread, cookies, and other baked goods. By partnering with wholesale matcha suppliers, these businesses can stock different qualities of matcha and also benefit from the lower prices of buying in bulk.
Hotel franchises that offer an Asian-inspired experience or accommodate a lot of guests from Asian countries often add a large variety of Asian cuisine items to their menus. That’s what makes them excellent clients for a matcha wholesale company.
Health Stores & Businesses
Companies that provide health and wellness-related services such as gyms and wellness centers might incorporate matcha products in their processes. A good example of that might be offering matcha smoothies after a workout or using matcha oil for massages. The antioxidant properties of this green tea make it a great supplement for people who strive for a healthy life. Spa centers can also stock matcha body scrubs.
Spice and Tea Shops
Tea retailers specialize in teas from all over the world. That’s where matcha enthusiasts will go to buy high-quality products to prepare at home. That is why tea shops are among the most important clients for a matcha supplier.
Key takeaway: Matcha is considered an expensive ingredient. That’s why most businesses that use matcha buy it from wholesalers. A big percentage of this green tea powder comes from Japan. That’s why buying directly from customers is not as popular as buying from matcha wholesale vendors.
Where to Buy Matcha Wholesale
As matcha is a more exotic product, most businesses that buy it in large quantities do so online. Here are some ideas where your business can find green tea matcha wholesale vendors.
- Directly from producers. You can contact matcha farmers directly and get better prices. The cons of this approach are that you will need to handle the logistics and documents related to the import from Japan.
- Online B2B platforms. Some platforms connect wholesale vendors with businesses from the food, beverage, catering, and hotel industries. An example of such an online marketplace is BlueCart which provides a variety of solutions for businesses that are looking for reliable wholesalers.
- Tea distributors. As tea is among the most consumed drinks in the world and in the US, some companies specialize in tea distribution. Such businesses have established relationships with producers and can offer you a variety of matcha products at different prices depending on the quality.
- Trade shows. You can attend trade shows and expos where managers from the food and beverage business gather together to exchange ideas and contacts. At international exhibitions, you can even find matcha producers from Japan.
- Importers. Find companies that import from Japan. A lot of them specialize in importing products for the food and restaurant industry. Therefore, they might be familiar with all regulations related to importing tea as well as the conditions under which matcha should be transported.
The main factors to consider when buying matcha are price, quality, certification of the producers, and consistency of supply. Additionally, make sure to find out what is the matcha type you’re ordering as different kinds of matcha powder have different applications.
Where to Sell Matcha Wholesale
Finding the right customers is essential for any successful business. Here are some ideas where you can sell wholesale matcha.
- Online marketplaces. There are many online marketplaces for sellers to offer products and search for the most frequently bought wholesale products to sell. You can list your products there. They are a preferred place for businesses that wish to stock a variety of items such as coffee, matcha, and yerba mate. Most platforms have an easy setup and can be integrated with your current eCommerce solution.
- Directly to retailers. You can always count on direct marketing. Reach out to national or local retail stores and food stores. Even though it can be tough to win a client of this scope, the effort is worth it as it can be very beneficial for your matcha wholesale business. Additionally, strive to establish relationships with smaller buyers such as cafes or specialty tea & coffee shops. They can be the backbone of your business.
- Develop your marketing channels. Unlike tea or coffee, matcha is still gaining popularity. This means the competition online is not as fierce as with other popular drinks, and it will be much easier to grab a significant market share online.
- Invest in packaging equipment. If you have large quantities of matcha, one of the best growth opportunities for your business is to start offering small packages of matcha to retail customers. Many enthusiasts wish to experiment with matcha drinks and food at their homes. You can turn them into your customers with the help of matcha subscription boxes or small packages of their favorite green tea powder.
Small quantities can even be offered on some of the most popular marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or Walmart.
By offering matcha powder in small quantities, the opportunities for your business are practically unlimited.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wholesale Matcha
The following questions might help you if you’re planning on opening a coffee shop, or you have a wholesale business and wish to start offering matcha as well.
Is Selling Packaged or Wholesale Matcha Profitable?
As with other products, selling packaged goods is more profitable than selling wholesale. However, businesses that sell matcha wholesale and in bulk benefit from the fact that they don’t have to invest in packaging machinery. The consumption of matcha grows steadily every year. This means that its price will grow and the profit margins will stay high.
What Are the Different Types of Matcha?
Generally, the main types of matcha are ceremonial, culinary, and ingredient matcha. Ceremonial matcha is the most expensive type while ingredient matcha is the cheapest option on the market. There are varieties of these categories such as super ceremonial matcha or economy-grade ingredient matcha.
Why Is Matcha Expensive?
Matcha is grown in very few regions, most of which are in Japan. Additionally, the demand for this powdered green tea is way higher than the supply. These are the main factors that make matcha so pricey. In addition to that, there’s a lot of labor involved in matcha production which increases the price additionally.