beverage distribution business plan

Food and Beverage Distribution Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Food Sector

Are you about starting a food and beverage distribution business? If YES, here is a complete sample beverage distribution business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a beverage distribution business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample beverage distribution marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for beverage distribution businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

It can be truly challenging starting any business, but one business that you can start with little challenges is a beverage distribution business. A beverage distribution business is a business that involves buying beverages in wholesale from beverage production companies and then distributes them to retailers, offices and household.

With this type of business, you can choose to own a store / warehouse if you have the financial capacity to or you can choose to operate without a store. The bottom line is that you must own your own distribution truck / van, you should know how to source for beverages and how to get them delivered to your customers.

Reality is that, starting a beverage distribution business is a profitable business, and it is a very easy business to start, plus it is not so capital intensive- especially if you get the goods on trust from the production companies. Getting the right products that people want to buy and good networking and stock keeping records are the secrets of running a beverage distribution business.

So, if you have decided to start a beverage distribution business, then you have to be sure that you carry out detailed feasibility studies and also market survey.

This enables you to properly locate the business in a location with the right demography, network with beverage retailers and household and then hit the ground running. Business plan is yet another very important business document that you should not take for granted in the bid to launching your own business.

Below is a sample beverage distribution business plan template that can help you to successfully write your own with little or no hassle.

A Sample Food and Beverage Distribution Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Businesses in the beverage and Soft Drinks Distribution industry are involved in the distribution of bottled and canned beverages for consumption, carbonated soft drinks; purifying and bottling water; and other beverages, such as energy, sports and juice drinks.

Products from industrial giants such as Nestle, The Coca Cola Company and Pepsi Co Inc. top the list of products distributed by beverage distribution companies. Report shows that the revenue growth for beverage distribution industry has slowed over the last half a decade and this is due to the global recession constraining demand across most of the industry’s markets.

The steadily declining sales of beverages and carbonated soft drinks in mature markets, the growing market power of big-box retailers like WalMart and Costco, and the economic downturn is yet another prevailing factor in dwindling revenue generation for beverage distribution companies.

The industry will also benefit from more buoyant economic conditions in emerging markets, with rising disposable incomes and urbanization fueling demand for both beverages, and carbonated products.

The beverage and carbonated drinks distribution industry is a thriving sector of the economy of the united states which generates several billion dollars annually from numerous beverage and carbonated drinks distribution companies scattered all across the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for directly and indirectly employing several thousands of people. It is important to state that no establishment has a dominant share of the available market in this industry; the industry is open for fair competition from new entrants.

It is a fact that an estimated two-thirds of the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP) comes from retail consumption of which the beverage and carbonated drinks distribution industry contributes greatly.

This is why the United States of America’s economy is measured with the yardstick of how well the retailing business is fairing in the U.S. In essence, when there is an unstable economy, purchasing power drops and it impacts the retailing / distribution industry negatively which may result in the closure of some of these businesses.

Over and above, beverage and carbonated drinks distribution business is indeed a profitable business venture and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can choose to start on a small scale without a store / warehouse or you can choose to start on a large scale with standard store / warehouse, dozens of distribution trucks / vans and strong online presence.

2. Executive Summary

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company is a standard and registered distribution company that will be involved in the distribution of beverages and carbonated drinks to retailers, household, hotels and restaurants et al. Our warehouse cum administrative office will be located in one of the busiest streets in Trenton – New Jersey.

We have been able to lease a warehouse facility that is big enough to fit into the design of the kind of beverage Distribution Company that we intend launching and the facility is centrally located in the heart of town with easy delivery network.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company will distribute a wide range of beverages and carbonated drinks at affordable prices from different brands. We will engage in the distribution of bottled and canned beverages for consumption, carbonated soft drinks; purifying and bottling water; and other beverages, such as cocoa drinks, energy, sports and juice drinks.

We are aware that there are several large and small beverage distribution companies and even beverage manufacturers all around Trenton – New Jersey that are also into product distribution services, which is why we spent time and resources to conduct our feasibility studies and market survey so as to offer much more than our competitors will be offering.

We have robust distribution network, strong online presence and our distributors are armed with the various payments of options available in the United States.

Beyond selling the distribution of beverages and carbonated drinks from leading brands in the United States, our customer care is going to be second to none in the whole of Trenton – New Jersey and our deliveries will be timely and highly reliable.

We know that our customers are the reason why we are in business which is why we will go the extra mile to get them satisfied when they patronize our products and also to become our loyal customers and ambassadors.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company will ensure that all our customers are given first class treatment whenever they visit our, they order beverages and carbonated drinks from us. We have a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers no matter how large the numbers of our customers’ base and distribution network may grow to.

We will ensure that we get our customers involved in the selection of brands that they want us to be involved in distributing and also when making some business decisions that directly affect them.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC is a family business that is owned by Charlie Tango and his immediate family members. Charlie Tango has a B.Sc. in Business Administration, with well over 8 years of hands on experience in the retailing and distribution industry, working for some of the leading brand in the United States.

Although the business is launching out with just by focusing on Trenton – New Jersey, but there is a plan to expand our distribution network all across the state of New – Jersey.

3. Our Products and Services

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company is in the beverage and carbonated drinks distribution industry and we will ensure we go all the way to be involved in the distribution of a wide range of goods and products from top manufacturing brands in the United States and other countries of the world.

We are in the beverage and carbonated drinks distribution industry to make profits and we will ensure that we do all that is permitted by the law in the United States to achieve our business aim and objectives. Our products and services offerings are listed below;

• Distribution of functional beverages and sports drinks
• Distributions of carbonated soft drinks
• Distribution of bottled water
• Distributions of fruit juices and cocktails
• Distribution of teas
• Distribution of energy and sport drinks
• Ice manufacturing

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to become the leading brand in the beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution line of business in the whole of Trenton – New Jersey.
• Our mission is to establish a beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business that will distribute a wide range of beverages and carbonated soft drinks from top manufacturing / production brands at affordable prices to retailers, households, hotels and restaurants et al in Trenton and other cities in New Jersey where we intend marketing our services and products.

Our Business Structure

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company does not intend to start a beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business like the usual mom and pop business around the street corner; our intention of starting a beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business is to build a standard and one stop distribution business in Trenton – New Jersey.

We will ensure that we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind while setting up the business. We will make sure that we hire people that are qualified, honest, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions that will be made available at Charlie &Tango Distribution Company;

• Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
• Warehouse Manager
• Human Resources and Admin Manager

Merchandize Manager

Sales and Marketing Manager

Information Technologist

• Accountants / Cashiers
• Customer Services Executive
• Drivers / Distributors

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Intensifiers management’s efficiency by recruiting, selecting, and correcting managers. Also, developing an environment for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Creates and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall goals.
• Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Accountable for providing direction for the business
• Answerable for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Appraises the success of the organization
• Reports to the board

Admin and HR Manager

• Accountable for supervision the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Upholds office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Guarantees operation of equipment by completing preventive preservation requirements.
• Appraises job knowledge by partaking in educational opportunities and reading professional publications
• Describes job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff introduction for new team members
• Is saddled with training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Supervises the smooth running of the daily office activities.

Warehouse Manager:

• Answerable to forming the safe and efficient delivery, storage and dispatch of warehoused goods
• Accountable for liaising with customers, suppliers and transport companies
• Plans, coordinates and screens the receipt, order assembly and dispatch of goods
• Accountable for using space and mechanical handling equipment professionally and making sure quality, budgetary targets and environmental objectives are met
• In charge of organizing the use of automated and computerized systems where necessary
• Accountable for keeping stock control systems up to date and making sure inventories are accurate;
• Manages vendor relations, market visits, and the ongoing education and development of the organizations’ buying teams
• Responsible for the purchase of beverages and carbonated drinks for the organizations
• Responsible for planning sales, monitoring inventory, selecting the merchandise, and writing and pricing orders to vendors
• Ensures that the organization operates within stipulated budget.
• Accomplishes external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Accountable for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Grows, performs and assesses new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company
• Manages the organization website
• Handles ecommerce aspect of the business
• Responsible for installing and maintenance of computer software and hardware for the organization
• Manage logistics and supply chain software, Web servers, e-commerce software and POS (point of sale) systems
• Manage the organization’s CCTV
• Handles any other technological and IT related duties.

Accountant / Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Client Service Executive

• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the human resources and admin manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to customers when they make enquiries

Distribution Truck Drivers

• Helps in loading and unloading beverages and carbonated soft drinks
• Upholds a logbook of their driving activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations governing the rest and work periods for operators.
• Keeps a record of vehicle inspections and make sure the truck is equipped with safety equipment
• Assists the transport and logistics manager in planning their route according to a distribution schedule.
• Local-delivery drivers may be required to sell products or services to stores and businesses on their route, obtain signatures from recipients and collect cash.

6. SWOT Analysis

Our plan  of start out in Trenton and distribute our goods only within Trenton – New Jersey is to test run the business for a period of 2 to 5 years to know if we will invest more money, expand the business and then start our beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution all around the state of New Jersey.

We are quite aware that there are several beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution companies all over Trenton and even in the same location where we intend locating ours, which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be welled equipped to confront our threats.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in retailing and distribution to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives. This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for Charlie & Tango Distribution Company;

Our location, the business model we will be operating on (robust distribution network), varieties of payment options, wide range of products from top brands and our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for Gina Grocery Home Delivery Services.

So, also our management team members are people who have what it takes to grow a business from startup to profitability with a record time.

A major weakness that could serve as a deterrent to us is that we are a new beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business and we don’t have the financial capacity to compete with leaders in the industry for now.

• Opportunities:

The fact that we are going to be operating our beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business in Trenton – New Jersey provides us with unlimited opportunities to sell our goods to a large number of retailers and businesses.

We have been able to conduct thorough feasibility studies and market survey and we know what our potential clients will be looking for when they patronize our products and services; we are well positioned to take on the opportunities that will come our way.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a similar business in same location where ours is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Distribution of goods as wholesaler to retailers has been in existence for as long as human started trading goods, but one thing is certain, the distribution industry is still evolving. The introduction of technology has indeed helped in reshaping the industry.

Lastly, t is now a common phenomenon for distribution companies to leverage on technology to effectively predict consumer demand patterns and to strategically position their business to meet their needs; in essence, the use of technology help businesses like beverage and carbonated soft drinks to maximize supply chain efficiencies. No doubt data collected from customers goes a long way to help beverage and carbonated soft drinks serve them better.

