The “fliers” in cheerleading are the girls that fly through the air, demonstrating great acrobatics and agility. They are the highlight of cheerleading-- the life of the party.

But these girls don’t fly on their own. They have four other cheerleaders on the ground, working in perfect coordination to support them and toss them in their air. These four team members are the foundation, the support system that makes everything run smoothly and the flier fly, well… higher.

Think of your business as the flier. And think of your vendors and suppliers as your foundation of four on the ground; the cheerleaders in the background who help you do what you do better. It’s true, your business relies on a variety of vendors to work smoothly, to succeed and to fly high. The better relationship and communication you have with them, the higher you can fly.

As a purchaser, you’re responsible for fostering these vendor relationships, and establishing good communication so that your business can keep growing and improving. Want to keep doing your job better?

Here’s 5 ways to keep improving your relationships with your bulk oil vendors and be even more successful in your purchasing role.

So you're looking for Certified USDA Organic Olive Oil, eh?  And you want to know where the best, cheapest place to buy it is?  Let's see if I can help.

In terms of finding you the "cheapest" price, your volumes are really going to determine where you should buy.  If you buy 1 case per month, I can't (and won't, in my right mind) tell you to buy from a large oil supplier who works with manufacturers-- because it won't be the cheapest or easiest option.  

But I will try to point you in the best direction.  So based on your industry, here's the best advice I can give you...

Finding an olive oil manufacturer can feel like fumbling in the dark sometimes (the dark being... online).  It's vital for your business that you work with a supplier who can help take care of all of your needs.  

That's why we've compiled a short list of all of the things that we personally think you should expect, as a bottom line, from your olive oil supplier.  This applies whether you're searching for a new vendor or if you've been working with one for years.  

Making sure that you're working with an olive oil manufacturer who checks off on these four things well help keep your supply chain flowing smoothly and will make your job easier.

I think you should be buying wholesale olive oil for your home.

What really I mean is, if you're using enough, I think you should be buying your olive oil by the gallon or 35 Lb Container/5 gallon pail.  So what's "enough" olive oil to make wholesale volumes worthwhile?

When Does It Make Sense To Buy Wholesale Volumes?

Long story short, it makes sense to buy your olive oil in wholesale volumes when you can use it up before it goes bad.  Pretty straightforward right?  

If you're on the search for olive oil in bulk, you may be coming up against the large confusing mass of directions for where to buy... Otherwise... known as Google.  

The best way to answer the question of where to buy bulk olive oil is to define what industry your business is in and find a supplier that matches with that.  

If we were sitting at a coffee shop, friend to friend, I would first ask you what you did and then I'd be able to point you to the right type of supply company.

So, I will try to do just that.  I have my coffee-- pull up a chair.

Your suppliers are business partners.

Choosing an olive oil supplier is a complex process. At the heart of this debate, before you begin doing comparisons, you’ll need to decide if you prefer to work with a US-based supplier or an international supplier. If you choose the latter, you will be responsible to import the oil yourself.

As you start the vendor comparison process for bulk olive oil, here’s a few advantages you might enjoy by working with a domestic supplier here in the US:

There are many different types of suppliers out there. Before making your final supplier choice, it’s best to know what kind of business you’re partnering with and how much they have their hands on the actual product you’re getting. Knowing this information will help you strike up the ideal business partnership.

The most common types of bulk oil suppliers are as follows. These categories are typical across the board for bulk food ingredients used in manufacturing.

Types of Ingredient Suppliers

1. The Manufacturer

We all Have Different Meanings When We Say 'Bulk'

I received my B.A. in Communication, which has given me an unique perspective into understanding of how people talk to each other and how people make sense of what the other is saying.  

I think of this often working with Centra Foods, because I speak with such a variety of buyers who each have different ways of talking about what they’re looking for.  For example, I talk to some buyers looking for what they describe as “huge volumes” of olive oil-- in reality, they’re looking for a couple gallons to use in their home kitchen for the the year.  

As a purchaser of Bulk Olive Oil, there are some expectations that you should set forth to your supplier.   Your supplier should always consider your situation and work to develop a realistic compromise to make a mutually beneficial business agreement. Instead, many suppliers in today's market can be unaccountable or let their own needs guide their business decisions.  Worst of all, some suppliers ignore, tolerate or even promote adulterating your products to offer you a "cheaper price".

Keep the following list of benefits in mind that your supplier should be offering you, as you're comparing all of your options.