General
What do you look for in your producers?
Food supply chains are more wasteful, destructive and opaque than ever before. That's why at Collectiv Food food safety, traceability and a commitment to quality and sustainability are of utmost importance in our search for producer partners. This means we look for:
Producers who add value to the products they sell, whether through farming, processing or manufacturing.
The ability to provide records on full product traceability and safety in accordance with one or more Global Food Safety Initiative recognised standard schemes, including BRC, IFS, SQF, FSSC 22000 and GLOBALG.A.P. We also work with SALSA-accredited suppliers.
Producers who can provide properly labelled samples to be tested prior to trading - the proof is in the pudding!
Producers who go above and beyond when it comes to transparency of pricing, consistency of supply and flexibility with processing abilities and deliveries.
Last but not least, we are increasingly looking for producers who are working on improving their impact, such as through the reduction of single-use plastic, carbon offsetting and moving towards 100% renewable energy sources.
If you think your company fits the above, please get in touch with us here.
Is there a contract?
Working in partnership with thousands of producers and kitchens, we understand that a business' needs and priorities change all the time. If you do wish to join or leave us, all we ask is you do this in line with our service agreement.
Will you market my product to increase my sales?
Yes, Collectiv Food has a sales and marketing team focused on promoting your stories and products to our customers in London, Paris and elsewhere. We are proud of the amazing producers with whom we work and, as a team of foodies, it's in our nature to get others excited about the stories and innovation behind your products. Check out our Instagram and LinkedIn accounts for examples of promotion we have done in the past, or sign up to our newsletter.
I already work directly with professional kitchens, why should I work with them through your platform?
Partnering with Collectiv Food to trade with your customers will make your business workflow more efficient, saving you time and money. We take care of the last mile deliveries while consolidating invoices for various customers. Beyond offering logistical support and account management, we make sure our producers are paid in a timely manner and your product pricing is more affordable compared to other wholesalers.
Most importantly, it's likely that working with us will enable greater exposure to new customers.
Will I be in direct contact with the customer?
This depends on the customer and you. If both parties do not wish to connect, there is no obligation. Otherwise, we can organise on-site visits for our customers to meet you or vice versa.
Due to the relationships we have built and the value that we add to our producers' and customers' businesses, we do not worry about bypassing and have always shared as much information as possible, organising meetings and promoting direct relationships.
Do you work with other producers for the products I sell?
Chances are, yes. We have an extensive network of producers, which we harness to find the best matches for our customers' product requests. To help make your company and product have the best chances of winning an opportunity - check out the section above, "What do you look for in your producers?".
Pricing and payment
How do you make your money?
It is free for restaurants and producers to use our platform and benefit from our services including the pricing diagnosis. We apply a fair and transparent margin on product prices, inclusive of our logistics costs and services. Our margin is usually half of what traditional wholesalers and distributors would charge kitchens.
Transparency is core to our business and our producers have access to our margins and final prices on demand. In addition, we work hard to provide the best customer service, whilst placing a high importance on being as fair as possible with our producers. We pay them upfront and help them access new markets.
What is the cost involved in joining your network of producers?
It is entirely free to join our network. By becoming a producer partner, you will automatically benefit from our services, such as access to live sales opportunities for which you can quote, distribution support, and the free promotion of your products.
Importantly, joining our network comes with zero risk. You have full control over your pricing, which will be treated with a high level of confidentiality.
Who sets the prices?
You set your selling prices based on the product specifications and volumes we request. We recommend that you offer your best wholesale pricing, which typically includes the cost of the product delivered to our consolidation hub on an agreed frequency. To aid the sales process, we ask that you clarify minimum order quantities, shelf life and storage requirements along with pricing.
We then make the final prices into our customers. Generally, our margins are about half of other wholesalers. If you're interested in seeing our final prices for your products, we're happy to share them with you.
How do you make payments and when can I expect to get paid?
We are all too familiar with the challenging practises and payment terms that many producers regularly face. That's why we speak with you to arrange the best terms which can usually mean getting paid within a week of raising an invoice with us. We use Faster Payments for direct transfers so you'll be sure to receive payment in a timely manner.
If you ever have an issue with payments, please contact a member of the Purchasing team who will be happy to assist you.
I haven’t been given an estimated volume, how should I quote?
We understand that the volume for a given opportunity affects pricing, making it difficult to quote accurately when this information is not available. In these cases, we encourage you to quote according to various volume scenarios. So for example, it is helpful if you note that 10kg of chicken wings might cost £1.50p/kg whilst 20kg of chicken wings cost £1.45p/kg.
In any case, we ask that you provide your best indicative pricing at the outset, which can be refined later on in the sales process.
Delivery
Who delivers the product and can you store frozen products?
We ask that you or your logistics partners deliver to one of our consolidation hubs which are able to store ambient, chilled and frozen products. From there, we perform quality and temperature controls before preparing each customer's order. Our dedicated team of drivers then take care of the final mile deliveries to our customers.
Can you organise a collection of my products?
We ask that you or your logistics partners deliver to one of our consolidation hubs which are able to store ambient, chilled and frozen products. Alternatively, we can explore the option of ex-works collections using our network of temperature controlled logistics partners. Our hubs will perform various quality and temperature control checks before preparing each customer's order, before our dedicated team of drivers then take care of the final mile deliveries to our customers.
Ordering
Can I set my own order lead times?
Yes. Wherever possible, we aim to accommodate lead times of all lengths. We encourage you to update our operations team when it comes to any changes to the time between ordering, producing and delivering to us. In turn, this will help us set correct deadlines for customers to place their orders with us.
An order has been placed, what do I need to provide?
Once we place an order with you, we ask that you confirm you have received the order with a member of the planning team. We also require an invoice for our records and an estimated day for delivery or collection.
An order has been placed for a product that is no longer available, what do I do?
We understand that things can go wrong. To avoid supply disruptions, we ask that you keep us as up-to-date as possible. If you do accept an order but at the last minute are unable to fulfil it for any reason, then we will need to find a replacement for our customer. In which case, please let our operations team know as soon as the issue arises.
I have found a problem with my account/your website. What should I do?
Please email us at support@collectivfood.com or message us through the website chat and we will help you sort out the issue. Thank you!