In the past, salt was one of the most important commodities. It was one of the few products that could extend the shelf life of food. Nowadays, sales of wholesale salt are associated not only with the restaurant and food sectors but also with other industries. Besides being one of the most common types of condiments, salt plays an important role in chemical production and agriculture. It has various industrial applications as a raw material. In this post, we’ll share more about the types of businesses that purchase large quantities of salt and other characteristics of wholesale salt sales. If you’re interested in this topic, you might want to read our posts on the condiments industry and our guide on wholesale spices.
Key takeaway: Although most people associate salt with its culinary applications, most sales of wholesale salt are done by other businesses. Salt has various uses in chemical production, metallurgy, textile processing, agriculture, water treatment, and detergent manufacturing. Some distributors specialize in types of salt used in cooking (table, Himalayan, and sea salt), while others sell salt for industrial and commercial applications.
What Is Wholesale Salt
The term refers to salt bought in large quantities by different types of companies. Depending on the sector, wholesale salt comes in different sizes and packages. For example, fast food restaurants might purchase large quantities of salt portion packets as well as 50-pound bags of salt to use in the kitchen. On the other hand, industrial manufacturers who use large quantities of salt in their production processes may order tons of rock salt or another type of salt.
What Businesses Buy Wholesale Salt
Salt has various applications. As such, companies in various niche markets purchase it in bulk. This allows them to benefit from wholesale prices and reduce their transportation costs. Let’s examine the main types of businesses that purchase wholesale salt.
- Food and beverage industry. Unsurprisingly, wholesale sales of salt are primarily associated with the food service sector. Since salt is the most common ingredient used to season food, it plays an important role among restaurant spices. Virtually all households also have salt in their pantries. As such, eCommerce and brick-and-mortar retailers like grocery stores also purchase wholesale in smaller bags to stock their shelves. Bakery businesses also purchase large quantities of salt to use in baked goods. Manufacturers of chips, canned goods, processed meat, and various other food products also order wholesale salt.
- Agriculture. Salt has two main applications in farming – it’s used as animal feed, and some fertilizers use salt-based minerals to enrich the soil. As such, farmers and other business owners in the agricultural sector might order salt in bulk.
- Cosmetics and beauty businesses. Salt is an important ingredient in various skincare products like scrubs and bath soaks. Spa and wellness centers also purchase bulk salt for their salt therapy rooms.
- Manufacturing and industrial sectors. These are the industries that use large quantities of salt and dominate the B2B market for salt. Examples include manufacturers of various chemicals, pharmaceutical companies that make saline solutions and other medical products, and soap and detergent producers. Salt is also used in industries like metallurgy, textile processing, and water treatment.
- Local governments and road maintenance companies. Salt is used for winter deicing. In addition to road maintenance, it’s also used by airports and railway operators to prevent ice buildup.
Where to Buy and Sell Wholesale Salt
There are two main categories of wholesale salt distributors. The first type specializes in bulk sales of salt, spice blends, pepper, and other ingredients used by food service businesses and sold by retailers. These suppliers offer Himalayan salt, sea salt, or regular table salt in bags of one to fifty pounds each. In addition to selling spices, these wholesalers also offer other product categories, such as restaurant condiment holders. The other category includes distributors that specialize in B2B sales of salt for industrial manufacturing. They usually sell salt by the ton. These suppliers rarely offer table or kosher salt. Instead, they are primarily focused on rock and brine salt.
Both types of wholesale salt distributors offer their products through their company websites, distributor directories, or third-party eCommerce platforms like BlueCart. If you want to find vendors of table salt for your business, make sure to sign up for BlueCart’s marketplace. In addition to specialized suppliers, broadline wholesale distribution companies also offer large quantities of salt in bags of various sizes. Many businesses prefer to purchase salt, pepper, or other spices from broadliners as that allows them to also order wholesale food products in various other categories.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wholesale Salt
From resources on how to calculate the cost of goods sold and guides on inventory management to information on how to buy wholesale products, you’ll find plenty of useful information on BlueCart’s website. Below we’ve shared the answers to common questions regarding sales of wholesale salt.
What Are the Different Types of Salt?
Unsurprisingly, table salt is the most common variety. It’s used in households and by restaurant businesses. Kosher salt is another popular type. It comes in large crystals, which makes it an excellent seasoning option for meat. Although many salt brands sold in retail stores are labeled as kosher, not all of them are kosher-certified. Sea salt is another common variety. Here are the other types of salt that are popular:
- Rock salt;
- Himalayan pink salt;
- Indian black salt;
- Smoked salt;
- Fleur de sel.
There are slight differences in flavor, level of saltiness, and texture between the different types of salt.
What Are the Different Applications of Salt?
Contrary to popular belief, salt is used not only to season meals. In fact, salt sold by retailers and used by the restaurant industry amounts to a fairly small percentage of the whole global salt market. Here are other commercial and industrial applications of salt:
- Manufacturing of lye, aluminum, chlorine, soaps, and various other organic and inorganic compounds and raw materials;
- De-icing of roads and other surfaces;
- Used in agriculture as animal feed, as a fertilizer for certain soil types, or in aquaculture to maintain salinity levels;
- Salt is also used in water treatment and softening.
What Other Minerals Are Bought Wholesale by the Food Industry?
Although salt is probably the most common mineral used to season food, the food and beverage industry uses various other minerals. They are often bought in bulk in order to benefit from wholesale prices and lower transportation costs. Here are a few examples.
- Calcium carbonate. It’s found in antiacids and is a main ingredient in baking powders.
- Epsom salt. Magnesium sulfate is also called bitter salt or Epsom salt. It’s used as an ingredient in food processing and brewing.
- Potassium chloride. It’s used in cooking as a salt substitute.
BlueCart: The Place to Buy Wholesale Salt and Other Ingredients
Among its many benefits, our wholesale ordering software allows food service businesses, retailers, and other companies to purchase various types of products in bulk. From bulk meat and seafood to wholesale condiments, businesses can compare prices and find reliable suppliers. Thousands of wholesalers benefit from BlueCart’s features as well. Our platform allows them to easily create eCommerce catalogs and increases their B2B sales by connecting them with wholesale buyers. Whether you operate a small wholesale supplier business or you’re a nationwide broadline distributor, schedule a demo and see how BlueCart can help you!