Jams and jellies are among the most popular types of fruit preserves in the US. A lot of families prepare these products on their own. They are used in a variety of dessert recipes as well as consumed on their own. That’s why you will find a lot of different types of food preserves in grocery stores. Wholesale food distribution companies often sell a large variety of jams, jellies, and marmalades. The main businesses that buy large quantities of these products are stores, representatives of the hospitality and restaurant industry, and institutions like schools. In this blog article, we’ll share some information about the wholesale food preserves and spreads business as well as the pros and cons of buying wholesale products.
Where to Buy and Sell Wholesale Jams and Jellies
Just like wholesale nut butters, fruit preserves can be sold in large quantities to different businesses. In fact, since there are way more variations of jams, jellies, and marmalades, there are more places where they can be sold in large quantities.
Places to Buy and Sell Wholesale Jams and Jellies
- Retail stores. Grocery stores and health food stores sell a lot of food preserves. That is why a wholesale jams and jellies supplier can sell to these businesses. A lot of them have their packaging facilities and can turn large quantities into jars of deliciousness.
- Online retailers and marketplaces. The eCommerce niche is growing rapidly. That’s why it can be profitable to list your products on online platforms where bulk buyers might be interested in them. Additionally, online marketplaces like BlueCart give wholesalers the opportunity to connect with restaurants and other clients.
- Farmers’ markets. If you consider partnering with co-packaging companies, you might be able to sell a lot of jams and jellies at local farmers’ markets.
- Restaurants, cafes, hotels, and bakery businesses. As fruit preserves are often used in dessert recipes, a lot of venues will be interested in buying wholesale jams and jellies.
- Gift shops. A lot of travelers buy gifts for their beloved ones. And jams and jellies made from local fruits and vegetables can be a great gift. That’s why gift shops might be interested in buying wholesale jams and jellies like prickly pear cactus jelly, avocado jam, or jalapeño jelly.
- Trade shows. Attending food expos means you’ll have a lot of opportunities to find new clients for your wholesale jams and jellies business. Additionally, you might be able to find partners for future projects like wholesale peanut butter companies, co-packaging companies, SaaS companies offering wholesale distribution software and other technological solutions, and manufacturers of food preserves.
- National and local institutions. Court cafeterias, schools, and even jails need large quantities of food preserves. That means a wholesale jams and jellies supplier can find valuable clients in these institutions.
Key takeaway: Businesses that buy wholesale jams and jellies include sweet snack manufacturers, hospitality industry venues, institutions, and retailers. The main reason to buy fruit preserves in bulk is the lower price per unit.
Pros of Buying Wholesale Jams and Jellies
There are numerous advantages to buying different products in large quantities. Here are the main reasons why businesses buy wholesale.
- Lower prices. The biggest reason why a company might buy wholesale jams and jellies is the fact that this leads to a lower price per unit. Businesses that use a lot of fruit preserves like sweet snack manufacturers might save significantly by ordering large quantities of jams and jellies.
- Variety of flavors. Wholesalers try to offer many different options to their clients. Thus, businesses might prefer to stock different types of these fruit preserves from one company. The alternative is to search for manufacturers of the different flavors of jams and jellies.
- Easier business processes. Wholesalers that specialize in food preserves know everything about trading jams and jellies. They can give adequate information about the shelf life of different types of these products. Additionally, documentation and invoicing with a single supplier is much easier than with many small manufacturers.
- Long shelf life. Food preservation is done to increase the shelf life of products. Thus, you don’t need to worry about their expiration dates so much as with other products you might consider buying in bulk quantities.
Cons of Buying Wholesale Jams and Jellies
While there are many incentives for companies to buy bulk, there are also setbacks related to it. Let’s dive a little deeper into the reasons why you might not want to buy wholesale jams and jellies.
- Storage space. Naturally, this is one of the biggest cons of buying products in large quantities - they might take up a lot of space. It’s recommended to buy wholesale jams and jellies only if your business requires a lot of them and you won’t clutter your storage with these products.
- Financial investment. Even though the price is lower per unit, buying anything in large quantities requires a substantial upfront investment. That’s especially true for more exotic jams, jellies, or marmalades.
- Minimum orders. Many wholesalers have minimum order quantities for their products. That includes food preserves as well. This means a restaurant or another business might not have the flexibility in terms of quantities and might experience storage difficulties.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wholesale Jams and Jellies
As there are many types of fruit preserves, you probably have a lot of questions related to the wholesale jam and jelly niche. Let’s answer the most common ones.
What Are the Most Consumed Jam and Jelly Types?
According to consumer data, the most popular types are strawberry jam and grape jelly. Other popular flavors include raspberry jam, apricot jam, blackberry jam, and orange marmalade. The traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich is made either with grape jelly or with strawberry jam. However, there are other alternatives based on personal preferences.
Can You Make and Sell Homemade Jams and Jellies?
Yes. According to Cottage Food laws, individuals can make and sell various food items, including different types of nut butters, jams, and jellies. If you are interested in making and selling peanut or other types of nut butter, check out our guide on starting a nut butter business. However, in order to sell jam or jelly wholesale, you need to apply for certain certificates. Make sure to check the Cottage Food laws while you do your research on how to start a jam business. They are different in every state.
What Is Needed to Start a Wholesale Jam and Jelly Business?
If you want to grow your current company or wish to start a wholesale jam and jelly business, here are the main steps you need to follow:
- Make thorough research of the niche. Check out the main competitors, products, and prices. Write a business plan that consists of financial projections, audiences to target, pricing strategy, wholesale licenses and regulations research, and operations plan.
- Think of branding and marketing. Choose a company name that can be expanded into other areas of the wholesale distribution niche.
- Find reliable suppliers of different types of jams and jellies. That includes not only the popular strawberry, raspberry, and grape, but also some less-popular ones like mango, pineapple, tangerine, or even jalapeño jelly.
- Find the right wholesale business software, equipment, and space.
- Invest in your sales efforts. You should reach out to venues, stores, food retailers, snack manufacturers, and other companies that might buy wholesale jams and jellies.