Service 04 · Ingredient sourcing
Food ingredient sourcing for manufacturers and packers.
We find, qualify and negotiate supply of food ingredients against your specification, for manufacturers, packers, importers and distributors in the US, UK and EU.
What is specification-led ingredient sourcing?
Ingredient sourcing starts with your specification, not a supplier's price list. We take the parameters your product and your customers need, search the origins that can meet them, and only bring you suppliers whose documents, samples and test results hold up.
Then we negotiate the terms and coordinate the shipment with logistics partners, priced to a landed cost at your door. The aim is supply you can plan around, with the paperwork your quality team and your auditors will ask for.
Which ingredients do we source?
- Nuts: hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and other tree nuts. See nuts, seeds & dried fruit.
- Seeds: sunflower, pumpkin, chia and flax.
- Dried fruit and berries: dried and freeze-dried fruit and berries.
- Honey and natural sweeteners: bulk honey to buyer specification, and natural sweeteners for manufacturing. See honey & natural sweeteners.
- Grains, pulses and seed oils: oats, buckwheat, lentils and chickpeas; sunflower and other seed oils. See grains, pulses & seed oils.
- Botanicals and functional ingredients: herbs, spices, superfoods and functional actives for food, beverage and supplement makers. See ingredients, superfoods & botanicals.
Who is ingredient sourcing for?
- Food and beverage manufacturers buying raw materials and ingredients.
- Packers of honey, nuts, seeds and dried fruit.
- Importers, distributors and wholesalers adding origins or suppliers.
- Private-label buyers who need a qualified source behind their range.
- Supplement and functional beverage makers sourcing botanicals and actives.
What ingredient sourcing covers
- Specification review. Grade, size, moisture, color, residue and microbiological limits, allergens, certifications, packaging format, volumes and delivery schedule.
- Origin mapping and supplier search. We shortlist producers that can meet the specification, the volume and the certification needs.
- Qualification. We check food safety certificates (such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS or IFS), organic certificates, specification sheets and certificates of analysis, arrange samples and, where needed, independent lab testing and third-party audits.
- Landed-cost comparison. Shortlisted offers are compared like for like to your door, including freight, duty and handling.
- Negotiation and contract terms. Price basis, Incoterms, payment terms, quality tolerances, the claims procedure and the shipment schedule.
- Shipment coordination. Pre-shipment samples or inspection, shipping documents and customs entry through your freight forwarder and licensed customs broker. That includes FDA prior notice for US shipments and, for UK and EU imports, the pre-notification and border checks that apply to some products, such as honey and certain nuts.
For US imports, the FSVP importer is responsible for verifying foreign suppliers; we help by collecting the supplier documents that work needs. We work alongside licensed customs brokers and regulatory consultants on entry and compliance questions.
The Functional Brands Group team has worked through a US honey packer's supplier requirements (residue limits, authenticity testing such as NMR, and origin traceability) and has developed product recipes from oats, seeds, grains and plant protein for contract manufacture.
What you get from ingredient sourcing
- Confirmed sourcing brief and specification
- Supplier shortlist with origin, certifications, capacity notes and document status
- Sample and lab-result comparison
- Landed-cost comparison of shortlisted offers
- Negotiated terms and a contract summary
- Supplier document pack for your quality team and your FSVP importer
- Shipment plan and document checklist
How does a sourcing request run?
- Request. Send us the product, specification, volume, destination and timing.
- Search. We map origins and come back with a shortlist.
- Qualify. Documents, samples and tests are checked before any commitment.
- Negotiate. We agree terms with the selected supplier on your behalf.
- Ship. We coordinate documents and logistics through to delivery.
FAQ
What do you need to start a sourcing request?
The product and its specification, the volume and how often you buy, the destination market and delivery point, the packaging format, the certifications you require and your target timing. If you do not have a written specification, we can build one with your quality team from the product you buy today. The clearer the specification, the faster we return a qualified shortlist.
How do you qualify a new supplier?
We start with documents: food safety certification, organic or other certificates, specification sheets and certificates of analysis. Samples are then tested against your specification, by your own lab or an independent one. Where the risk or the volume justifies it, a third-party audit follows. Nothing is signed until the supplier passes the checks you need.
Can you source organic or certified ingredients?
Yes. We look for suppliers holding the certifications you need, such as organic, kosher or a GFSI-recognized food safety standard. US, UK and EU organic rules are separate, so we check that the certificate and the import documents fit the destination market before an order is placed. If a supplier cannot show a valid certificate, it does not make the shortlist.
Do you arrange shipping and customs clearance?
We coordinate them. Freight is booked through a freight forwarder, and customs entries are filed by a licensed customs broker. For US shipments that includes FDA prior notice. We manage the timeline, the documents and the communication between the supplier, the forwarder, the broker and your receiving team, and we price everything into a landed cost.