8. Our Target Market

The beverage and carbonated soft drinks industry has a wide range of customers; a good number of people on planet earth consume beverages and carbonated soft drinks and it is difficult to find people around who don’t.

In view of that, we have positioned our beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution company to service businesses in Trenton – New Jersey and every other location we will cover all over the state of New Jersey. We have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us.

We are in business to retail (distribute) a wide range of beverages and carbonated soft drinks from different production companies to the following businesses;

• Retailers of beverages and carbonated soft drinks
• Restaurants
• Nightclubs and bars

Our competitive advantage

A close study of the beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution industry reveals that the market has become much more intensely competitive over the last decade. As a matter of fact, you have to be highly creative, customer centric and proactive if you must survive in this industry.

We are aware of the stiffer competition and we are well prepared to compete favorably with other leading supermarkets and grocery stores in Trenton – New Jersey. Charlie & Tango Distribution Company is launching a standard beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business that will indeed become the preferred choice of retailers, hotels, and restaurants et al in Trenton – New Jersey.

One thing is certain; we will ensure that we have a wide range of products available in our warehouse at all times. One of our business goals is to make Charlie & Tango Distribution Company a one stop beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution company.

Our excellent customer service culture, timely and reliable delivery services, online presence, and various payment options will serve as a competitive advantage for us.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution businesses) in the industry meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives.

We will also give good working conditions and commissions to freelance sales agents that we will recruit from time to time.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company is in business to retail (distribute) a wide range of beverages and carbonated soft drinks from top beverage production companies to hotels, restaurants and retailers in Trenton – New Jersey. We are in the beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution industry to maximize profits and we are going to go all the way out to ensure that we achieve or business goals and objectives.

In essence, our source of income will be the retailing (distribution) of a wide range of beverages and carbonated drinks at affordable prices. We will generate income for the business by;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain when it comes to beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business, if your business is centrally positioned coupled with effective and reliable vans / trucks and distribution network, you will always attract customers cum sales and that will sure translate to increase in revenue generation for the business.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Trenton – New Jersey and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow the business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution industry and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to startups in Trenton – New Jersey.

Below are the sales projections for Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC, it is based on the location of our business, the list of beverages and carbonated soft drinks and other factors as it relates to beverages and carbonated soft drinks start – ups in the United States;

• First Fiscal Year-: $240,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $450,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same products, home delivery services and customer care services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Before choosing a location for Charlie & Tango Distribution Company, we conducted a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market and become the preferred choice for beverage and carbonated soft drinks retailers, hotels, and restaurants in Trenton – New Jersey.

We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the retailing and distribution industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in Trenton – New Jersey.

In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to distribute beverages and carbonated soft drinks which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver. In summary, Charlie & Tango Distribution Company will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to win customers over;

• Open our business in a grand style with a party for all.
• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to beverages and carbonated soft drinks retailers, hotels, restaurants, households and key stakeholders in Trenton – New Jersey
• Ensure that we have a wide range of beverages and carbonated soft drinks from different brand within and outside the United States at all times.
• Make use of attractive handbills to create awareness business
• Position our signage / flexi banners at strategic places around Trenton – New Jersey
• Position our greeters to welcome and direct potential customers
• Create a loyalty plan that will enable us reward our regular customers
• Engage on road shows within our neighborhood to create awareness for our beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Despite the fact that our beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business is well structured and well located, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for the business. We are going to explore all available means to promote the business.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company has a long-term plan of opening distribution channels all around the state of New Jersey which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Trenton before venturing out.

As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for winning customers over but to effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC;

• Place adverts on community based newspapers, radio stations and TV stations.
• Encourage the use of word of mouth publicity from our loyal customers
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Badoo, Google+  and other platforms to promote our business.
• Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Trenton – New Jersey
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in and around our neighborhood
• Contact beverage and carbonated soft drinks retailers, hotels, restaurants, night clubs and bars by calling them up and informing them of Charlie & Tango Distribution Company and the products we sell / distribute
• Advertise our grocery home delivery services business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site
• Brand all our official cars and distribution vans / trucks and ensure that all our staff members and management staff wears our branded shirt or cap at regular intervals.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Pricing is one of the key factors that gives leverage to distribution companies and retailers, it is normal for retailers to purchase products from distribution companies that they can goods at cheaper price. We will work towards ensuring that all our goods are distributed at highly competitive prices compare to what is obtainable in the United States of America.

We also have plans in place to discount our goods once in a while and also to reward our loyal customers from time to time.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Charlie & Tango Distribution Company is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America. Here are the payment options that Charlie &Tango Distribution Company will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards / Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via POS machines
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for the purchase of our products.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business.

The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money.

This is the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital;

• The total fee for registering the business in the United States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• The cost for hiring business consultant – $2,500.
• The cost for insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• The cost for payment of rent for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet warehouse facility in the total amount of $105,600.
• The total cost for warehouse facility remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ( $500 ) and phone and utility deposits ( $2,500 ).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
• The cost for Start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of beverages, and carbonated soft drinks) – $100,000
• Storage hardware (bins, rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
• The cost for counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.) – $9,500
• The cost for serving area equipment (plates, glasses, flatware) – $3,000
• The cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
• The cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs – $5,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
• The cost for the purchase of distribution vans / trucks – $25,000
• The cost of launching a website –   $600
• The cost for our opening party – $7,000
• Miscellaneous – $10,000

We would need an estimate of $500,000 to successfully set up our beverage and carbonated soft drinks distribution business in Trenton – New Jersey. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of all the staff for the first month of operation.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Charlie &Tango Distribution Company

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC is a private business that is solely owned and financed by Charlie Tango and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $200,000 ( Personal savings $150,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $300,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail / distribute our beverages and carbonated soft drinks a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Charlie & Tango Distribution Company®, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of warehouse facility and remodeling the facility: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Purchase of distribution vans: Completed
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Compilation of our list of products that will be distribute: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with beverages and carbonated drinks production companies within and outside of the United States of America: In Progress

Related Posts:

• Homemade Chocolate Shop Business Plan [Sample Template]
• French Fries Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Hot Sauce Production Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Funnel Cake Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Salad Delivery Service Business Plan [Sample Template]

• [email protected]
• Mon - Sat: 8h00 - 18h00 (ICT)

• How to start a beverage distribution company with only crucial 2 stages
• Beverage branding
• How to start...

To start a drink distribution entity, you need to build detailed and reasonable business strategies as well as have careful preparation.

Roles of distribution in the beverage supply chain

In business activities, distributors are like a canal system that brings water to refresh the fields. For water to reach each area, it is necessary to clear the flow in all branches of canals. Whether “water” flows fast, flows strongly or not depends on many different factors such as the size of the channels, the slope of the flow, the degree of obstruction of the water flow, etc. Read more: Top 10 largest worldwide beverage distributors (Update 2021) Products manufacturing enterprises want to bring products to reach target customers through distribution channels. Distribution channels are individuals, independent business organizations, or intermediate means and tools responsible for transferring products from the manufacturer to the market to respond quickly to consumers. A distribution channel is a set of intermediaries selected and decided by the manufacturer to bring the product to the market in the most effective way at the lowest cost. Specifically, the role of distribution channels for businesses:

• Distribution channels are the critical competitive tools of a production business in the long run. It helps manufacturing enterprises reduce difficulties in bringing their products to the market, and reaching the end consumers.
• Distribution channels enhance the ability to link and cooperate between organizations and individuals operating in production and distribution for the common purpose of providing goods/services to end customers together while satisfying the individual goals of each party.

The distribution step plays a vital role in the beverage industry

How to build a successful drink distribution business?

Statistics show about 300,000 distributors in the United States with an annual generated value of $3.2 trillion. The beverage distribution is a large-scale, resource-rich market to exploit. A detailed and specific plan for new distribution businesses entering the market is the closest way to success.

Stage 1 – Create a business plan

You should clearly define the type of distribution business you will run at the beginning stage. Distribution businesses can be divided into two types of groups based on the audiences they serve.

• Retail distributors: these businesses buy goods from wholesalers or manufacturers and sell products directly to consumers (end users).
• Wholesale distributors : these businesses buy from manufacturers and resell products to retailers or other distributors.

Tip: How To Prepare For Successful Negotiations With Beverage Contract Manufacturers

Type of distribution products, targeted customers

If you waste money and effort on people who are not interested in your product, there will be no revenue.

Operation plan

You also need to develop a blueprint for how much money it will take to get your business up and running. With a distribution business , inventory costs will account for the highest proportion. However, the initial operating costs will depend on the type of items your company intends to distribute. In addition, costs for the business location, office equipment, and some warehouse equipment (such as forklifts or shelves) should also be considered. After estimating initial operating costs, you can proceed to develop a specific and detailed business plan . With this plan, your business can give complete visibility into your new distribution business. This plan will be a particular direction to help your business succeed. This plan will summarize information about the business distribution model you will become, the products you intend to offer (at least in the initial stage), your company’s name, the target customer based on your goals, shipping methods, and general strategy. This strategy can be as simple as focusing on rapid delivery speed and efficiency or as complex as determining how to offer specialized products not available to other distributors. Should know: 7 steps to create a beverage company business plan

Marketing plan

Your marketing campaign will largely depend on your target audience and the type of product you’re offering. However, the ultimate goal of any marketing plan is to let potential customers know about your business and what products/services your business can offer. Therefore, make a detailed marketing plan so that you can promote the services of your business. As a small business, you can do a lot of marketing for the first few years until your company has a large base of loyal customers and has built a reputation. You can use one or more of the following marketing tools most effectively to optimize your customer reach:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Google Ads (Google Adwords)
• Banner ads (GDN display ads)
• Social Media Marketing : The most used Social Media channels today are: Facebook, Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram, etc.
• Email Marketing

Read more: Tan Do Beverage Social Media Presences

Stage 2 – Get business started

After developing detailed plans, your business can take critical legal steps to get started. To avoid many problems, learn carefully the laws and regulations in your business area, especially those related to distribution activities or the products your business is preparing to distribute.

Forming company legally

No company can operate without establishing a legal entity

Get company licensed and registered

Purposes of getting your company licensed and registered:

• First, the state’s guarantee : When registering its business, a company exists as an organization – legally established and operating. At that time, any business activities of this organization will be legalized openly and transparently.
• Second, customers’ trust : Being legally established and operating is also proof of the responsibility of that organization to customers. If there is a violation, any commercial activity of that organization must be held responsible before the government agency and customers, which creates customers’ trust with the registered organization.
• Third, investors’ trust : When carrying out commercial activities, business entities must seek and develop the market. To do that, they need a certain amount of capital. Investors are often the object that business entities and businesses aim at. The first thing investors look to is the right to conduct legal activities. That only happens when you have registered your legal company.

