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etta · Playbook

Wholesale Playbook

Short reads to start selling wholesale — to restaurants, grocers, co-ops, and buying clubs.

Playbook

Card 03 · 4 min read

Your offer: what to sell, what to charge

A chef or grocery buyer needs to know exactly what they get, how it's packed, and what it costs per unit — not "I have beef." Package it.

What to sell

  • A focused cut list, not everything. Pick the cuts that move (ground, a steak or two, maybe a specialty). A short, reliable list beats a long, sometimes-available one.
  • Case packs. Sell by the case or a set pack size so ordering is one number, not a negotiation each week.
  • A standing-order option. "Same order every week/two weeks" — predictability is gold for both sides.

How to price

  • Start from your real cost, then set a wholesale price that leaves the buyer room to mark up to their retail/menu price. A grocer typically needs to roughly double; a restaurant prices a plate around 3× food cost — your price has to leave room for that math.
  • Price per usable unit (per lb, per case) so it's instantly comparable for them.
  • Hold a clear retail/wholesale gap so you never undercut your own direct customers.
  • Don't discount on the first flinch. Offer a sample or a volume break, not a lower base price.

Close-the-deal add-ons

  • A sample drop — the single best wholesale sales tool. Get it tasted.
  • A one-pager — cuts, pack sizes, prices, delivery days. Makes "yes" a quick decision.
  • Volume breaks for bigger standing orders.

You only need one cut list and one price sheet to start. Set it, send samples, and refine once real buyers react.