The global beverage industry is one of the biggest in the world and is expected to reach almost $1.86 trillion by 2024. As a result, beverage trends come and go, and what consumers liked last season, they may not be ordering this week.
Therefore, for anyone involved in selling in the beverage industry, it is crucial that you are staying ahead of the curve. One of the best ways to do this is by carefully choosing your partners and suppliers.
To help you achieve this, read on to learn the top tips for choosing the best beverage ingredient suppliers in your area.
1. Make sure they meet your standards
Before you can select beverage ingredient suppliers to work with, you first have to ensure that they meet the standards that are put forth by your product development and quality assurance teams.
For this reason, it is crucial that your company has a thorough list of criteria that have to be met for quality control and beverage safety. This is the most vital consideration to make, as it is going to determine whether you’ll be able to deliver high-quality products to your consumers.
In this regard, one of the best things that you can do is to investigate a supplier’s health and safety standards to learn more about the criteria they have and the steps they take to uphold them. Additionally, if they are maintaining strict standards, you will never have to be concerned about contaminated products.
Generally, if a supplier has been in business for years, you’ll have the assurance that they have a history of providing high-quality products and excellent customer service.
2. Check reviews to ensure they are reliable
In addition to providing you with high-quality ingredients, you also want to ensure that the beverage ingredient supplier you select is reliable. This means they’ll be shipping your orders on time without needing to be reminded. It also means that they’ always send your orders without error. If this isn’t the case, you are going to have a difficult time keeping your operations efficient.
Being reliable also means that they are communicative with you and make it their mission to promptly respond if there is a mistake in the order or that a restock is needed.
Reliability on the part of the supplier allows you to build a relationship based on trust and which is crucial if you are going to maintain a successful relationship. To get a better understanding of how reliable a supplier is, take a look at customer reviews and the length of time they have been in business.
While these two aspects won’t tell you everything, they can give you a more in-depth insight into how the company conducts its business.
3. Explore their offerings and get excited about their products
Even the most reliable suppliers aren’t going to be the right fit for you if you aren’t excited about the products that they have on offer. Therefore, you want to make sure you spend a significant amount of time exploring a potential supplier’s offerings and making sure that their selection aligns with your menu.
In many cases, your best choice is going to be a supplier that offers tailor-made flavor profiles that are designed and evaluated based on changing consumer preferences and purchasing behaviours.
For example, today’s consumers want beverage ingredients that incorporate flavors that balance both functionality and modern tastes. Additionally, health-conscious consumers want to consume beverages that have natural taste solutions for sugar reduction. This is why botanical extracts are becoming a popular ingredient across all beverage segments, particularly when it comes to non-alcoholic beverages.
The top beverage ingredients suppliers are aware of this growing trend and are continually looking for opportunities to incorporate botanical extracts into beverage combinations.
4. They prioritize sustainability and transparency
No matter what you are looking to purchase from the top food manufacturing companies in Dubai (or wherever you reside), you want to be working with a supplier that prioritizes sustainability and transparency across their entire supply chain.
Whether you are selling alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, premium beers or natural teas, at this point, your supplier should be committed to producing sustainably and ethically and promoting thoughtful consumption.
Consumers around the world are willing to pay more for beverages that contain high-quality natural ingredients and have been produced sustainably.
In fact, in most cases, consumers are increasingly prioritizing quality over quantity when it comes to their food and beverages. Therefore, by working with a supplier that prioritizes sustainability and transparency across their entire supply chain, you’ll be able to manufacture and sell products that are better for your customers and the planet, as well as your bottom line.
What do you think are the most important considerations to make when choosing a beverage ingredient supplier? Are you looking to partner with a new supplier? Why or why not?
Let us know your thoughts and any additional insights in the comments!
AUTHOR BIO
Lamia Rochdi is the Marketing Manager at Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEA. A successful family-owned business, Bell’s core competencies include customized solutions for the food and beverages industry, the household and personal care sector, and the perfume industry.