Selling Food Product/s Commercially

[The_MAC]

Does anyone know of what the requirements would be to start the following hypothetical business venture:
I have manufactured my own packet of chips and would like to sell it to supermarkets/bars/other-shops.

What would I have to do from a legal and regulatory perspective i.e.

- Food regulations e.g. Does the product have to be registered/tested/approved somewhere?
- Legal Entity e.g. Do I have to form a company (CC or something) to be able to sell or could I do this in my private capacity?

 

[member2204]

Get certified.

 

[envo]

You don't need certification (although it's a good idea). AFAIK, you need to print the ingredients of the contents. Not sure if it's required to have the calorie breakdown, but it might be a good idea. Other than that and printing the manufacturing/contact details, you should be good to go.

 

[rrh]

You have to comply with the Dept. of Health's many regulations covering the handling & preparation of food products.

After all one can't have you killing off the shoppers with E.coli due to lax hygiene ...

 

[The_MAC]

You don't need certification (although it's a good idea). AFAIK, you need to print the ingredients of the contents. Not sure if it's required to have the calorie breakdown, but it might be a good idea. Other than that and printing the manufacturing/contact details, you should be good to go.

I know someone who sold packed dry food commercially, and he definitely had to get his food sent to a lab for testing to get all the nutritional information.

My concern is more on the licence/permit to distribute the product to stores i.e. what would a store like SPAR need from me in order to accept the product and put it onto their shelves?

 

[HavocXphere]

I know someone who sold packed dry food commercially, and he definitely had to get his food sent to a lab for testing to get all the nutritional information.

My concern is more on the licence/permit to distribute the product to stores i.e. what would a store like SPAR need from me in order to accept the product and put it onto their shelves?

They set their own requirements. e.g. if you want to sell meat to WW then they'll come to you slaughterhouse & inspect.

I'd consider getting it certified Halal & koscher {sp?} as well if its not too expensive.

I suspect you'll also need some kind of health & safety inspection of the production facilities. I know restaurants do so for producing food on site presumably you need the same for off site.

 

[JustAsk]

I know someone who sold packed dry food commercially, and he definitely had to get his food sent to a lab for testing to get all the nutritional information.

My concern is more on the licence/permit to distribute the product to stores i.e. what would a store like SPAR need from me in order to accept the product and put it onto their shelves?

Spar is a franchised shop,not all spar products come from a central warehouse.It's easy to just do business with 2 (or 4),just go see them.

My advice:

Start with independent cash 'n carry shops first.Offer them 30 day consignment in return for premium space.Offer them an extra 5% off for inclusion into their next promotion.Supply a couple of bigger retail shops directly too and offer them the same.You'll make bigger profits.Create a market for your product first.By trying to get into national retail chains,you're product will just sit there on the shelf with little to no sales.After a while of bad performance they'll remove it and it'll be harder or even impossible to get back in.

You also need deeper pockets and more than one product to be profitable in national retail.They'll drive you price down to minimum cost with bigger orders,they'll negotiate net30 payment terms with you,which will turn into net60.You'll have to provide the transport at your cost and you'll have to 100% absorb all defected,old and non-sold products...and you'll have to pay for shelf space or else your product will disappear into some questionable, dark,lonely,impossible to sell from shelf space.

 

[SweetFennyAdams]

Call the Directorate of Food Control in Pretoria. They are very helpful and will direct you to the relevant food labeling legislation.

The Directorate of Food Control administers legislation for food safety, hygiene, labelling and other related issues. Its functions include drafting new and/or amended legislation, advising the food industry, consumers and government institutions on these issues and supporting food law enforcement. This includes convening the Food Legislation Advisory Group (FLAG), a non-statutory body aimed to advice the Directorate on matters relating to food regulations.

Private Bag X828
Pretoria
0001
Tel: 012 395 8800

You can also obtain advice from SAFOST (http://www.saafost.org.za)