Find distributors and sales channels in the United States

Our local teams will do the work

Finding distributors or retail sales channels might be straightforward, but discovering the right one that drives revenue for your business is a real challenge.

With our Distributor Search service we make this task significantly easier for you! Our local teams have the knowledge, a vast network of distributors and retail channels and a proven methodology.

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Find the right retail channels in the United States

The United States of America has a population of 327 million. In 2022, 83% of the population lived in the cities, and this percentage is slowly rising. The average income per capita is almost 60,000 USD. This is promising to sell your goods, but you’ll have to know where to start.

Depending on your product or service you may best start with one agent, distributor or broker for a first state or with a specific target group. As soon as you get the first reference clients, you may scale up.

Market entry approach in the USA

Product type Possible strategy
B2B products, high value, small volumes One distributor or agent for the whole country may do, unless the sales process is complex and local service or maintenance is needed.
B2B products, high volumes For logistic reasons and if applicable for service and maintenance, you may choose for regional distributors
B2C products with regulations per state, like medicines and alcohol One distributor per state
Other B2C products You may start with one distributor first, who is the most eager to test the market for you and support the sales with brokers. Later on you may choose more distributors and set up you local company and do some sales directly.

Major supermarket chains in the USA

The supermarket industry in the USA is highly competitive. It is dominated by a handful of large companies that together control an impressive share of the market. The two largest supermarket chains in the US by marketshare are Walmart and Kroger. Walmart holds a staggering 29% of the total market share while Kroger has around 9%.

Other major players in this space include Albertsons Companies Inc., which accounts for 5%, and Publix Super Markets with 4%. Ahold Delhaize, H-E-B Grocery Co., Wegmans Food Markets, Aldi US and Whole Foods Market are all other notable competitors with respective shares ranging from 2-3%. Together these companies hold over 60% of the total market share across all supermarkets in America.

Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons

Walmart is one of the most well-known US retailers, with over 5,000 stores across the United States. Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas, Walmart has become an iconic symbol of American retail. Despite its success and large footprint, Walmart’s presence in the US has been met with some criticism.

Kroger is one of America’s largest grocery store companies, with more than 2,700 stores across 35 states and Washington D.C., including Kroger Marketplace locations and convenience stores like Turkey Hill Minit Markets. Kroger offers an expansive selection of fresh produce, meat, dairy products and other items at competitive prices. The company also has its own line of private label brands such as Simple Truth Natural Foods and HemisFares International Specialties.

Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States. Founded in 1939 by Joe Albertson, they currently employ over 250,000 people across 2,200 stores located in 35 states and Washington D.C. In addition to their traditional grocery store format, they also own and operate supermarkets such as Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s Supermarkets, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets and many more.

Role of distributors and wholesalers in FMCG

The role of distributors and wholesalers in FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) in the USA is significant. They are responsible for buying products from manufacturers and selling it to retailers, as well as providing services like inventory management, storage, transportation and more. Distributors provide a range of benefits to both manufacturers and retailers. By offering cost-efficient solutions for procuring goods from various vendors, distributors enable retailers to focus on their core competencies such as marketing or customer service.

Finding the right brokers for USA supermarkets

The role of brokers in supermarket distribution is an important one. Brokers typically work with manufacturers to determine which products will be stocked at each store; they also often negotiate prices on behalf of the retailer. In addition, brokers may provide marketing services such as coordinating advertising campaigns or managing product displays at retail locations. With their keen knowledge of the industry, brokers help ensure a successful supply chain for supermarket distribution operations.

The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry is a highly competitive business sector in the United States, with a total of over 5,000 brokers operating throughout the country. FMCG brokers specialize in providing and managing logistical services for businesses that sell consumer-oriented products.

These brokers have become increasingly important due to the rise of online shopping. Online retail stores require more sophisticated delivery systems than traditional store fronts, making them reliant on FMCG brokers to ensure timely delivery of items sold through their websites. In addition, these brokers are also becoming an integral part of effective supply chain management for companies in the US market, helping them to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Importing FMCG products in the USA

Importers of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) into the USA must observe several requirements. The first requirement is that all goods imported into the USA must comply with domestic safety and quality standards, as outlined by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means any food, beverage, drug or cosmetic products must meet relevant FDA regulations prior to import.

In addition to this, certain categories of FMCG may require specific permits from government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives. Furthermore, depending on what type of product is being imported, additional documentation may be required such as a Certificate of Free Sale or a Letter Of Exemption.

You can work with a 3PL (Third Party Logistics) provider who can help you with customs clearance, document preparation, freight forwarding, and delivery. They will also be able to advise you on the most cost-effective way to transport your product into the US. You will then need to ensure that your product meets all relevant regulations and safety standards for sale in US supermarkets. Once this has been done, you will need an agreement with a wholesaler or distributor who can handle orders from retailers such as supermarkets. They may have their own requirements so it’s important that these are met before they will agree to stock your product in their warehouses or stores across America.

Why choose our distributor search service?

We know the market from inside-out

We work with local teams, who already know the market, speak the language and know the business culture.

Operational from day 1

We have a clear approach for your market entry. We just need to dive into the benefits of your product, and we are ready to start.

Risk Mitigation

We help you avoid cultural misunderstandings, compliance issues, and other risks associated with entering a new market.

Continuous Support

We provide ongoing support, ensuring your new partnerships thrive and adapt to evolving business and market needs.

Strategy for Finding Your Ideal Distribution Partner in the United States

Finding the ideal distributor involves more than just a search; key is convincing the distributors or retail chains with the broadest reach to work with you. That is why we put a lot of attention on the right positioning among any competition and helping you with the right pitch.

 

1. Choose target group

  • Where are your users?
  • What distribution channels to reach them?
  • Who are the channel decision makers?
  • What is important to them?

2. Prepare your pitch

  • How do you position yourself?
  • Who is your competition?
  • What volumes and margin will you bring?
  • What data do you have to proof that?

3. Reach out

  • Approach decision makers
  • Pitch your offering & answer questions
  • Follow-up sufficiently
  • Close the deal

4. Nurture & grow

  • Arrange logistics
  • Launch your product
  • Support in marketing
  • PR & Events
  • Evaluate & optimize

…and back to the first step to search for additional channels

Typically the first steps and approaching decision makers can be done in a number of months, closing the deal and doing a launch may take longer.

Get your proposal directly

    In , our experienced business developers work for you 20 hours per month for . Every month we report on what we have done and plan actions and deliverables for the next month. This is a 12-month plan where you can scale up and down our efforts when needed.

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