Although water treatment facilities, road de-icing, chemical manufacturers, and other industries control a vast market share of the sodium chloride market, salt retail businesses also play an important role in salt supply chains. For example, in recent years, gourmet products like black volcanic salt or smoked salt for seasoning have become popular among cooking enthusiasts and the restaurant industry. In this post, we’ll share more about the B2C side of salt sales and how business owners can grow their retail salt business. If you want to know more, make sure to check out our post about the different salt business opportunities.
Key takeaway: Salt retail stores purchase various types of salt at wholesale prices and sell them to individual customers. Besides edible salt, they might also offer other product categories such as bath salts, wellness products, or spices.
Salt Retail Sales
A very small percentage of all the salt produced ends up on grocery store shelves. The majority is industrial sodium chloride or B2B sales of salt purchased from food processors or food service companies. However, salt retail sales give plenty of opportunities to entrepreneurs and other businesses. Here are some of the ways you can increase your revenue or grow your business from the sales of salt.
- In addition to edible salt, your business may also offer various other types of salt-related products. That includes halotherapy goods such as salt lamps or essential oils for aromatherapy. Bath salts are also a high-demand product category to sell.
- Have educational materials and content related to the benefits of salt. For example, you can start a YouTube channel with useful videos about salt therapy and the different types of salt used in cooking. This will help your brand awareness and has the potential to become an additional revenue stream. Don’t forget to benefit from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok as well.
- Influencer marketing is a great way to promote D2C brands. That’s why salt retail sellers can partner with nano and micro influencers to advertise their products. Depending on the type of products, both food and wellness influencers can promote sales of salt-related goods.
- Packaging plays an important role in salt retail sales. High-end packaging can make a simple product appear exquisite. That’s why companies can increase the value of their items by having elegant and functional packaging.
- Although most businesses purchase wholesale salt from distributors, it’s possible for salt retailers to also sell to companies. For example, a small eco-friendly restaurant might choose to partner with an online retailer that offers a wide variety of salts and has expertise in this field.
Wholesale VS Retail Salt
Undoubtedly, bulk sales of salt make up the majority of the global salt market. However, starting a salt distribution business can be challenging. It requires large capital investments for warehousing, inventory, and delivery trucks. Furthermore, a wholesale salt business also needs to invest time and money into product sourcing, marketing, and sales. On the other hand, selling salt retail can be much easier, especially with the help of innovative eCommerce solutions. Startup businesses can benefit from the dropshipping model at first. Once they grow sales and become a well-established brand, they can switch to having stock in inventory in order to grow their profit margins.
Growing and Scaling a Retail Salt Business
If you already have a salt business that is focused on D2C sales, you might be interested in learning how to grow and scale it. Here are a few ideas to explore.
- Offer a diverse selection of products. That includes not only gourmet sea salts, but also flavored salts, seasoning mixes, health-focused products, sustainable salt, and wellness & spa products;
- Benefit from additional sales channels. In addition to selling from your online store, you can list your products on third-party platforms. This will increase your revenue and make your brand more recognizable;
- Partner with other businesses. Consider offering private-label salt for other retail brands. You can also create unique propositions for restaurant businesses and other food service companies;
- Efficiency can be the difference between a regular business and a very profitable one. Aim to improve your cost of goods sold, strive to achieve high ROI with your marketing campaigns, and invest in proper inventory management;
- Add more product categories or identify new markets. If your primary focus is to sell gourmet salt, your customers might also be interested in buying organic honey, exotic spice blends, or other specialty products. In addition to selling online, expand your reach to farmers’ markets, gourmet food stores, and other potential markets.
Frequently Asked Questions about Salt Retail Sales
From tips on how to deal with supply chain disruptions to advice on how to find sustainable suppliers, there are plenty of resources on BlueCart’s website for decision-makers in the food and beverage industries. Below are the answers to some common questions regarding salt retail sales and the salt market in general.
How Big Is the Global Salt Market?
The size of the global salt market is estimated to be around 30 billion dollars. Although most people think of salt as an ingredient or a type of condiment, around 90% of the quantities produced are used for industrial purposes. That includes companies that produce chemicals, water treatment facilities, manufacturers of aluminum, and other heavy industries. Salt retail sales account for roughly 20% of the global revenue. That’s because of the much higher price per pound of gourmet and specialty salts. The global market for salt is expected to grow, thanks primarily to emerging markets.
What Are the Different Types of Salt?
Regular table salt, kosher salt, and iodized salt are the most common types of edible salt. They are primarily used as ingredients in cooking and sometimes as condiments. Specialty salts such as Himalayan or Hawaiian, are primarily used as finishing salts. They often come in flakes or chunks. This means they add not only flavor but also texture to the dish. In recent years, Celtic salt and fleur de sel have increased in popularity. Kala namak salt (also known as black Himalayan salt) is also popular among foodies and chefs. When it comes to non-edible types, various companies use industrial salt in large quantities.
What Are the Trends in Salt Retail Packaging?
A growing number of customers search for organic food products that have been manufactured in a sustainable manner. This has also affected the salt packaging design. When it comes to salt retail sales, there are two categories of products – affordable and specialty. Regular table salt usually comes in cheaper packaging. On the other hand, gourmet salts come in a well-designed or functional packaging solution (grinders or biodegradable packaging) that increases the value of the product. These trends can also be seen in other restaurant spices as well.
BlueCart: The Wholesale Ordering Software for Suppliers
Online sales have been slowly replacing brick-and-mortar stores for the past decade. That can be said for both retail and wholesale buyers. If you’re looking for a reliable platform for B2B sales, you need to look no further. BlueCart’s marketplace connects bulk buyers with specialized and broadline distributors. Whether you want to compare prices between different vendors or automate your wholesale ordering process, our solution can be the all-in-one tool for you. BlueCart is also among vendors' preferred SaaS solutions as it allows them to increase wholesale sales and automate their bulk delivery business. Schedule a demo and witness how BlueCart can help distributors in various niche markets.