To register a business, you can consult with business registration offices or consulting offices to understand the process and procedures to be prepared.

Find your distribution business’s location

This is a factor that corporate distributors should consider carefully. Your office or warehouse should be in a convenient location for distributing goods to retailers or customers. In addition, you also need to determine the minimum size of your company’s warehouse, based on the size of the product and the method of distribution of your business. For a business just starting up, choosing the right location can help your business minimize costs and provide the best delivery service to customers in the beverage industry . As your business grows, you may consider moving to more extensive facilities to accommodate more inventory needs. Read more: Beverage industry overview: a brief analysis for business owners Traffic density is a factor you should investigate before choosing a warehouse location. It tells you the number of vehicles at the intersections, the traffic condition each day, the risk of delays in the delivery process. These parameters can be obtained from the local traffic department or police.

Build website

Websites act as a communication channel and a leading business tool for every business.

In summary, the above article has given an overview of how to form a beverage distribution business. Distribution is one of the crucial stages, helping goods be transported from the manufacturer to the consumer quickly and efficiently. It can be seen that businesses that are just starting to enter the beverage distribution market will inevitably face many problems from the stage of creativity, plan preparation as well as business operation. At Tan Do Beverage, we also provide ODM (Beverage Private Label) and OEM (Beverage Co-Packer) services to support newbies from ideation, preparation and business stages.

Tan Do is a global beverage  ODM / OEM  manufacturer and supplier located in Vietnam. Since 1996, we have built trust and credibility not only throughout Vietnam but also in many parts of the world. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology, we have crafted thousands of products that align with ISO, HACCP, HALAL, FDA, and many other standards.

Share this article

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Xác thực trượt *

Recent Posts

• Tan Do Beverage: Making Waves at Gulfood Dubai 2024

How can a beverage co-packer improve your beverage business?

• Tan Do Beverage’s participation in the 2024 Gulfood Exhibition
• Ready To Drink Beverage – All you need to know
• Young and Raw Coconut Water. Are they good for you?

Receive weekly updates

Related posts.

Private Label Beverage Complete Guide for Beginners : Benefits and Challenges

Top 14 biggest juice brands in India 2023

How to Start a Beverage Company

Starting a beverage company can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful beverage company.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a beverage company is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

14 Steps To Start a Beverage Company :

• Choose the Name for Your Beverage Company
• Develop Your Beverage Company Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Beverage Company
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Beverage Company (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Beverage Company with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Beverage Company
• Buy or Lease the Right Beverage Company Equipment
• Develop Your Beverage Company Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Beverage Company
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Beverage Company

The first step to starting a beverage company is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your beverage brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your own business:

• Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired drinks brand and/or focus of your beverage company.

2. Develop Your Beverage Company Business Plan

One of the most important steps in starting a beverage company is to develop your business plan . The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your beverage company.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your beverage company and what type of beverage company you operate. For example, are you a soft drink company, tea and coffee company, juice company, or a water company?
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the beverage industry. Conduct market research and document how big the beverage  business is and what trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target market are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products like the ones you will offer?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
• Prices : Document the prices of your own drinks
• Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your beverage company? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
• Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your beverage company make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise money to launch your business?

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

3. choose the legal structure for your beverage company.

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your beverage company and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the beverage company and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small business owners. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a beverage company together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a beverage company include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a beverage company is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your beverage company, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Beverage Company (If Needed)

In developing your beverage company business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business successfully. 

If so, the main sources of funding for a beverage company to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a beverage company that they believe has high potential for growth.

5. Secure a Location for Your Business

When looking for a location for your beverage company, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to make sure the location has good access to transportation, so your products can get to customers quickly and easily. You’ll also want to find a space that’s big enough to accommodate your production needs, and that has room for employees to work comfortably. Finally, you’ll want to choose a location that’s affordable.

6. Register Your Beverage Company with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your beverage company’s name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your beverage company to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

The permits and licenses you will need to start a beverage company can vary depending on your state and the type of business you plan to operate. In general, you will need a business license, a seller’s permit, and a zoning permit. You may also need other licenses and permits, such as a food license or an alcohol license. To find out what licenses and permits you need, contact your local licensing agency.

10. Get Business Insurance for Your Beverage Company

The types of insurance you will need to operate a beverage company can vary depending on scope of your operations. 

Some business insurance policies you should consider for your beverage company include:

• General liability insurance : This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or products.
• Workers’ compensation insurance : If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages.
• Commercial property insurance : This covers damage to your property caused by fire, theft, or vandalism.
• Business interruption insurance : This covers lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event.
• Professional liability insurance : This protects your business against claims of professional negligence.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

11. Buy or Lease the Right Beverage Company Equipment

When starting a beverage company, you will need some equipment. The most important piece of equipment is the beverage production machine. This machine will help you produce your beverages quickly and efficiently. You will also need a fridge to store your beverages, as well as a storage area to keep your ingredients. Finally, you will need some type of packaging to put your beverages in.

12. Develop Your Beverage Company Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your beverage company.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your beverage company. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
• Website : Likewise, a professional beverage company website provides potential customers with information about the beverage products you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your beverage company.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Beverage Company

The software you need to run a beverage company may vary depending on the size and scope of your business. For a small, local beverage company, you may only need basic software such as a word processor and a spreadsheet program. However, if you are running a larger beverage company, you may need more specialized software such as a production scheduling program and a customer relationship management (CRM) system.

14. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your beverage company. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

How to Finish Your Ultimate Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your beverage company business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

How to Start a Beverage Company FAQs

Is it hard to start a beverage company.

No, because the barriers to entry are relatively low. All you need is a good product and a well-executed marketing plan. There are many resources available to help you get started, including books, websites, and even business incubators.

How can I start a beverage company with no experience?

There are a few things you can do to start a beverage company with no experience. First, you can research the beverage industry and learn as much as you can about the different types of beverages that can be sold. Some drinks that you can sell are alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, and fruit juices. You can also look for mentors or experienced beverage entrepreneurs who can help guide you through the process. Finally, you can create a business plan and make sure you have a clear goal and strategy for your company.

What type of beverage company is most profitable?

The most profitable beverage businesses are those that produce carbonated soft drinks. This is because the profit margins for these types of drinks are much higher than those for other types of beverages. In addition, carbonated soft drinks are the most popular type of beverage in the world, so there is a high demand for them.

How much does it cost to start a beverage company?

The startup expenses for a beverage company can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000. The amount of money you'll need will largely depend on the type of beverage you want to create and the size of your business.

What are the ongoing expenses for a beverage company?

The ongoing expenses for a beverage company can include the cost of ingredients, labor, packaging, and utilities. The company may also need to pay for marketing and advertising, as well as maintaining a distribution network.

How does a beverage company make money?

There are a few ways beverage companies make money. One way is by selling their products to retailers, such as grocery stores or convenience stores. Another way is by licensing their brands to other companies, who will then produce and sell the beverages. Additionally, beverage companies can make money by selling advertising space in their packaging or on their products.

Is owning a beverage company profitable?

Yes, owning a beverage company can be profitable. The demand for beverages is relatively consistent, regardless of economic conditions. This means that beverage companies are less likely to experience downturns in sales during tough times.

Why do beverage companies fail?

Beverage companies may fail because they do not have a strong marketing strategy, they do not produce high quality products, or they do not have a competitive pricing strategy. Additionally, most companies only focus on one segment of the beverage market, which may limit their potential for growth.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

404 Not found

Beverage Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Do you want to start a new beverage business? Then, this is perfect for you. In the following paragraphs, I'll outline steps that you can easily take to create and print your own custom business plan for your new beverage business.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Beverage Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Beverage Business Ideas [2023]
• 25 Catchy Beverage Business Names:
• List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Beverage Business:

How to Write a Beverage Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your beverage business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your beverage business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a beverage business:

Our purpose at Beverage Co. is to provide our customers with a wide range of high-quality, delicious, and affordable beverages that help them refresh, replenish, and enjoy their day. Our mission is to become the go-to destination for beverages in the region, offering a wide range of products and services to suit every need. We are committed to using only the finest ingredients and latest technology, and to providing exceptional customer service, with knowledgeable and friendly staff who can help customers understand their options and make the best choices for their needs. We aim to provide a comfortable, welcoming environment where our customers can shop and learn about the latest trends and advancements in beverage technology, and to deliver exceptional results that exceed our customers' expectations. We believe that everyone deserves to have access to delicious, high-quality, and affordable beverages, and we strive to provide our customers with the best products and services available.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Beverage Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your beverage business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your beverage business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your beverage business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your beverage business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a beverage business?

To run a beverage business, you will need a few key pieces of equipment, supplies, and permits. These include:

• Beverage ingredients and equipment for production
• Bottles or containers for the beverages
• Labels and packaging materials
• A permit to operate your business (depending on location)
• Business licenses and permits for business activities (if applicable)

You may also need to hire and train staff to manage the beverage production and sales, as well as provide customer service.

5. Management & Organization of Your Beverage Business.

The second part of your beverage business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your beverage business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Beverage Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a beverage business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a beverage business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your beverage business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your beverage business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your beverage business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beverage Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a beverage business.

A business plan is a document that outlines the goals and objectives of a business, as well as the strategies and tactics that will be used to achieve those goals. It is important to have a business plan for your beverage business because it helps to focus the efforts of the company, communicate the business's goals and objectives to potential investors, and provide a roadmap for the business to follow. Additionally, a business plan can be used to help secure funding from investors or lenders, who will want to see that the business has a solid plan in place before they provide funding.

How to write a business plan for your beverage business?)

To build a business plan for your beverage business, start by researching your industry, competitors, and target market. Use this information to define your business's goals and objectives, as well as the strategies and tactics that you will use to achieve those goals. Next, create a financial plan that outlines your projected income, expenses, and profit. This should include a projected income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet. Once you have all of this information, you can use it to create a comprehensive business plan that outlines the goals and objectives of your business, as well as the strategies and tactics that you will use to achieve those goals. A well-written beverage business plan contains the following sections: Purpose, Products & Services, Marketing Plan (including Marketing Strategy), Operations/Management Plan (including Operations/Management Strategy), Financial Plan (including Financial Forecasts), and Appendixes.

Can you write a beverage business plan yourself?

