Wholesale Distributors

US Food Service is the other main national distributor we have here.

Ben E Keith is kinda regional, don't know if they come that far.

Check with some of the restaurants in your area and get recommendations. Also check the local restaurant association and make friends with them for contacts and info.

Thanks Smokin

bama
another idea is to find a small local distributor.
as an example we have had great luck with st johns foods here. they are small and a niche market. while sysco, us foods and others can beat their prices here's what st johns does for us.
1- they know we are a startup but give me the same service as their big customers
2- they know to grow we are competing and specially pick out briskets and butts and ribs.
3- they really want us to succeed since we tell everyone where we get our meat and they allow walkin customers
4- and this is the most important. they live here and work here and are owned here.
so while i might get a lower prices elsewhere i sure wouldn't get the main meat buyer asking me how did our brisket do or how were our ribs?? it means a lot to both parties
jack

Prisonchef has a good idea by checking with locals.

If you actually get a place opened, you will find that the the sales reps generally beat a path to your door.

I mainly use Ben E. Keith, and am very happy with them, but I don't think they go as for north and east as OH.

Try looking under foodservice disributors or wholesalers in your local yellow pages. The suggestion to ask restaurants who they use is a great idea. Find out if they are ahppy with whomever they are using.

One other thing to consider... It's not 100% about price. Having a rep who will go the extra mile for you is worth paying a little more for. Last fall I had 2 large catering orders on the same day, and we were resonsible for liquor as well as food at one of them. Between needing to staff the restaurant and the two orders, I was short staffed. Our rep came to the liquor event and helped out by bar-tending. That act tells me a lot about how far he is willing to go to keep me as a customer. Doesn't hurt that his prices a very competitive though!

Best of luck to you!

I would prefer someone local (keep the money in the community) but there doesn't seem to be much listed in the phonebook. I didn't think another restaurant would be too willing to talk to me about such things so I never really considered it.

Thanks for the suggestions yall.

You might try King-Kold up in Englewood, Bama. I used to use them years ago for meat and fish for the Eagles club in Tipp......
East Dayton Meats might be another shot.

Thanks Don.