We’re currently going through the Food and Drinks category of the directory and improving the listings, getting rid of some, and adding a whole lot more excellent businesses. So if you’re a quality food company who works with other businesses and would like to be seen by thousands of potential new customers every month then be sure to let us know.
Personally it has been challenging going through the food listings and reviewing the company websites as I’ve also recently started dieting and have cut out all sugar and fast food! I also don’t eat after 6PM and I have been working up to 11PM each night. So I’m looking at food companies with their best looking, tastiest food pictures all over their websites while I’m sitting here with a grumbling stomach, starving! I’m such a masochist.
Just before starting this article I was working on the Condiments section of the directory. I’ve noticed over time that companies in the condiments category (particularly manufacturers) have a much higher success rate over the long term than a category like Meat and Poultry. There seems to be a much higher turnover of companies distributing meat than condiments. Obviously I’m just one tiny website and these observations don’t mean a whole lot, but I do see that some industries are more settled than others.
It’s interesting to see over time just how many businesses come and go. Some companies just close up shop and that’s the end of their story, others will adapt and change to suit the market, and some sell out to the highest bidder. One thing is certain though, businesses never stand still and succeed long term. They can do it for a short period of time but inevitably the market will catch up and demand change. It’s like life I guess: Evolve or die.
Top Ten Most Popular Food Products
Rather than focusing on the disappearing companies though, lets look at the most popular food and drink products on the Wholesalers Network directory. Remember, this list is just what’s popular on our website and there’s hundreds of variables that can affect the results, so take this ranking with a grain of salt (pun intended and no, Salt is not in the top ten!)
- Groceries: I guess groceries would be an obvious winner as it covers most food and beverage products as a whole. So if you’re selling food it’s probably easiest to search for grocery distributors and find companies with everything in one place.
- Asian Food: A close second is the Asian Food distributors category which often changes places for first with the groceries category. It’s also another one of those categories with a high turnover of companies.
- Potato Chips: You would think that snacks and fast food would dominate the top 10 foods list but it’s mostly healthy with a few exceptions. Potato chips have been increasing in popularity over the past 12 months or more. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it at number one at some point. Maybe potato chip consumption has increased with more people working from home lately?
- Cheese: Cheese from the dairy section is sitting comfortably in fourth position. It has always been in the top ten of the most most popular food products in the directory. Since I have given up eating unhealthy snacks and sweets, cheese has become my favorite naughty food.
- Kombucha: Kombucha has shot into the top ten just recently. Fermented foods and beverages have been trending recently. I should look into doing some fermenting myself as I’ve heard good things about the health benefits.
- Kosher Food: Jewish certified Kashrut food products have been popular for a while now. That includes meat that has been slaughtered in a particular way and been approved by Rabbis. I don’t know the details of it, I just know that they often show up in the top 10. Halal food for Muslims is usually in the top ten too but it didn’t make the list this month.
- Breakfast Cereals: A steady performer and always in the top ten or close to it each month is breakfast cereal. Although I rarely eat cereals anymore I would have to say that my favorite cereal is Nutri-Grain by Kellogg’s. If you have it in your country you should give it a try.
- Olive Oil: Definitely the most popular cooking oil on the Wholesalers Network website and often in the most popular foods list is olive oil. The next most popular product in the oils and fats section is vegetable oil.
- Frozen Seafood: Usually the smoked seafood distributors are in the top ten but for whatever reason it’s frozen seafood this month. My favorite seafood is shrimp or prawns, preferably shelled for me while I eat them 😉
- Chocolate: Last on the list but certainly not least is chocolate. Let me know your favorite chocolate maker as I’m looking to improve on the chocolates section.
That’s all for now. I’ll get back to work on improving the food and drink directory. Let us know if your B2B food company is listed and if it isn’t, send your details through here and we’ll add you asap.