Yes, you can write a beverage business plan yourself. Writing a business plan is a valuable exercise that can help you clarify your business idea, identify potential challenges and opportunities, and develop a roadmap for success. While there are many resources and templates available to help you write a business plan, the process of creating one is ultimately up to you.

Related Business Plans

Home Inventory Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Home Inspection Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Home Decor Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Health And Wellness Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Hauling Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Hardware Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Handyman Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Hair Extension Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Handbag Business Plan Template & Guidebook

I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Distribution Company Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Distribution Company Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Distribution Company business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Distribution Companies.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Distribution Company business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

KitchenWare Distributors is a startup distribution company located in Long Beach, California. The company was founded by Nelson Fuller, a former senior executive in a kitchenware company based in Chicago, Illinois. Nelson made over ten million dollars in kitchenware sales during the past two years for his former company, and felt the time was now right to start his own company in California. Because Long Beach is a leading port for ships bringing goods into the U.S. from China and other Asian countries, Nelson believes the greatest kitchen product range and highest dollar value can be amassed via the Long Beach import area.

KitchenWare Distributors specializes in selling kitchen products, including tabletop, tableware, cookware, and cutlery, to independent retailers, retail chains, and e-commerce platforms. Nelson recruited his wife, Jamie Fuller, to join him in the new startup, as her former position was a marketing manager for a small kitchen appliance company. Her new role will be as the Executive Manager of tabletop and cookware products.

Product Offering

The following are the services that KitchenWare Distributors will provide:

• Large-volume sales to kitchen product companies, including brick-and-mortar and ecommerce
• 24/7 customer service representative support
• Competitive pricing
• Diverse product selection
• Free transport from Long Beach to customer location
• Package pricing based on company loyalty programs
• Tiered products based on customer’s target audience

Customer Focus

KitchenWare Distributors will target retail companies, retail chains, and kitchenware stores. KitchenWare Distributors will also target e-commerce platform companies that specialize in kitchen product sales. KitchenWare Distributors will target industrial restaurant and kitchen supply companies. KitchenWare Distributors will target state and federal government cooking and kitchen supply sites.

Success Factors

KitchenWare Distributors will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team at KitchenWare Distributors.
• Customer service representatives with 24/7 service for clients.
• Free transport from Long Beach to customer distribution centers or retail stores.
• Unique logistical software program designed for kitchen product retailers.
• KitchenWare Distributors offers reasonable pricing with free transportation included; both excellent savings.

Financial Highlights

KitchenWare Distributors is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its kitchen product line of goods. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $20,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for KitchenWare Distributors.

Company Overview

Who is kitchenware distributors.

KitchenWare Distributors is a newly established full-service distribution company based in Long Beach, California. KitchenWare Distributors is committed to becoming the most reliable, cost-effective, and efficient choice for retail chains, retailers and kitchenware supply stores in the U.S. KitchenWare Distributors will provide a comprehensive menu of customer support services for any client to utilize. Their full-service approach includes free transportation from the dock at Long Beach to the city of the client distribution center or retail store.

  KitchenWare Distributors will present and sell through a vast array of kitchen products, including tabletop, kitchenware, cookware, serveware, and cutlery. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in distribution and negotiations. KitchenWare Distributors removes all headaches and issues of the process of buying and transporting inventory for retail stores by taking excellent care of the inventory items and stock and ensuring that all issues are taken care of expeditiously while delivering the best customer service.

KitchenWare Distributors History

KitchenWare Distributors is owned and operated by Nelson and Jamie Fuller, both former executives working within the kitchen products industry in a kitchenware company based in Chicago, Illinois. Nelson made over ten million dollars in kitchenware sales during the past two years for his former company, and felt the time was now right to start his own company in California. Because Long Beach is a leading port for ships bringing goods into the U.S. from China and other Asian countries, Nelson believes the greatest kitchen product range and highest dollar value can be amassed via the Long Beach import area.

Since incorporation, KitchenWare Distributors has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered KitchenWare Distributors, LLC to transact business in the state of California.
• Has a contract in place at one of the office buildings, where the marketing department and administrative group will set up their 10,000 square foot office space.
• Reached out to numerous former clients and contacts to include KitchenWare Distributors as a distribution vendor.
• Began recruiting a staff of fifteen customer service representatives and five office personnel to work at KitchenWare Distributors.

KitchenWare Distributors Services

The following will be the services KitchenWare Distributors will provide:

Industry Analysis

The kitchen products industry is expected to grow during the next five years to over $44 billion. The growth will be driven by the consumer interest in premium kitchen countertop appliances that perform with precision. The growth will also be driven by smart kitchen appliances (remote turn on/turn off capabilities). The growth will be driven by color palette changes in 2027-28. Technological advances will drive the U.S. market growth. The growth will also be driven by eco-friendly, and sustainable tableware products. Costs will likely be reduced as kitchenware categories within lifestyle choices are discounted. Costs will likely be reduced as consumers turn to e-commerce for tableware and cookware choices, which reduces shipping costs overall.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

KitchenWare Distributors will target retail chains, retail stores, kitchenware stores, and government contract customers within California and the U.S. population. .

Customer Segmentation

KitchenWare Distributors will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Retail chains
• Retail stores, specifically kitchen product stores
• Ecommerce kitchen product companies
• State and government contractors for kitchen products

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

KitchenWare Distributors will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Strategic Distribution Group

The Strategic Distribution Group is located in New Jersey, near Ports America, Inc. The company receives goods via ship transport initiated in Shenzhen, China and directed to retail chains and kitchen stores throughout the U.S. The company was started by a partnership between Hershel Barts and Mark Tokien, formerly kitchen product managers for a major kitchen appliance manufacturer.

The Strategic Distribution Group offers limited discounts on product assortment groups or packages; however, shipping from the port to the retail chain market is provided at no cost. The strength of the company lies in the experience of the partners and the sales history in this industry sector they represent.

Cooking & Eating, Inc.

Cooking & Eating, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a large retail chain that offers a distribution service to clients and guests who want shipment and associated logistics packaged together by Cooking & Eating, Inc. The company was founded in 2014 by Eddy Walker, who found the distribution ties were weak in the Southwest portion of the U.S. and wanted to improve the strength of the industry while also owning a cooking video company that could capitalize on the location and new product introduction.

Currently, Cooking & Eating, Inc. is focused on cooking videos for a YouTube audience of 1.5 million viewers and video reels for TikTok which demonstrate cooking and eating in comedic fashion. The owner of the company, Eddy, enjoys appearing and leading the conversational topics on the show, as well as introducing his company once again to the final outcomes of this year.

Retread Distributors & More

Retread Distributors & More specializes in closeout lots, damaged inventory, returned products and “scratch & dent” appliance units. Their clients include major resellers, such as Overstock.com, and other secondary markets who purchase lots at greatly discounted prices and then hope to sell those lots at a miniscule profit. Retread Distributors & More is owned by Dottie Masters, a woman who has been a leader in the reselling industry for over forty years. The company is one of several owned by Dottie, and as such, it presents a “bargain basement” type of atmosphere, albeit one with excellent pricing and values that can be very profitable for retailers should they choose to sell such inventory items.

Competitive Advantage

KitchenWare Distributors will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• KitchenWare Distributors offers reasonable pricing with free transportation included; both advantageous savings.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

KitchenWare Distributors will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees who are able to provide comprehensive customer service support.
• Free shipping from Long Beach port to client retail location.
• Unbeatable 24/7 customer service for clients.
• Tiered discounts geared to assist all clients in savings
• Pricing packages that are advantageous for clients

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for KitchenWare Distributors is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

KitchenWare Distributors has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to the former clients of Jamie Miller. Former clients have already committed to follow both new co-owners to the KitchenWare Distributors company and refer the new company to their associates.

Professional Associations and Networking

Both Nelson and Jamie Miller are members of national trade associations and both will continue to network and offer services to other members. The company may also choose to sponsor activities during trade shows that will highlight the new company.

Website/SEO Marketing

KitchenWare Distributors will extensively utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that KitchenWare Distributors provides. The website will also direct interested buyers to several pages of product inventory, including pricing and available quantities of each. Customers can buy online using the “Buy” page on the website. The website will list the contact number of their customer service representative and introduce them both via the Chat Box on the website. KitchenWare Distributors’s website presence will focus on SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “kitchen products company” or “kitchen supplies near me”, KitchenWare Distributors will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of KitchenWare Distributors will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for KitchenWare Distributors. Operation Functions:

• Nelson Miller will be the co-owner and president of the company. He will oversee all staff and manage client relations.
• Jamie Miller will be the Executive Manager of the tabletop and cookware divisions.
• Ken Stevens will be the Marketing Manager who will provide all marketing for KitchenWare Distributors.

Milestones:

KitchenWare Distributors will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease office space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the KitchenWare Distributors
• 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for KitchenWare Distributors clients
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into KitchenWare Distributors office
• 7/1/202X – KitchenWare Distributors opens its office for business

Management Team

Financial plan, key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for KitchenWare Distributors are the fees they will charge to the clients for their products and services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff KitchenWare Distributors. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

KitchenWare Distributors is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its distribution company. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Client Purchases Per Month: 63
• Average Revenue per Month: $616,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, distribution company business plan faqs, what is a distribution company business plan.

A distribution company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your distribution company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Distribution Company business plan using our Distribution Company Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Distribution Company Businesses? 

There are a number of different kinds of distribution company businesses , some examples include: Exclusive Distribution Business, Direct Distribution Business, Selective Distribution Business, and Intensive Distribution Business.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Distribution Company Business Plan?

Distribution Company businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Distribution Company Business?

Starting a distribution company business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Distribution Company Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed distribution company business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your distribution company business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your distribution company business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Distribution Company Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your distribution company business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your distribution company business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Distribution Company Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your distribution company business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your distribution company business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Finance and Business
• Business by Industry

How to Start a Distribution Business

Last Updated: December 14, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Art Lewin . Art Lewin is an Entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California. He specializes in business, sales, marketing, and real estate investing. Art is the CEO and Founder of four companies based in Los Angeles: Art Lewin Bespoke, Healthy Choice Labs, SFR Properties, and Professional Business Network (PBN). Art is known globally for his exclusive custom-made and ready-to-wear business wear designs. Some of his notable clients include royal family members, politicians, and Hollywood stars including Hugh Hefner, Sylvester Stallone, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, and William Shatner. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 342,785 times.

