Are you starting a wholesale chocolate business? If so, you may be looking into where to buy and sell wholesale chocolate.
Just like with wholesale candy and wholesale healthy snacks, the market for chocolate is huge. In fact, the global chocolate market is valued at $75.32 billion USD. This is because chocolate is a sweet treat that people enjoy on a daily basis, for special occasions, and events.
Getting into the wholesale chocolate business can be very rewarding; however, it’s important to know where to start. This includes where to buy and sell wholesale chocolate.
Wholesale Chocolate Business Plan
Opening a business requires thorough planning. This means that you will need to write a business plan for your wholesale chocolate business before you get things rolling. A brick and mortar or eCommerce business plan will allow you to determine what your business needs and how to work towards meeting your goals in the future.
Key Takeaway: Starting a wholesale chocolate business will require you to find a chocolate supplier. Once you secure your supplier, you have to determine your wholesale chocolate distribution channel.
Four strategic factors to include in your wholesale chocolate business plan include:
1. Costs
Establishing your business costs before you start your wholesale chocolate business is crucial. This gives you an idea of what your startup costs and overhead expenses will look like.
When you start a food business, such as a bulk candy, snack food, gourmet popcorn, or wholesale chocolate business, it’s likely that you will have to invest in kitchen equipment. For a chocolate business, this will include a cold table, baking thermometers, refrigerators, and freezers.
It's possible to build a small stand-alone kitchen for an average price of $50,000. A storefront business has startup costs that range from $150,000 to $200,000, depending on the location.
An alternative to having a storefront is running an eCommerce wholesale chocolate business. This is similar to an online candy store that sells online candy products to customers.
It’s also crucial to factor in ongoing expenses for your business. These include payroll and labor cost, supplies, and utilities.
2. Target Market
Once you determine if you will make your own chocolate or use a chocolate distributor, it's time to establish a target market. A target or niche market refers to your ideal customer that will purchase your product.
It’s common for businesses to choose multiple target markets compared to a single one. However, it’s important to test your niche to be sure that you’re going after the right target market. This way, you can evaluate what works and what doesn’t for bringing in and retaining customers.
3. Use Marketing to Define Your Brand
As a new business, it’s crucial to define your brand. This will allow you to stand out from your competition. When it comes to chocolate, the taste is a huge factor.
A way to define the brand of your wholesale chocolate business is to provide customers with a sample of your product. This gives them an opportunity to taste your product before purchasing it while also establishing trust.
As an online business, getting people to taste your product is tough compared to when opening a store. Consider opening a food truck or pop-up shop for your product, sending direct mail marketing campaigns, or setting up booths at local markets.
Targeting a busy holiday that has high chocolate demand, such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, or Christmas is ideal. This is because people are more inclined to add chocolate to their shopping lists during these holidays.
4. Create a Website
Establishing your presence online is big for any business these days. When creating a website, it’s ideal to use an eCommerce website builder and include an about us page and privacy policy.
Using eCommerce SEO tactics, such as SEO terms and internal linking, will help your website rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs). This means that more people will be able to discover your website and your wholesale chocolate business. Linking your social media profiles to your website will encourage visitors to further engage with your business.
What to Look for In a Wholesale Chocolate Supplier
When you start a wholesale chocolate business, you’ll likely look into how to find wholesalers to supply your chocolate. This is if you choose against making the chocolate products on your own.
One way to find a chocolate distributor or wholesale chocolate supplier is to browse through a wholesale directory. It’s possible for you to find a distributor that offers a wide range of products you may need. This will be beneficial for you because it provides you with a chance to do more business with a single supplier.
Working with a single supplier will allow you to reduce your upfront costs. It’s possible for wholesale distributors to provide rewards for high spending. Keep in mind that most suppliers will have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) and economic order quantity (EOQ).
Once you find your wholesale chocolate supplier, you can focus on delivery management and setting up delivery times. This is also important for your inventory management process. Proper inventory management will allow you to monitor inventory levels to always have the right amount of stock on hand.
Chocolate Wholesale Distribution
After you secure your wholesale chocolate products, it’s time to start selling. Determine if you will sell direct to consumer (D2C) or through a B2B business model. Be sure to understand the D2C meaning and B2B vs B2C meaning.
Finding your ideal food distribution channel will allow you to properly market your product. Potential wholesale chocolate distribution channels include selling online to customers, selling to retailers, or selling through a storefront.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Chocolate
Whether you’re a chocolate fanatic or simply want to tap into a profitable business idea, selling wholesale chocolate is a good starting point. Before you begin your wholesale snacks business, consider the following commonly asked questions about selling chocolate.
How Do I Sell Chocolates Online?
To sell chocolate online, you have to first find a chocolate distributor and create a store through an online marketplace. This will allow you to set up your online chocolate store and start selling your products to customers.
BlueCart provides buyers and sellers with a marketplace to sell their wholesale products. To learn more about what BlueCart can offer you and your wholesale chocolate business, schedule a demo today!
Marketing will play a big role in customer acquisition and customer retention. Be sure to have a customer acquisition strategy in place to ensure business success.
Is Selling Chocolate Profitable?
Yes, selling chocolate is profitable because there is a large market for chocolate due to the many holidays associated with chocolate consumption. These holidays include Easter, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas. In fact, the average profit margin for a wholesale chocolate business is between 70-80%. Aside from this, there are also unique flavor options for chocolate products that appeal to different customers.
How Do You Distribute Chocolate?
To distribute chocolate, you need to make sure that it is packaged correctly. This includes using aluminum foil or composite films to wrap the chocolate. It’s also possible to use paper or plastic trays.
The process of shipping chocolate is similar to that of shipping candy. It’s important to take the proper precautions when shipping chocolate because chocolate can melt at different temperatures. Such precautions include shipping the chocolate in temperature-regulating boxes.
Be sure to consider overnight shipping and expedited shipping options. Use a shipping cost calculator to calculate the shipping costs of your package.
What Are the Trends In the Chocolate Industry?
The trends in the chocolate industry include dark chocolate made with high percentages of quality-grade cocoa and less total sugar. This trend appeals to more health-conscious consumers.
Following food trends–such as beverage trends, produce trends, and coffee industry trends–will allow you to stay on top of the competition. This can make your business more appealing to the consumer and what they’re looking for.