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Where to purchase large qtys of ingred?

post #1 of 6
8/6/09 at 12:02pm
Thread Starter 
I am sorry as I don't know if I count as professional or not. I am a partner in a small time baking gig. If I don't count b/c I have not gone to school, I apologize and will not post in this forum again. I did read the TOU and don't want to violate them.

If I am allowed to ask here, I have a question on where to find large quantities of flour. We aren't a HUGE bakery, but we are going through 100 lbs of unbleached unbromated high gluten flour and almost 100 lbs of stoneground whole wheat flour and 10-ish lbs of rye flour each week. We also use 50-76 lbs per month of powdered sugar and 5-6 lbs of sea salt.

Some of these are estimates based on the formulas I am not responsible for baking. I think the numbers for the salt and sugar are accurate, but am not 100%.

Anyway, I usually go down to the Restaurant Depot 2-3 times a month (1.5 hr drive) and pick up our flours, oil and such.

was wondering if there are known places to purchase these kinds of items in larger quantities. If not, I will stick to our normal, but was looking to save some money by buying in larger bulk and some time so not doing 3 trips a month.

Thank you for any advice, direction!

Christi
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post #2 of 6
8/6/09 at 12:17pm
Depending on where you are located there may be some local wholesalers...some of them will even deliver to you. Most of them have very high minimum though--between $400-$600 per order otherwise no delivery. They don't really save you much money..if any...but they will save you time.
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post #3 of 6
8/6/09 at 12:41pm
As long as this is your profession, you can post away, schooling is optional.

I agree with what Chefelle posted.
But you may find a company that delivers near you that is small enough to want your business and forego a minimum delivery fee.
Another option is to make friends with a local restaurant where you can have your supplies shipped on a seperate invoice, then you make a much shorter trip to pick them up.
One way to make friends is to bake goods for them, possibly at a special rate if they agree to the above scenario.
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post #4 of 6
8/6/09 at 7:03pm
Check out food coops in your area. Some may carry what you need, but membership can be a pain.

One of my suppliers has a $300 minimum and the other has a 15 piece minimum. It wouldn't hurt to ask around. In the past if my order didn't meet their requirements, I'd have it delivered to another drop. Sometimes it would be brought inside, but much of the time, I'd meet the truck.

Good luck.
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post #5 of 6
8/10/09 at 10:30am

flour

Try King Arthur Flour home page
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post #6 of 6
9/28/09 at 2:38am
Check out honeyvillegrain.com. They are just outside LA and only charge 4.50 for delivery regardless of order size.
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