Almost every business within the restaurant industry uses some kind of sweetener. That’s why selling sugar is such a profitable idea. After all, a wholesaler’s product catalog doesn't have to stop at sugar. Instead, they can expand their lineup of goods with items like sugar substitutes and specialty sweeteners, like flavored sugar wholesale.
But how can sugar wholesale suppliers go about selling such products to the masses? In this blog post, we will discuss this topic in greater detail. Now, without further ado, let’s dive in!
The Process of Selling Sugar Online
Luckily for anyone with an entrepreneur mindset, selling sugar doesn’t always have to be as daunting of a task as it might seem. You will find a list of steps below. Simply add them to your action plan for a thorough business launch. So, continue on and get a head start on selling sugar wholesale.
Evaluate the Wholesale Sugar Market
Before you can begin selling sugar, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the market. While it’s a niche market indeed, it revolves around some of the best-selling ingredients in the food and beverage industry. So on the bright side, there will surely be many growth opportunities when selling sugar wholesale.
What competitive advantage can you leverage in your business? Are there any gaps in the current market that your product line can fill? These are just a couple of many questions that you must ask when evaluating the wholesale sugar market. And of course, you should certainly have all the answers before you begin selling sugar to the masses and investing in promotional efforts.
Setup a Digital Storefront
One of the first steps you must take before selling sugar wholesale is building a digital storefront of some kind. An eCommerce platform is where the bulk of your orders will take place. After all, in the digital ecosystem that we operate in today, very few businesses call in orders.
BlueCart offers eCommerce solutions built for all types of wholesale food distributors, including sugar brands. Whether you want to sell B2B, D2C, or both, we’ve got you covered. Book a demo today to learn all about it!
Once you have a digital storefront ready to go, you can proceed with the next steps. You’ll be able to direct everything back to the storefront, which is a must. Plus, SaaS providers and marketing plans rely on an existing website to move forward. So, it’s important to at least have a basic storefront in motion sooner rather than later.
Source Various Types of Sugar and Sweeteners
Okay, so your plan is that when business personnel research where to buy sugar wholesale, your website will be at the top of the search results. But which products do you plan to sell exactly? Consider the following options as you conduct product research:
- Granulated white sugar
- Coconut sugar
- Brown sugar
- Brown sugar substitute options
- Flavored sugar options
- A monk fruit sweetener
- Erythritol artificial sweeteners
- Artificial sweetener blends
- Powdered sugar
- A powdered sugar substitute
Every item on the list above is purchased for commercial use in kitchens and manufacturing facilities worldwide. Whichever products you choose, they’ll likely sell to numerous types of businesses. With this in mind, it’s vital that you market them accordingly. But we’ll talk more about marketing strategies in a bit.
Develop Enticing Product Listings
Sugar and sugar alternatives are very simple ingredients. This means that you need to make an effort to establish a solid first impression. This can be done with a thorough and attractive product listing. But what will that look like for a product as simple as sugar?
First, ensure that you have clear and aesthetically pleasing photos of each product and its packaging. If you operate a white label sugar brand that distributes products in minimal packaging, showcase the products inside bowls or on a flat surface. Then, write a brief yet detailed description explaining what the product is and how buyers might use it. It’s also crucial to list information about the product weight as well as the nutritional data.
Come Up With a Pricing Strategy
Consider what the market value is for each of the ingredients you sell. Then, compare what competing sugar brands are charging for various product types. Do any of them implement a premium pricing strategy? What about a dynamic pricing strategy when clients purchase bulk sugar wholesale? These are the kinds of questions that will allow you to establish a competitive sugar wholesale price for each product.
Plan a Full-Scope Digital Marketing Strategy
You can’t expect to be successful in selling any kind of product without implementing a thorough marketing strategy. So, what will yours consist of? A few ideas that you should find helpful in promoting your product line include the following techniques:
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Social media marketing
- A generous loyalty program
- Paid advertising on Google
- Enticing discounts and promotions
- Sponsored posts in wholesale directories
Be sure to implement one marketing tactic at a time. By going about your promotional strategies with a trial-and-error kind of approach, you’ll inherently be able to zero in on what does or does not work. From there, you can invest in marketing campaigns according to your historical data.
Choose An Order Fulfillment Platform
By investing in an all-in-one inventory management platform, you’ll be equipped with the tools to monitor all transactions. As orders roll into your system, inventory levels will adjust accordingly. Your team will also be able to view unprocessed orders, orders that are in progress, and in-transit shipments. When running a busy company that regularly incurs new orders, a tool like this is essential for remaining efficient.
Stock Up On Wholesale Packaging Materials
One of the final steps you must take before selling sugar wholesale is stocking up on packaging materials. For sugar and other sweeteners, you should purchase moisture-resistant bags for slightly dryer and ore granulated products, like granulated cane sugar. You should also package stickier ingredients with higher moisture content in plastic bags. Then, those bags of sweeteners can be packaged inside cardboard boxes. These boxes consist of the packaging that will clearly display the product information.
Once you have a warehouse or storage unit fully stocked with packaged ingredients, you’ll need to have shipping materials in bulk. From sturdy cardboard boxes to packing tape, companies can’t use flimsy materials when shipping sugar. That’s simply because bulk sugar is heavy and must avoid moisture and direct sunlight. The answer to, “How is sugar shipped” should be determined before selecting related materials.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Sugar
Selling sugar can serve as the foundation of an extremely lucrative business model. After learning what the process of doing so looks like, you can take the first several steps toward running a successful venture. For additional information on the topic at hand, review the FAQ section below.
Where Can I Buy or Sell Sugar In Bulk?
There are numerous outlets where you can either buy or sell sugar in bulk, which include:
- A wholesale directory
- eCommerce platforms
- Cash and carry outlets
- Broadline distributors
- Wholesale retail stores
Is Selling Sugar Cane Profitable?
Yes, selling sugar cane can be extremely profitable due to it being such an in-demand product. It’s also worth noting that if a brand sells sugar, it also makes sense to sell related goods, such as sugar blends and artificial sweeteners. So, it’s very possible that you can develop an extensive product line that caters to various consumer groups.
Is It Hard to Sell Sugar for Maximum Profitability?
No, selling sugar for maximum profits isn’t necessarily a difficult task. While there is steep competition within the sugar market, it’s still a product that both consumers and businesses use regularly. As long as you price your products competitively and market them accordingly, selling sugar can certainly lead to high profits.
Is Sugar or Stevia More Popular?
Sugar is definitely more popular than stevia. It has been a go-to sweetener for centuries, especially when you consider natural options like honey and maple syrup. On the other hand, stevia has only become mainstream in the early 21st century.
Can You Sell Sugar Online?
Yes, you can absolutely sell sugar online. Many sugar brands opt to sell their products via eCommerce storefronts. This method of selling sugar can be integrated with the company’s website for simple user navigation.
Achieve Success From Selling Sugar Online
Now that you know all about selling sugar online, it’s time to get to work! By implementing these steps one at a time, as well as other in-depth protocols associated with launching a new business, you should be able to maximize your resources and operate a successful wholesale business.