Getting into product distribution means entering a big industry. For example, there are roughly 300,000 distributors in the United States that produce a combined $3.2 trillion in annual revenue. Despite this large number of participants, the fragmented and competitive nature of the industry allows for plenty of profitable new entrants. [1] X Research source With some planning and entrepreneurial spirit, you too can be on your way to owning a successful distribution business.

Creating a Business Strategy

• While many large companies are served by equally large distributors, these distributors are unwilling or unable to serve smaller, more specialized business. A good idea, especially in a crowded market like beverage distribution, might be to provide niche products to these specialized retailers. [2] X Research source

• Writing a business plan can be the most complicated part of starting a small business. For more information, see how to write a business plan for a small business .

• For an example of how much costs can vary, two successful business in different markets started with $700 and $1.5 million, respectively. The first, a tie company, started with such a small amount because the business was run from home, started with low inventory costs, and didn't require any equipment to manage. The second, a fine wine retailer, had expensive product to buy, had to rent a large warehouse, and had high operating expenses like temperature-controlling the warehouse and investing in equipment to transport the product around the warehouse and to customers. [5] X Research source
• The advent of online distribution has also created new options for distribution businesses. One of these, drop-shipping, allows for distributors to avoid all inventory control and shipping issues by never taking physical possession of the product. Never taking control of inventory means that your initial investment can be much lower. However, this a crowded market that can be difficult to make money in. See how to start a drop shipping business for more information.

• As part of selling, put together a marketing plan so that you can promote your services. This may include the costs of printing brochures, creating catalogues detailing your offerings, and placing ads in trade journals or magazines. As a small business, you can expect to do a lot of marketing for the first few years until you have a good-sized customer base and have established a reputation. See how to create a marketing plan for more information.

Getting Your Business Started

• The primary advantage of forming a company is that your finances will be legally separated from those of your company. This minimizes risk to you in the event that your business is sued or goes into bankruptcy.

• It is conceivable that a successful distribution business could be built and run from your home. This depends on the physical size of your inventory, however.

• Don't buy too much inventory, especially at first.
• Try to estimate your customer's needs before you invest in inventory.
• If you can get away with low overhead (storing items at home or at a cheap location) at first, go for it.
• Purchase inventory to a point where you can sell that inventory before you have to pay the manufacturer or distributor for it. [9] X Research source

• You can also invest in search engine optimization (SEO) that directs potential customers directly to your website by placing it higher in search engine results. See how to improve search engine optimization for more information.

Community Q&A

• Distribution is all about covering the spread, or making sure that you charge enough for your products to cover your cost in buying them and your operating expenses with a bit left over for you to keep as profit. A good model in determining your prices is to copy the markup used by the manufacturer. For example, if they produce as a product for $5 and sell it to you for $10 (a 100% markup), you should sell the product for $20 (a 100% markup from $10). This, of course, is only a general guideline. [10] X Research source What you end up charging for your product will also depend on your market and your competitor's prices. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/190460
• ↑ Art Lewin. Entrepreneur. Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.

About This Article

To start a distribution business, contact your local Small Business Administration to help your company get licensed and registered. Then, you'll need to find a location where you can run your business. To keep your costs low, rent the smallest location you can, or work from home if your inventory is limited. To start getting inventory, contact the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. Once you are ready to make sales, develop a website and catalog so that you can market and sell your products. For information about developing a business plan, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Aug 2, 2017

Did this article help you?

Richard Gadasu

Jan 24, 2017

Pamela Hearn

Oct 28, 2017

Joseph Bodunrin

Oct 26, 2019

Narendra Pavan

Aug 11, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Upmetrics AI Assistant: Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights. Learn How

Entrepreneurs & Small Business

Accelerators & Incubators

Business Consultants & Advisors

Educators & Business Schools

Students & Scholars

AI Business Plan Generator

Financial Forecasting

AI Assistance

Ai pitch deck generator

Strategic Planning

See How Upmetrics Works  →

• Sample Plans
• WHY UPMETRICS?

Customers Success Stories

Business Plan Course

Small Business Tools

Strategic Canvas Templates

E-books, Guides & More

• Sample Business Plans
• Transportation, Logistics & Travel

Food Distribution Business Plan

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write A Food Distribution Business Plan?

Writing a food distribution business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Food distribution product range:.

Highlight the food distribution products you offer your clients. The USPs and differentiators you offer are always a plus.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

Describe your business in this section by providing all the basic information:

Describe what kind of food distribution company you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following food distribution businesses:

• Wholesale food distributors
• Specialty food distributors
• Frozen food distributors
• Beverage distributors
• Snack food distributors
• Describe the legal structure of your food distribution company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

If you’re an established food distribution service provider, briefly describe your business history, like—when it was founded, how it evolved over time, etc.

Future Goals

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Market size and growth potential:

Describe your market size and growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

Analyze emerging trends in the industry, such as technology disruptions, changes in customer behavior or preferences, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your food distribution business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Food distribution product range:

Mention the food distribution product range your business will offer. This list may include

• Bakery items
• Packaged goods

Quality measures:

• This may include supplier evaluation & selection, product inspection & testing, temperature control, quality control measures, etc.

Additional Services

In short, this section of your food distribution plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your food distributor business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your food distribution business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

Include the list of equipment and machinery required for food distribution, such as refrigerators, vehicles, material handling equipment, packaging equipment, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your food distribution business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

• It should include, key executives(e.g. COO, CMO.), senior management, and other department managers (e.g. operations manager, customer services manager.) involved in the food distribution business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the industry.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

• So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your food distribution services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

• This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your food distribution business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample food distribution business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful food distribution plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our food distribution business plan pdf .

Related Posts

Restaurant Business Plan Template

Food Bank Business Plan

Important Business Milestones Guide

Business Location Selecting Guide

Mastering the Business Problem Statements

Customer Analysis in Business Plan Process

Frequently asked questions, why do you need a food distribution business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful food distribution business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your food distribution company.

How to get funding for your food distribution business?

There are several ways to get funding for your food distribution business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your food distribution business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your food distribution business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your food distribution business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any food distribution business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in a food distribution business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your food distribution business plan. Whether it is about achieving certain business goals or helping your investors understand your plan to maximize their return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having an impactful marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

Plan your business in the shortest time possible

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

Popular Templates

Create a great Business Plan with great price.

• 400+ Business plan templates & examples
• AI Assistance & step by step guidance
• 4.8 Star rating on Trustpilot

Streamline your business planning process with Upmetrics .

Wholesale Food & Beverage Business Plans

Agriculture fruit farm business plan.

Farmers Group utilizes innovative agricultural technology to produce organic, tasty, and nutritional vegetables. They work to upgrade current farming setups with more efficient and advanced horticultural practices.

Hydroponics Farm Business Plan

FynbosFarm is a new hydroponics facility in South Africa. It will grow tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in hydroponic tunnels for export, and instant turf in the open for the local market.

Nonprofit Food Bank Business Plan

Helping Hand is a non-profit organization working to alleviate hunger by collecting food for distribution to needy families.

Pasta Manufacturer Business Plan

The Pasta Tree seeks to expand its existing wholesale market to statewide retailers.

Produce Farm Business Plan

Mixed Greens Salad Gardens specializes in exotic salad field greens for local restaurants.

Salsa Manufacturer Business Plan

Salvador's Sauces is an established company that manufactures authentic Hispanic salsa and chips.

Wholesale Food Business Plan

Justin Seafood Market supplies fresh seafood to restaurants, and is expanding to include a retail storefront.

Wholesale Food Manufacturer Business Plan

Jean's Tofu Delight, a local manufacturer of tofu pate and related soy products plans on expanding its wholesale distribution into regional supermarkets as well as specialty and healthfood retailers.

Wholesale Juice Business Plan

Oasis Juice, an established, successful producer of natural fruit juice beverages, plans to expand distribution to stores state-wide.

Do you specialize in a specific food or beverage variety? Fresh seafood, meat and poultry products, organic produce, or maybe specialized hops? Why not turn your expertise into a wholesale food and beverage business and start supplying restaurants, grocery, and specialty stores with your products. Check out our library of wholesale food and beverage sample plans and start distributing today.

Tax Season Savings

Get 40% off LivePlan

The #1 rated business plan software

Transform Tax Season into Growth Season

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers

• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Crafting a successful business plan for your beverage manufacturing company can be the key to securing funding and propelling your brand to new heights in the competitive industry. With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers, you can streamline the entire process, from outlining your production and distribution strategies to projecting finances and analyzing the market. This template empowers you to:

• Clearly define your business objectives and strategy
• Create a comprehensive financial forecast for investors
• Develop a robust marketing plan to capture your target audience
• Conduct a thorough competitive analysis to stay ahead of the game

Don't let the complexities of the beverage industry hold you back. ClickUp's Business Plan Template is your ticket to success. Start planning today and take your beverage brand to the next level!

Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers Benefits

Crafting a solid business plan is essential for beverage manufacturers looking to thrive in a competitive industry. Our Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers offers a range of benefits, including:

• Streamlining your business goals, strategies, and financial projections to attract investors and secure financing
• Providing a clear roadmap for your production, distribution, and marketing plans to ensure efficient operations
• Conducting a comprehensive competitive analysis to identify market opportunities and stay ahead of the competition
• Helping you make informed decisions about pricing, product development, and expansion strategies
• Guiding your business towards profitability and long-term success in the dynamic beverage industry.

Main Elements of Beverage Manufacturers Business Plan Template

ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers is designed to help you create a comprehensive roadmap for success in the competitive beverage industry.

Here are the main elements of this template:

• Custom Statuses: Track the progress of each section of your business plan with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do.
• Custom Fields: Add essential information to your business plan, such as references, approval status, and section details, using custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section.
• Custom Views: Access different views to analyze and organize your business plan effectively. Use the Topics view to focus on specific areas, the Status view to track the progress of each section, the Timeline view to visualize key milestones, the Business Plan view to see a comprehensive overview, and the Getting Started Guide view to quickly get acquainted with the template.

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers, you'll have all the tools you need to create a winning business plan and drive success in the beverage industry.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers

If you're a beverage manufacturer and need to create a business plan, the Business Plan Template in ClickUp can help you get started. Follow these four steps to effectively use the template and outline your business plan:

1. Define your business

Start by clearly defining your beverage manufacturing business. Identify your target market, the specific types of beverages you plan to produce, and any unique selling points or competitive advantages you have. This will help you establish a strong foundation for your business plan.

Use the custom fields feature in ClickUp to outline key details about your business, such as target market, product offerings, and competitive advantages.

