Looking for a category of salvage and closeout merchandise to retail? How about reselling a line of merchandise that everyone “must have”? When times are tough [as they are currently in our Country] the average family is continuously looking for ways to save money. If you think about it…when money is “tight” consumers can decide to put off purchasing name brand apparel or electronics, but food is a staple that we all must have to sustain life. If you are reading this blog chances are you have already or will eat sometime today.
The closeout and salvage food industry is a multi billion dollar option for consumers to turn to when times are tough. Small and large chain closeout grocers are springing up all around the Country selling products that manufacturers have discontinued, seasonal items that are outdated and goods that are near the date when manufacturers expect freshness to wane. Many such grocers also sell products that were damaged in transit but remain edible, such as a dented box of Cheerios. Prices tend to be significantly lower than those at conventional stores and big discounters like Wal-Mart.
Do you want a steady stream of customers? Maybe retailing salvage food is the answer…..do you have a discount salvage food retailer in your hometown?
Salvage groceries including canned goods, dry cereals, pastas, food mixes and other food related items are sold to reclamation centers by large retail chains which deem certain items as “unsellable” do to several factors including: damaged packaging, short or near dating (close to expiration) or discontinued altogether. Often this merchandise is re-packed into Banana boxes and stacked on pallets ready to purchase at below wholesale pricing. Banana boxes filled with salvage food will typically sell for $6 to a high of $12 per box in quantity. Some pallet loads are manifested, but a majority of banana boxes are bought blind or “un-inventoried”.
Buying pallets and truckloads of banana boxed salvage food might be the “Niche” you have been looking for. You could sell at the flea market or lease a small storefront. A small store between 1,000 – 1,500 square feet could be adequately stocked with a truckload or two.
The Closeout Industry is your resource for salvage grocery distributors. We have completed the research spending countless hours on the telephone talking with reverse logistic companies, food wholesalers and salvage food liquidators. We have put together a list of the top fifteen salvage food contacts in the industry. Our list contains some of the largest distributors of banana boxed groceries in the Country. In addition to our list, we have compiled a huge 85+ page guide titled, “Starting a Salvage Grocery and Discount Store”. We are the first to offer an information packed book about the selling salvage food……..
By KYEMANIE JOHNSON on Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
I’M TRYING TO OPEN AND SALVAGE GROCERY STORE AND I NEED INFORMATION. SO IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE DO BY CONTACTING ME WITH INFORMATION.
By Jack Payne on Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
In days of yore (pre-internet), closeout food stuffs were big business. In my old newsletter, Business Opportunities Digest, I ran about 100 of these opportunities monthly.
Now, as I see it, the food processors are pushing the string a bit too far when it comes to expire dates. Gotta watch this like a hawk.
Otherwise, great opportunities abound.
By Robert Cyr on Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Hey Jack! The salvage grocery business is booming I think in part due to our economy. I will be writing further into this “Mystical” world of “Born on Dates” for food. This topic in itself warrants some lengthy discussion. On another note…I would like to forward some interesting links your way for a possible topic for your blog readers as I know you delve into the world of fraud, scammers and other underworld adventures!
By Robert Cyr on Mar 23, 2008 | Reply
Robert - Thanks for your contribution! It is a pleasure to have you in the “Blog Audience”. Take note, Robert publishes an excellent, non-biased guide to finding wholesale and closeout merchandise sources. His website and book, ProductsforResale comes highly recommended. Take care my friend…
By The Wholesale Products Guy on Mar 23, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the plug Robert..
Good to have another voice in the Closeout and surplus community..
Robert C. The Wholesale Products Guy
By Charlotte Priddy on Apr 16, 2008 | Reply
Please help me, I am now pruchasing product, and would like to go directly to the center, and get them in truck loads. Can any of you help me with this. I have a Salvage Grocery in KY.
By Sharon Burcham on Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
I have a salvage grocery store in Mississippi. But, the place we have bought from for years has lost some of his contracts and now he hardly ever has banana boxes. our shelves are empty and business is slowing down when right now, it should be booming. What should we do? Thank you for your time, Sharon
By CYNDI MONTEMAYOR on May 12, 2008 | Reply
I plan to open a salvage grocery in south texas, Rio Grande Valley,are there any wholesalers in my area? I am 200 miles south of San Antonio and 300 miles from Houston.
What is your recommendation for expiration dates on food and over the counter medicines.
Thanks,
Cyndi
By Kay Moore on Oct 2, 2008 | Reply
We were getting banana boxes from Mississippi.It was Silver Dollar Sales. Is this the one you were using? They had similar problems. Did you find a source for good banana boxes? If so, would you let us know?
Thanks,
Kay
By mildred on Nov 6, 2008 | Reply
Sharon,
I just talked to a friend in Texas whose Dad is doing sales and I think it is all internet.
He is retired food administrator.
Anyway we are in MS and having some difficult medical problems and husband is applying for disability. So we are looking for ways to supplement our income. We will probably be moving close to dgtr in TX when all this gets settled.
Any info you could share with us would be appreciated.
Mildred
By Dave Wheelden on Nov 30, 2008 | Reply
I just opened a small salvage food and hba shop in a flea market in southeast Indiana. I need to know if there are any salvage wholesale food or hba places in or around Indiana. The boxes I get come out of Michigan.
Thanks Dave —inindydave@comcast.net