Wholesale/Distribution  

Time to Call a Wholesaler/Distributor – Small Farm Center, University of California Extension -- Rich Collins uses a produce wholesaler-distributor these days. He used to sell his Belgian endive himself--to restaurants, hotels, and banquet halls. But he decided the time involved in delivery could be better spent at his farm. He considers the 20 percent he pays for the service well spent.

Marketing Through Wholesalers and Shippers – Small Farm Center, University of California Extension -- Prior to growing your product, every consideration should be given to the method by which your product will be sold or marketed.

Are Food Brokers Right for You – Oklahoma State University Extension -- This fact sheet describes what a brokerage company does and how startup companies can select food brokers to sell and market their products.

Choosing Distribution Methods – CCH Business Owners Toolkit -- Describes some of your options in getting your product or service to your customers.

Articles on Distributor Sales – SalesVantage.com – A variety of articles on distribution.

Marketing food products:  Direct sales vs. distributors and brokers -- Colorado State University -- This document includes important issues in establishing a distributor  relationship.

Place (Sales and Distribution) – Small Business Notes -- Place refers to how your product or service reaches the customer.

Food Service

Current Trends in Foodservice and How They Affect the Marketing Mix of American Restaurants – University of Florida Extension -- Currently, the restaurant industry accounts for four percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and is the nation's second largest employer next to the Federal government.

FoodService University– Where foodservice professionals are empowered with knowledge.

Foodservice 2010, a Perspective – Iowa Small Business Development Centers -- Where do we see the market heading and how do we attempt to design for the future?

Deep-Fat Frying Basics for Food Service -- Oklahoma State University Extension -- This fact sheet is the first of a series that provides technical and practical information on the science and technology of frying.

Foodservice University -- Online training for foodservice professionals.

Food Service Software -- CostGuard – Software helps you manage a more successful food service business by controlling costs, saving you time and maximizing profit.

Retailing

How to Get Value-Added Products into Local Grocery Stores – University of Tennessee Extension – Analysis of grocery store market access opportunities for small farm and value-added products.

Trends in Retail Trade – Oklahoma State University Extension -- This fact sheet identifies and describes 10 major trends in the retail trade sector. Details and statistics for the following trends are discussed; the growth of e-commerce, kids in the retail market, building customer knowledge files, the American mall in decline, challenging the category killer, precision shopping, entertaining the customer, globalization of retail trade, smart cards, and the general decline in retail sales growth.