2. Conduct market research

To create a successful business plan, it's essential to understand the market you'll be entering. Conduct thorough market research to identify trends, customer preferences, and potential competitors in the beverage industry. This information will allow you to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies for success.

Create tasks in ClickUp to organize and track your market research activities, such as analyzing industry reports, conducting surveys, and studying consumer behavior.

3. Develop a marketing and sales strategy

A key component of your business plan is your marketing and sales strategy. Define how you will promote and sell your beverages to your target market. This may include advertising campaigns, social media marketing, distribution channels, and partnerships. Your strategy should align with your overall business goals and objectives.

Utilize the Gantt chart feature in ClickUp to visually plan and schedule your marketing and sales activities. This will help you stay organized and ensure that all necessary tasks are completed on time.

4. Financial projections and funding

Lastly, your business plan should include financial projections and plans for funding. Estimate your revenue, expenses, and profit margins based on your market research and sales projections. Additionally, outline how you plan to fund your beverage manufacturing business, whether it's through personal investment, loans, or partnerships.

Use the Table view in ClickUp to create financial projections and track your budget. You can easily input and update financial data, such as revenue and expenses, to stay on top of your financial goals.

By following these steps and utilizing the Business Plan Template in ClickUp, you can create a comprehensive and strategic business plan for your beverage manufacturing business.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Beverage Manufacturers

Beverage manufacturers can use this Business Plan Template to create a comprehensive and professional plan to guide their operations and attract investors.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a solid business plan:

• Use the Topics View to outline and organize different sections of your business plan, such as production, distribution, marketing, and financials
• The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do
• Utilize the Timeline View to set deadlines and visualize the timeline of your business plan
• The Business Plan View will provide a comprehensive overview of your entire plan, with all sections and details in one place
• Use the Getting Started Guide View to help you navigate through the template and understand how to fill in each section
• Customize the template by adding custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to provide additional information and track important details
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders by assigning tasks, setting due dates, and leaving comments in each section to ensure a well-rounded and accurate business plan.
• Business Plan Template for Bartenders
• Business Plan Template for Gamers
• Business Plan Template for Hardware Designers
• Business Plan Template for Team Leader
• Business Plan Template for Information Security Officers

Template details

Free forever with 100mb storage.

Free training & 24-hours support

Serious about security & privacy

Highest levels of uptime the last 12 months

• Product Roadmap
• Affiliate & Referrals
• On-Demand Demo
• Integrations
• Consultants
• Gantt Chart
• Native Time Tracking
• Automations
• Kanban Board
• vs Airtable
• vs Basecamp
• vs MS Project
• vs Smartsheet
• Software Team Hub
• PM Software Guide

It should be noted that there is no special software required to use these templates. All business plans come in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel format. Each business plan features:

• Excecutive Summary
• Company and Financing Summary
• Products and Services Overview
• Strategic Analysis with current research!
• Marketing Plan
• Personnel Plan
• 3 Year Advanced Financial Plan
• Expanded Financial Plan with Monthly Financials
• Loan Amortization and ROI Tools
• FREE PowerPoint Presentation for Banks, Investors, or Grant Companies!

1.0 Executive Summary

The purpose of this business plan is to raise $100,000 for the development of a beverage distributor while showcasing the expected financials and operations over the next three years. Beverage Distributor, Inc. (“the Company”) is a New York based corporation that will provide for the wholesale distributor of beverages to retailers. The Company was founded by John Doe.

1.1 Products and Services

The primary revenue center for the business will come from the ongoing purchase orders of wholesale beverages from retailers based in the Company’s target market. The business will earn contribution margins of 70% on each dollar of revenue generated through the wholesale distribution of beverages through the Company’s sales channels. The business will also earn substantial secondary incomes from ancillary distribution fees and services rendered to customers that operate outside of the Company’s target market radius. The third section of the business plan will further describe the products offered by the Beverages Distributor.

1.2 The Financing

Mr. Doe is seeking to raise $100,000 from as a bank loan. The interest rate and loan agreement are to be further discussed during negotiation. This business plan assumes that the business will receive a 10 year loan with a 9% fixed interest rate. The financing will be used for the following: • Development of the Company’s Beverages Distributor location. • Financing for the first six months of operation. • Capital to purchase the Company’s inventory of drink products. Mr. Doe will contribute $10,000 to the venture.

1.3 Mission Statement

Beverages Distributor’s mission is to become one of the foremost distributors of beverage products for retailers within the Company’s targeted markets.

1.4 Mangement Team

The Company was founded by John Doe. Mr. Doe has more than 10 years of experience in the general distribution industry. Through his expertise, he will be able to bring the operations of the business to profitability within its first year of operations.

1.5 Sales Forecasts

Mr. Doe expects a strong rate of growth at the start of operations. Below are the expected financials over the next three years.

1.6 Expansion Plan

The Founder expects that the business will aggressively expand during the first three years of operation. Mr. Doe intends to implement marketing campaigns that will effectively target retail locations within the target market.

2.0 Company and Financing Summary

2.1 Registered Name and Corporate Structure

Beverage Distributor, Inc. The Company is registered as a corporation in the State of New York.

2.2 Required Funds

At this time, the Beverage Distributor requires $100,000 of debt funds. Below is a breakdown of how these funds will be used:

2.3 Investor Equity

Mr. Doe is not seeking an investment from a third party at this time.

2.4 Management Equity

John Doe owns 100% of the Beverage Distributor, Inc.

2.5 Exit Strategy

If the business is very successful, Mr. Doe may seek to sell the business to a third party for a significant earnings multiple. Most likely, the Company will hire a qualified business broker to sell the business on behalf of the Beverage Distributor. Based on historical numbers, the business could fetch a sales premium of up to 4 times earnings.

3.0 Products and Services

Below is a description of the products offered by the Beverage Distributor

3.1 Beverage Distribution

Management is currently in the process of sourcing a number of companies that produce and market wholesale beverage products for selected retail stores. The business intends to offer a broad selection of beverage products that are related to the sale of wholesale distribution to the general public. Management anticipates that the Company will be able to mark-up purchased inventory 65% of its actual cost.

4.0 Strategic and Market Analysis

4.1 Economic Outlook

This section of the analysis will detail the economic climate, the beverages industry, the customer profile, and the competition that the business will face as it progresses through its business operations. Currently, the economic market condition in the United States is in a state of sluggish growth. This slowdown in the economy has also greatly impacted real estate sales, which has halted to historical lows. Many economists expect that this sluggish growth will continue for a significant period of time, at which point the economy will begin a prolonged recovery period.

4.2 Industry Analysis

Within the United States there are approximately 75,000 companies that specialize in the sale and distribution of beverage drinks to the general public. Each year, these businesses aggregately generate more than $100 billion dollars of revenue and provide jobs for almost 1,000,000 Americans. For the last five years, annual payrolls have exceeded $20 billion dollars a year among these individuals. The industry has experience solid growth over the last ten years are more people are becoming concerned with their health and fitness. This growth corresponds to the increase in capital stock and general wealth of the American public. There is currently no legislation or other issues pending that are expected to impede the continued growth of the industry.

4.3 Customer Profile

Beverage Distributor’s average end user will be a retail seller operating within the Company’s target market. Common traits among clients will include: • Annual revenues exceeding $1,000,000 per year. • Will spend $2,500 to $10,000 per month with the Company. • Operates within 15 to 25 miles of the Company’s operational radius.

4.4 Competitive Analysis

This is one of the sections of the business plan that you must write completely on your own. The key to writing a strong competitive analysis is that you do your research on the local competition. Find out who your competitors are by searching online directories and searching in your local Yellow Pages. If there are a number of competitors in the same industry (meaning that it is not feasible to describe each one) then showcase the number of businesses that compete with you, and why your business will provide customers with service/products that are of better quality or less expensive than your competition.

5.0 Marketing Plan

Beverage Distributor intends to maintain an extensive marketing campaign that will ensure maximum visibility for the business in its targeted market. Below is an overview of the marketing strategies and objectives of the Beverage Distributor.

5.1 Marketing Objectives

• Implement a local campaign with the Company’s targeted market that will connect the business to retailers.

• Develop an online presence by developing a website and placing the Company’s name and contact information with online directories.

5.2 Marketing Strategies

Mr. Doe intends on using a number of marketing strategies that will allow the Beverage Distributor to easily target retail stores within the target market. These strategies include traditional print advertisements and ads placed on search engines on the Internet. Below is a description of how the business intends to market its products to retail locations. The Beverage Distributor will also use an internet based strategy. This is very important as many people seeking local products, such as wholesale beverage distributors, now the Internet to conduct their preliminary searches. Mr. Doe will register the Company with online portals so that potential retail customers can easily reach the business. The Company will also develop its own online website. The Company will maintain a sizable amount of print and traditional advertising methods within local markets to promote the products that the Company is selling.

5.3 Pricing

In this section, describe the pricing of your services and products. You should provide as much information as possible about your pricing as possible in this section. However, if you have hundreds of items, condense your product list categorically. This section of the business plan should not span more than 1 page.

6.0 Organizational Plan and Personnel Summary

6.1 Corporate Organization

6.2 Organizational Budget

6.3 Management Biographies

In this section of the business plan, you should write a two to four paragraph biography about your work experience, your education, and your skill set. For each owner or key employee, you should provide a brief biography in this section.

7.0 Financial Plan

7.1 Underlying Assumptions

• The Beverage Distributor will have an annual revenue growth rate of 16% per year.

• The Owner will acquire $100,000 of debt funds to develop the business.

• The loan will have a 10 year term with a 9% interest rate.

7.2 Sensitivity Analysis

In the event of a more severe economic downturn, the business may have a decline in its revenues. However, the high gross margins generated by the business will ensure that the business will maintain profitability despite deleterious economic conditions.

7.3 Source of Funds

7.4 General Assumptions

7.5 Profit and Loss Statements 

7.6 Cash Flow Analysis

7.7 Balance Sheet

7.8 General Assumptions

7.9 Business Ratios

Expanded Profit and Loss Statements

Expanded Cash Flow Analysis

• Product Overview
• Insights Dashboards
• Field Team Management
• In-Store Execution
• Image Recognition
• Merchandising
• Field Sales
• Promotion Execution
• Retail Services
• About Repsly
• Resource Center
• Buyer's Guide
• Retail Outlook Report

Supply Chain Management

Beverage Distribution Strategies for Emerging Brands

Victoria Vessella

Vending Machines

It’s no secret that consumers love convenience, hence the widespread presence of vending machines in practically every public space. The omnipresence of vending machines can help beverage startups get noticed by lots of eyes every single day. What’s more, since they operate for 24 hours a day, your product is always available for sale even after stores close (unless the machine is located inside a store, of course). This aspect of vending machines makes them extremely useful for driving up impulse purchases.

