How we source
Direct from producers. Verified short-dated supply. Properly imported.
Every line we sell has been through the same process: source verification, paperwork, quality sign-off, and clean customs entry into the UK. Here’s how it works.
The sourcing flow
Four steps between a producer’s warehouse and your dock.
- 01
Supplier verification
Every supplier — whether a producer in Italy or a short-dated wholesaler in the Netherlands — is verified against company registration, food-business certification (where applicable), and a trading history check. New suppliers go through a sample order before they’re onboarded for volume.
- 02
Specification and quality lock-in
Before we book a load, we agree the specification in writing: brand, pack size, case configuration, country of origin, ingredient declarations, allergen list, lot codes and minimum best-before window. This is what goes on your order confirmation later — no surprises.
- 03
Logistics, customs and duties
EU and non-EU consignments are handled through experienced freight partners. We act as importer of record where required, with commercial invoice, packing list, country-of-origin and (for food) the appropriate import notifications. Duties and VAT are settled on the way in so the landed cost on your invoice is final.
- 04
Inbound check and warehousing
Every pallet that lands is checked against the spec. Damaged outers are quarantined, not pushed onto orders. Dates are recorded into our stock system so the live availability list is always current to within 24 hours.
Short-dated, explained
What “short-dated” means in practice.
Short-dated stock isn’t expired stock. It’s branded product nearing its best-before date — typically with one to six months still on the clock — that the original retailer or manufacturer can’t sell through their channel in time.
Best-before (BBE) dates are about peak quality, not safety. After a best-before date, food is still legally safe to eat for as long as it remains in good condition. Use-by dates are different: they are a safety boundary, and we never supply past a use-by.
We source short-dated stock from large retailers and manufacturers across the EU and UK who’d otherwise be writing it off. That gives our trade customers branded lines at a margin you can’t hit through traditional wholesale — and keeps perfectly good product moving instead of being destroyed.
How we label dates on your order
- Best-before windowStated on every SKU on the order confirmation. We’ll usually quote in months remaining (e.g. “BBE 4–6 months”) so you can rotate.
- Use-byWe don’t carry product with imminent use-by dates. Where a product is use-by-dated at all, you’ll see the actual date on the SKU.
- Lot codesManufacturer lot codes are visible on cases and recorded in our warehouse system for traceability — important for buyers who need to evidence provenance.
Looking for a specific line?
We carry a rolling range, but we also source to order. If there’s a brand or category you take regular volume on, tell us — we’ll quote against the spec and timing you need.