Starting a bulk food supply store can be an exciting and rewarding business venture for stay-at-home and working moms alike. With the rise in popularity of bulk buying and zero-waste living, there is a growing demand for stores that offer high-quality, sustainable food products, especially if they can also be bought in bulk quantities at discounted prices. 


The demand is there. The market is there. The interest is there. What isn’t there, however, is your store. There are a lot of steps involved with getting any new business up off the ground, and a zero-waste or bulk food supply store is no different. With this guide, you’ll understand more about sourcing, stocking, and adjusting your inventory to reflect demand. In short, you’ll learn how to say goodbye to wasteful business purchases and hello to a healthier profit margin for your zero-waste business:.

Conduct Market Research

Before you start stocking your store, it’s essential to conduct thorough market research to determine the needs and wants of your target customer base. This research will help you identify what products are in demand, what your competitors are offering, and what you can do to differentiate your store. Consider conducting surveys, focus groups, and online research to gain a better understanding of your market.

Keep in mind that the products that are of interest to your customers will be a mix of everyday essentials that can come as non-branded, specialty items, and branded items. In general, having a mix of non-branded and budget-friendly products alongside more notable branded items is a good way to diversify your customer base and bring in more business. It can even help people make the switch from their usual big-box grocery store. 

Having the big name brands in the sustainability world on your shelves is a good way to stand out further, as it can align yourself with sustainability and eco-living values. Specialty items are also a hit since they can be purchased as treats or as gifts for others. 

Sourcing Products


Once you have a good understanding of your market, it’s time to source the products you want to sell. Consider partnering with local suppliers and farmers to source high-quality, fresh, and sustainable products. This works great, particularly for fruits and vegetables, as well as specialty products, but it won’t be viable for everything. Many spices are just not grown nearby or won’t be cost-effective for your budget shoppers. The good news is that you don’t need to sacrifice on quality; you just need to expand your search. You can buy organic bulk garlic online and have it shipped to you. Sell it as-is, or make special mixes of bulk spices for a slightly higher price point to increase sales and use up your stock faster. For example, you could create fajita mixes. 

When sourcing products, be sure to consider factors such as cost, quality, packaging, and sustainability. All factors, from free trade to organic, will also play a part in your decision. 

Determine Your Pricing Strategy

Determining your pricing strategy is critical to the success of your business. Consider the cost of your products, your overhead expenses, and your desired profit margins when setting your prices. You’ll also need to consider the prices of similar products offered by your competitors and adjust your prices accordingly.

As a good business practice, it’s a good idea to offer various price points to attract customers at all different journeys of their sustainable journey. If you can be the cost-effective alternative to the big competitors, you stand a chance at becoming a community institution. Bulk food is a good option to start with since you can pass on the savings to your customers. 


Taking more of a loss on a certain line of products can help attract more customers. They go for the cheap bulk flour, for example, and then decide to treat themselves to the pricier options in your store. 

Set Up Your Store

Now that you have sourced your products, it’s time to set up your store. Consider the layout, signage, and packaging of your products. You’ll need to invest in storage containers, scales, and other equipment necessary for running a bulk food store. Be sure to create an inviting and visually appealing environment that will encourage customers to come back time and time again.

Another great way to both help your budgeting customers save, and to help appeal to the sustainably-minded, is to encourage customers to bring their own containers. All you need is to weigh those containers before your customers start shopping and then deduct that weight to get their total. To help out those that forgot, or those who just found you, have a series of both premium containers and free, reused plastic containers. 

Promote Your Business

Once your store is set up, it’s time to start promoting your business. Consider using a combination of traditional and digital marketing strategies to reach your target customer base. Take out advertising in local newspapers and magazines, create a social media presence, and offer promotions and discounts to attract customers.

Take advantage of the fact that you have foot traffic by making the outside of your store stand out. This means investing in attractive signs that capture attention no matter where a person stands on the street. For example, not only do you need to have a great banner, but you should also have table signs that sit out on the street to let customers see you from far away. 

Getting Started 

Starting a bulk food supply store can be a challenging yet rewarding business venture for stay-at-home and working moms. By conducting thorough market research, sourcing high-quality products, setting competitive prices, creating an inviting store environment, and promoting your business effectively, you can build a successful and sustainable bulk food supply store. Remember to cater to the ultra-budgeters, as well as to those with larger pocketbooks. This will help encourage more people to switch to bulk food shopping so that you can establish a happy, loyal customer base.