Recent shifts in vending machine industry trends present a prime opportunity for health-conscious brands to supply their product through this channel. Amanda Del Buono, associate editor of Beverage Industry , reports that modern consumers are less interested in purchasing carbonated, sugary drinks and instead are opting for lighter options. As a result of this change in preference combined with increased pressure from the government to supply healthier choices, vending machine companies are scrambling to find qualified suppliers that meet this demand. Hence, young functional and healthy beverage brands should consider utilizing vending machines as a lucrative distribution channel.

Convenience Stores

With over 154,000 of them in the United States alone, convenience stores provide an ideal platform for beverage brands to showcase their products. Like vending machines, convenience stores allow your brand to be seen by a vast number of individuals due to the sheer volume of people who flood through them everyday. Many stay open for longer hours than traditional retail stores as well, which means there is more time in the day for your product to be sold and for last-minute purchases to be made.

Convenience stores are especially advantageous for beverage companies since they are the most common place for consumers to purchase a single-serve drink. In fact, a  study conducted by VideoMining Corp. found that consumers are spending 5% less time in supermarkets and 6% more time in convenience stores making the latter that much more attractive for beverage suppliers. The study also drew a correlation between time spent in the store and average dollar basket size, which grew by 9%. These favorable market conditions make supplying to convenience stores a key strategy for a beverage distribution business plan .

Food Service Establishments

When focusing on distribution at restaurants and bars, younger brands should attempt to make strides in their local communities. “Farm-to-table” type of establishments often seek out locally-produced ingredients and products to serve at their businesses, thus presenting a great channel opportunity for your beverage company. Many cocktail bars want to “wow” their customers with seasonal offerings featuring the latest and greatest beverage flavors. Promoting your product as something that’s “on-the-rise” or part of the “hottest” trend can help you gain prominence in the local marketplace. If you're haven't already, establish a presence at your community's farmer's market. Venues like these are often where small businesses turn when looking for local products to supply at their establishments.

Regardless of which channel(s) you use to bring your product to market, it’s critical to capture data about how your brand is performing. Doing so not only enables your company make insightful business decisions, but it affords a record of your product’s past success that can be presented to larger retailers during negotiations. Consider using a beverage distribution software to document information such as number of units sold, shelf placement, client requests and more.

Download the 2024 Outlook Report

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of the latest trends and challenges. Download our report today to see how more than 160+ CG executives and field leaders are strategizing for 2024.

Victoria is a Marketing Associate at Repsly, where she leads the company's P.R. and social media efforts. You can also catch her prepping for slew of exciting industry events. A New England native, Victoria has spent time living in Italy and traveling throughout Europe before settling back in Boston. When she's not planning her next trip, V is probably tasting wine or brushing up on her Italian.

Recommended

Insights and Studies

What's in Your Tech Stack? Highlights From Industry Thought Leaders

Retail Data in Action: How & Why CPG Brands Leverage Data to Win at the Shelf

Thought-Leadership

Endcaps & Insights: The Necessity of Data Maturity in Retail (Pt. 2)

Endcaps & Insights: The Necessity of Data Maturity in Retail (Pt. 1)

Endcaps & Insights: Accessing The Power of Data-Driven Retail Execution

Territory Management

Sales Territory Management Plan: Creating a 5 Step Strategy [Video]

CPG KPIs & Reporting

How to Measure Sales Per Point of Distribution (SPPD)

CPG Tools & Tech

How to Use POS Data for Intelligent Retail Execution [Free Guide]

Product Distribution Strategy: The Ultimate Guide [Infographic]

Agile Reporting: How to Save Time While Uncovering Trends From the Field

Latest Posts

Infographic: Optimizing In-Store Retail Strategies in 2024

In our recently unveiled 2024 Outlook Report, a significant shift in the priorities of CPG and Retail Services leaders has come to light. Notably, a whopping 90% of those with access to budget..

Enhancing Retail Execution: The Power of Streamlined Data

In the era of data-driven decision-making, we understand the significant impact that organized data can have on your retail execution strategies. Yet, the pains associated with disorganized and..

Why are CPGs Doubling Down on Tech Investments This Year? Let’s Get Into It.

Our team at Repsly is excited to announce the launch of our highly anticipated 2024 Retail Outlook Report. At Repsly, our mission is to help CPG brands thrive in the retail landscape, and our annual..

170 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109

• Retail Sales Reporting
• Orders & Returns
• Integrations
• Trust Center

Wholesale Foods | How to Start a Food Distribution Business

Wholesale foods distribution is vital to the success of any business in the retail food and beverage industry , hospitality industry, and restaurant industry . Companies within these industries depend on a fresh,  steady supply of wholesale foods to maintain their operations.

Key Takeaway - Starting a food distribution business requires managing a relationship with food producers and consumer-facing companies. Depending on the type of food distribution business, you'll be operating a B2B eCommerce model, DTC model , or O2O business model.

The business model you operate will determine your distributor marketing plan and help streamline your niche market research. Undoubtedly, the food and beverage industry is highly competitive, but with a solid business process flow chart , you'll be able to both navigate it and produce desirable results in your restaurant supplies business.

This guide will teach you the steps to take before starting your food business and working with seasonality in business . Let's review how to start a wholesale foods distribution business and the steps you need to take to become a food wholesale distributor .

How to Start a Wholesale Foods Business: 4 Things to Consider Before Launching Your Food Business

There's a lot of profit to be made from starting a food wholesale distribution business. However, before starting your wholesale foods distribution business, you must put several things in place.

Here are four things you should consider before you launch your wholesale foods distribution business:  

• Wholesale Food and Warehouse Inventory Management

You need to choose the type of wholesale foods you want to distribute. The biggest challenge in distributing food is warehouse inventory management due to the limited shelf life of foods.

With the perishability of your food in mind, whichever wholesale foods you choose to distribute must be stored under temperature conditions that can extend the shelf life. Your warehouse layout design and structure must be perfect.

• Logistics and Overhead Costs

It helps if you also consider the most likely logistics disruptions you will face, including your plan for last mile delivery . To solve this, you may need to integrate route optimization tools into your wholesale food business.

As a new foodservice wholesale distributor, it’s smart to minimize your overhead costs. Using a wholesale distribution management software like BlueCart will streamline your operations and the costs of running your business.

• Shipping Food and Order Fulfillment

Shipping food and order fulfillment is another crucial thing to consider when launching your wholesale food business. Integrating the best shipping processes for your wholesale product is essential to avoid spoilage and other shipping issues .

Partnering with local manufacturers and food businesses will make receiving and delivering fresh food products easy. However, once your business expands, you may need to learn how to ship perishable foods across borders.

• Package Design and Shipping Labels

If you plan to operate private label brands for your wholesale food distribution business, you must consider your package design and product marketing ideas. You'll also need to learn how to print product shipping labels .

Creating your unique selling point is essential to marketing your product to your target audience. Writing an eCommerce marketing plan will help you build your brand and expand your business.

Now that you know what to consider before launching your food wholesale distributorship business, let's discuss ten tips to get you started.

How to Start a Wholesale Foods Business: 10 Tips to Get Started

Here are ten tips to get started with your wholesale food distribution business :

• Business Plan and Wholesale Distribution Process Flow

To start, write a business plan that covers your entire operation and business process flow . Your wholesale distribution business plan will help validate your idea and simplify things.

Are you looking for a simpler way to create a flow diagram for your wholesale food distribution business? You can use our editable business process flow chart to streamline and optimize your business processes. Download our free business process flow chart template here .

Consider adding the following sections to your business plan :

• Executive Summary: An overview of your product, the market, and potential areas for growth.
• Overviews and Goals: A description of your company, your target market, and the resources you'll need to run it.
• Products and Services: Information about the specific wholesale foods your company will offer.
• Market Opportunities: Evaluation of client demographics, purchasing patterns, and demand for your product.
• Distributor Marketing Strategies: Describe your strategy for reaching consumers and how you plan to differentiate yourself from the competition.
• Competitive Analysis: Evaluation of your competitor's strengths and weaknesses.
• Operations: Your company's organizational structure and the requirements for day-to-day productivity.
• Leadership Team: Specifying the duties of each manager by their responsibilities.
• Financial Evaluation: Laying out operational budgets, future expense estimates, and all costs.
• Select Your Business Bank

One mistake you should never make is using your bank account for your business needs. Opening an account with one of the best banks will make it easier to process transactions.

You can also consider integrating the best payment gateway into your business. This will streamline online transactions and make it possible to accept payments online . 

• Wholesale License and Legal Permits

It is essential to sort out all the legal requirements of your business early on. Getting your wholesale license gives you legal permission to buy wholesale food in large quantities and resell them in smaller amounts to businesses in the food industry.

It’s best if you also choose whether you wish to be an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp. As a foodservice wholesale distributor, these three options preserve your assets and give you access to specific tax advantages.

Here's a brief overview:

• LLC : The limited liability corporation (LLC) personal income tax return is used to disclose all business-related earnings and outlays.
• S Corporation : Owners collect dividends from profits and pay themselves salaries.
• C Corporation : A C Corporation is a separately taxed entity that files a corporate tax return (Form 1120). Any tax owed is paid by the proprietors personally; there is no income tax paid at the company level.

• Choose Your Food Distribution Business Model

There are various business models you can run. However, it’s crucial to understand the needs of your target market first.

The business model you select can come as a value-added service. You can even combine more than one, depending on your management tools.

Let's look at some of these models:

• Subscription billing and recurring payments model: Customers are billed for the wholesale food they repeatedly order with this payment model. Subscription billing solutions streamline invoicing, automated billing , payment processing, and order fulfilling processes. 
• Dropshipping model: Dropshipping allows you to receive products from wholesale dropshipping suppliers and manufacturers without worrying about inventory carrying costs, warehousing, and bulk shipping . Customers place their orders and pay on your website, and in turn, you send all order requirements to the product manufacturer. The manufacturer will then process the order and deliver it to the customer.
• Private label model: As a private label brand, you get to exclusively rebrand already-manufactured products and sell them as your own. Manufacturers produce and design products, and you relabel, sell, and profit from them. Understand white label vs. private label .
• Design Your Catalog and Food Packaging

If you choose to be a private label brand, then it’s vital to design your shipping label and food packaging. A shipping label printer will do the trick. Whichever food eCommerce packaging option you choose must adhere to food safety regulations and prevent spoilage.

