4 Things You Can Do Right Now to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Food Supplier

In the world of catering, it’s all about the food. At the end of the day, your clients (and their guests) will most remember the quality of ingredients and the beautiful flavors that you strung together for their meals. Even the best customer experience can’t make up for subpar food (although, the opposite could be said as well!)

Thus, your relationship with your food supplier becomes a valuable asset — it’s not as simple as skipping over to the grocery store; sourcing ingredients is an intimate process that is more efficient and sometimes more cost-effective when you know where it’s coming from.

Think about the mutually beneficial relationships you’ve developed with venues, rental companies, planners, and other event professionals. The same goes for the food industry; a strong relationship means regular income for the food provider and more access to products in bulk or at a discount, often at early notice. 

Here are four things you can do right now to grow your relationship with your food supplier.

Reach out

Yes, it’s that simple! Although we’ve all been physical distancing due to the pandemic, there’s no need to distance yourself socially. You may not be purchasing a lot of food at this moment, but that’s no reason to become a stranger. Reach out to your food supplier(s) to check in and say hello. Ask them how they’re doing and see if you can help to support them in any way. It doesn’t take a lot of time, but the thoughtful gesture will go a long way.

Send referrals

Referral business makes the world go around and that’s not just in the special events industry. Check in with your food provider to see if they have additional capacity for customers and, if so, recommend their service to your catering colleagues. There really is no better way to support a fellow business owner than sending new clients their way.

Be respectful

In the catering business, we’re used to getting last-minute rush orders which can sometimes mean pushing the burden to our suppliers to get us what we need. A great provider will be attentive to our needs, but we still need to be mindful of their schedule and capacity to fill orders. Respect their boundaries and be understanding if things don’t always go your way; a long-term relationship is far more important than a one-time need. Of course, if you’re repeatedly feeling disappointed in service, then it’s likely time to find a new food supplier.

Schedule regular deliveries

As event professionals, retainer clients are worth their weight in gold. They are hard to come by in our industry, but there’s a lot of value in a client who you know will be back for more on a regular basis. If possible, see if your food provider is open to a regular delivery schedule with your must-have kitchen staples. This partnership ensures your kitchen is always stocked and shows your provider that you appreciate the value they bring to your business.

Strong caterer-supplier relationships can lift both companies to new heights, so take some time to be more intentional in nurturing your relationship on both a professional and personal basis. You may end up getting a new friend out of the arrangement, in addition to increased access to ingredients.