A huge part of working in a restaurant is knowing where to source the highest quality bulk meat. A lot of this is trial and error — other times, restaurants find a reliable supplier of wholesale meat that is up to standard and has great customer service. Here’s the process most restaurants follow when finding bulk meat suppliers.

What restaurant owners look for in meat suppliers

If you’re a restaurant owner, there are a few key pieces of criteria you need to factor in when looking for a good meat supplier. Things like wholesale prices, quality, freshness, compliance with quality standards and regulations, and availability are all things you need to consider and none of these factors should be compromised on. Getting all of this right will ensure you deliver a high-quality end product and experience to your customers and also makes sure you aren’t putting their health at risk.

Identifying a reliable bulk meat supplier for your restaurant

Not sure what to look for when choosing a meat supplier for your restaurant? Start by having this conversation with your business’ key shareholders and present a clear outline of what your meat supplier selection process might look like and the criteria you’ve highlighted, inclusive of your research. As you do your research and discuss with others in the various departments of your restaurant, pinpoint a few viable meat vendors that could supply your restaurant. Overall, consider suppliers who provide the most value — don’t look at the cost as the sole consideration. Additionally, consider the following criteria:

• Customer service
• Dependability
• Responsiveness
• Fulfilling delivery commitments
• Resource savings
• Distance from restaurant

Once you’ve identified how each supplier delivers on the above, open up conversations with them and visit their facilities to make sure your decision is as informed as possible. Doing this will allow you to see first-hand how the supplier stores and handles their product as well as the cleanliness of their facility. Observe the dress code and hygiene of the employees handling the meat, noting if they have the appropriate gear such as gloves and hairnets. Further, meeting the vendor’s owners and staff will inform the kind of relationship you could form between them and your restaurant — it always helps to deal with nice people! VWG is a premium, international and national supplier of wholesale pork products. If you’re interested in our products for your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.