Designing a digital catalog to showcase your products will also come in handy. You can use a simple catalog creator , an eCommerce website builder , or product catalog builder software .

• Partner With a Large-Scale Food Producer

Partnering with a large-scale food producer is crucial to the success of your wholesale food business. You can connect with more than one manufacturer if you plan to have a large inventory and supply various types of wholesale food products.

However, it would help if you decided on a few things before choosing a supplier for your business. Here are some questions to ask yourself :

• Do you want to work with local suppliers or international suppliers?
• Can you negotiate to become that manufacturer’s exclusive distributor?
• Will you sign a wholesale purchase agreement ?
• Can you work with their shipping policy ?
• Set Your Wholesale Price

How much will you charge your customers for your wholesale foods? It is essential to research your competition and the current market price and wholesale price for the products you want to sell online .

Pricing is one of the most challenging aspects of starting a new business. Customers may view your products as substandard if you underprice, especially compared to similar foodservice wholesale distribution companies.

On the other hand, overpriced products will make customers run to your competition. This will damage your business’s reputation and perception. 

Before customers make a purchase decision, they tend to check online retail stores and wholesale marketplaces for the price of wholesale goods. You can do the same when you are about to set your wholesale price.

All in all, striking a balance between what price is obtainable online and your required profit margin will keep everyone satisfied. Here are some factors to consider when pricing your product:

• Understand your customers, knowing what they’re willing to pay for a product will help you set the perfect price.
• Evaluate your competition, check their price and look for a way to beat that price.
• Understand your overhead costs, including inventory carrying fees, shipping costs, and business operating costs.
• Create revenue objectives for each product to monitor its performance and how customers respond to set prices.
• Find Your Customers

This is the critical part of starting a business. Knowing where to find your target customers will help you to market your product and make sales leading to high ROI .

You may need to launch various wholesale marketing campaigns and monitor your eCommerce metrics . Using eCommerce marketing strategies like eCommerce email marketing , eCommerce content marketing , and eCommerce marketing automation tools will help you get results faster.

• Pick Your Team

The truth is you can't do it alone. You need an eCommerce team structure that will help with your business operations.

You can start with a small team and hire more people as your business grows. Here are some key departments and roles in any distribution business that need to be staffed :

• Warehouse manager
• Inventory control manager
• Order management specialist
• Wholesale marketing team
• Shipping and logistics team
• Product team
• Get Your Resources Ready

Besides having a great team, integrating the best tools into your wholesale food distribution business will streamline numerous aspects of your operations. For instance, a wholesale distribution management system offers an all-in-one eCommerce solution for wholesalers. Be sure to also include tools that will help with calculations, such as inventory turnover .

Here's a list of tools and resources you need for your business:

• Warehouse distribution management tools
• Inventory management tools
• Vendor management tools
• Payment processing tools
• Order processing tools

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting Wholesale Foods Distribution Business

Starting a wholesale food distribution business requires adequate planning and the right resources. Let's answer more related questions you may have.

What Is Food Distribution?

Food distribution is the process of making food items available to wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. To make food distribution possible, the food distribution channels must work together in balance.

What Is a Wholesale Distributor?

A wholesale distributor serves as an intermediary between a manufacturer and a retailer . The wholesale distributor buys products in large quantities from manufacturers and resells them in small amounts to consumer-facing businesses.

What are the 5 Pricing Techniques?

Here are the five pricing techniques to help you attract more customers for your business :

• Price skimming : Listing a product price as high as possible and then gradually lowering it until it meets the market average.
• Market penetration pricing : Setting the price of a product low at its initial entry into the market.
• Premium pricing : Keeping the price set higher than your competitors to create a perception of luxury.
• Economy pricing : Lowering the price of products due to the low costs of production.
• Bundle pricing : Grouping products into bundles and selling them at a single price.

Ready, Set, Go!

Starting a wholesale food distribution business comes with many benefits and profits. With a great team and wholesale management system, you can get an ROI quickly.

This guide's recommendations and strategies will help you start your business. Remember to do your research before launching your wholesale food distribution business. This will help you prepare for any situation.

• Business Type
• Business Plan for Beverage Distributor

Beverage Distributor Small Business Idea and Business Plan

Starting your own small business in the UK isn’t easy but having a properly developed business plan will help you achieve success.

To start a Beverage Distributor business in the UK, take the time and explain the idea via a business plan.

Understanding all of the aspects of the business idea will be the key to getting the Beverage Distributor business running like a well-oiled machine. The business plan you develop will help you organize the elements needed into a strategy that you can actually use to startup, by paving a clear road map as to what you need to follow for the lifespan of your business.

Starting a Beverage Distributor business isn’t easy, but when done right, it can lead to a lot of success.

To help you get started, you can use the free business plan builder tool to develop your own Beverage Distributor business plan.

The business plan template is very easy to use, is interactive and will quickly and easily help you create your business plan just by answering the needed questions about your small business idea.

Create your own Beverage Distributor business plan for free using the Business Plan Builder

The free business plan template builder is divided into a few easy to follow steps.

The free business plan builder template is provided by UKStartups.org to help you develop your own business plan. For step by step guidance, see the 5 steps below.

Once completed, the result will be a clean, professional plan that will help you start your own Beverage Distributor small business in the UK.

When you have completed your Beverage Distributor business plan, the next step will be to find available funding that will help, or to speak with a funding adviser who will assist you each step of the way to securing the needed funds to make your Beverage Distributor business startup.

If you are looking to limit your startup costs when starting up a Beverage Distributor small business in the UK, this free business plan builder tool will be it.

Starting a Beverage Distributor business is only one of the ways others have used this free business plan tool. There are hundreds of different ideas you can start, and if you need guidance, do reach out to a UKStartups expert to get the needed assistance and guidance.

Step 1. Your business information

To develop a proper Beverage Distributor business plan with the free business plan builder template, it is important to answer each of the questions about your business to the best of your abilities.

What is your business? What are the products/services you provide? Who are your customers? What are your goals…etc?

Having a clear explanation will help you create a in-depth business plan that you can actually use to start the Beverage Distributor business and to apply for needed funding to cover your startup costs.

Step 2. Projecting your revenues/income

The Beverage Distributor industry can have great results. Planning and projecting the financial figures to approximate what you will make each year is crucial to building a strong business plan.

What do you think your business will make from each of its products/services? Simply list your products/services, enter the appropriate financial figures (costs and expenses).

If you don’t have the figures, in many cases it is recommended to do a a bit more research on other Beverage Distributor businesses locally and within your own region to get an idea of potential revenue. You can do your best to estimate the figures and growth potential.

If you need assistance in projecting, you can always contact UK Startups funding experts for the help.

Step 3. Your business market

As a Beverage Distributor business, having a clear explanation of the market and industry that you are in will help you plan for the figure and will ensure you can take the business to the next level.

Explain your location of business, share specifics about your customers, showcase your competition and explain the advantages you have over your competition.

Step 4. The future plan

Starting your own Beverage Distributor business and getting it off the ground is important to you.

No matter if you’re planning on applying for government funding for your Beverage Distributor business or not, it is important to plan out the future and provide an explanation of how you will grow the business. This means explaining your marketing plan, your sales strategy and clearly outlining a growth plan for the next few years.

Be sure to break this down step by step to show how you intend on making sure your Beverage Distributor business can grow each year.

Keep in mind that often business plans are focused on key people. Be sure to discuss yourself, your role and any other key figures in the business as well.

Step 5. The financials

In the end, it all comes down to the financials. If you are seeking funding, or not – the business plan you develop needs to have clearly defined financials or projections. The business plan builder tool makes it easy to develop your financial charts by simply entering your expected revenues per month and year. If you don’t have the figures as it’s a new business be sure to project the figures based on your expectations. If you need help with this, ask the UK Startups experts .

A clear breakdown of your funding needs is also recommended in case you are seeking funding and this free business plan template will help you with exactly that. When developing your Beverage Distributor business plan using this free template, the above 5 steps are recommended in order to succeed. While there are other key points that will assist you in starting your business, finding funding...etc, the free template will help put you on the right path

Be sure to request a professional to review your business plan , to answer any questions you may have and to help you with the funding search once you’ve done the initial free template. You can request this directly via UKStartups.org and through the Small Business Startup Platform as a member.

If starting a Beverage Distributor business is just one of your ideas, perhaps considering other options, here are some popular small business’s others have chosen to startup

INSTANT ACCESS - April Government Funding Options

See ALL government funding options now

This will close in 24 seconds

• Phone: +90 (212) 875 19 08
• E-Mail: [email protected]

• Company Profile
• Company Policy
• Mission and Vision
• Certificates
• Aluminium Windows
• Aluminium Doors
• Aluminium Sliding Elements
• Aluminium Curtain Walls
• Aluminium Skylight Elements
• Aluminium Frames for Safety and Security
• Aluminium Conservatories
• Metal Panel Sheet Claddings
• Aluminium Entrance Frames
• Glass Structures
• Complementary Items
• Lightweight Steel Structures
• Human Resources OPEN

Are you ready to view the world from our frame?

As an experienced specialist facade contractor, Mimsa and their group companies today has its headquarters and factory in Istanbul, office and a second factory in Moscow, office and a workshop in London (since 2016) and have expanded with an office in New York (in 2018).

This year share of exports accounts for more than 80% of the total work done. Our ability to adopt ourselves to International Standards & Building Regulations and working together with our clients to satisfy their highest requirements, have given us this opportunity. An example of this was our recently achieved “Secured by Design” Accreditation for the UK Market.

We undertake in house; the detailed design, engineering, fabrication and installation of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walls. As a group today, we have a total of more than 100 technical staff and over 550 workers working in collaboration with the high-end software and machinery. Since 2016, our BIM trained group (consisting of 15 designers and managers) are working for our BIM required projects in different levels worldwide.

Our team is working side by side with our main systems suppliers such as; Schueco, Reynaers, Sapa Group and able to work with most systems companies in Europe, UK and Russia. We also work with the major glass suppliers such as Guardian, Saint Gobain, Pilkington and their processors worldwide to provide a high quality, quick and affordable service to our customers. We as a group company, together with our extensive supply chain, have managed to achieve various levels of BREEAM and LEED Certificates in our international projects.

Our vision is to set up robust relations, through high quality works with the existing Clients and approach to the main players in the glazing market over the next years.