Food Purchasing
for Child Care Centers
Section 7:
Vendor Choices
(Step 4)
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
1
Lesson Objectives
The learner will be able to
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name the vendor choices in his/her
community and list some of the
advantages and disadvantages of
each and
write an information sheet for
vendors for his/her center.
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
2
Choices Available to You
Depend on the community
where your center is located
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Words Meaning . . .
. . . “a business that sells
food and supplies”:
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Vendors
Suppliers
Stores
Distributors
Retail vendors
Wholesale vendors
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Identifying Your Choices . . .
. . . is called a
market area
analysis.
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Possible Choices
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National Food Service Management Institute
Specialty stores
Local grocery stores
Supermarkets
Wholesale clubs
Wholesale grocery
distributors
Institutional distributors
Institutional jobbers
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Specialty Stores
Advantages
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Exact amounts needed
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Fresh food
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Local meat/fish market
Fresh produce stand
Farmers market
Lower prices
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Bread outlet
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Specialty Stores
Disadvantages
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Have limited variety
Do not have CN labeled
convenience foods
Usually do not deliver
Takes time to pick up
items
Make more stops to get
food
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Local Grocery Stores
Advantages
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Fresh, frozen, and canned
foods
Convenient location
Charge accounts
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One check at end of month
Use of store’s money until
receive tuition or government
payment
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Local Grocery Stores
Disadvantages
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Limited variety of food
No CN labeled
convenience foods
Small cans and packages
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More time needed to
prepare meals
No delivery
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Supermarkets
Advantages

Wide variety of fresh,
frozen, and canned
foods

Weekly promotions
with cost savings
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Supermarkets
Advantages
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24/7
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No. 10 cans
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Reduced time for
meal preparation
Charge accounts
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Supermarkets
Disadvantages
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No CN labeled
convenience
foods
Limited delivery
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Wholesale Clubs
Advantages
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Wholesale prices
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No. 10 cans and
other quantity pack
items
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Phone orders
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Wholesale Clubs
Disadvantages
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No charge accounts
No CN labeled
convenience foods
Annual membership
fee
No delivery
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Wholesale Grocery Distributors
Advantages
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Charge accounts
Delivery
Order by
Salesperson
 Phone
 Computer
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National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Wholesale Grocery Distributors
Disadvantages
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Small home-size cans
Very few frozen foods
No CN labeled
convenience foods
Minimum delivery
requirements possible
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Institutional Distributors
Advantages
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Charge accounts
Delivery
Order by
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Salesperson
Phone
Computer
CN labeled convenience foods
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Institutional Distributors
Disadvantages
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Minimum delivery
requirements may apply.
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Containers may be too
large for your center.
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It is necessary to
carefully evaluate your
center’s needs.
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Institutional Jobbers
Advantages
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Food delivered
immediately upon
being sold
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Combination of large
and home-size
containers
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Institutional Jobbers
Disadvantages
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Must pay for food
when purchased
Offer limited selection of
food
Do not know in advance
what is for sale
Often do not have
refrigerated trucks
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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If You Are Not Sure . . .
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Ask questions.
Ask other
child care centers,
 schools,
 restaurants,
 nursing homes, or
 hospitals.
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National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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If You Are Not Sure . . .
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Ask your State CACFP
Agency or licensing
agency representative.
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If you have a
sponsoring agency,
ask its representative.
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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If You Are Not Sure . . .
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Read the names of
companies on the delivery
trucks you see.
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Copy the phone numbers.
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Call the vendors.
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Ask the vendors if they are
interested in your business.
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Information Sheet for Vendors
Purpose:
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Tell vendor about
your center
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Provide credit
information
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Information Sheet for Vendors
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Name of the center
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Address
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Phone number
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Fax number
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E-mail address
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Information Sheet for Vendors
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Organization of the center
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Non-profit, for-profit, or
public
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If non-profit, list of members
of board of directors
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If for-profit, list of owners
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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Information Sheet for Vendors
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Number of meals served daily
Days and hours of operation
Name, address, and phone number
of
the center’s bank and
 the officer who handles the center’s
account
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Names of the center’s employees
authorized to place food orders
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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This training was conducted by the
National Food Service Management Institute
The University of Mississippi
www.nfsmi.org
800-321-3054
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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National Food Service Management Institute
The University of Mississippi
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Mission: To provide information and services that
promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition
programs
Vision: To be the leader in providing education,
research, and resources to promote excellence in child
nutrition programs
National Food Service Management Institute
Section 7: Vendor Choices
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