DON'T tell your foodservice supplier they've lost your business. This removes the motivation to continue servicing you in any manner. Provide sufficient notice to your current supplier with the specific problems your want corrected. Many times you'll find the grass is not greener and when you come back you'll be paying an additional PITA (Pain in the rear) tax or will have at a minimum suffered a blow to your business relationship.

DON'T terminate a suppleir relationship without sufficient notice to your current supplier with the specific problems your want corrected. Many times you'll find the grass is not greener and when you come back you'll be paying an additional PITA (Pain in the rear) tax or will have at a minimum suffered a blow to your business relationship.

DON'T assume that pricing or products are consistent across distributors. Every supplier is focused on selling their own labels and differientiating on these brands to get out of commodity pricing comparisons. The products are may be very different and are likely manufactured by different companies.

DON'T switch to a new supplier until you have fully completed the account setup process and have received initial delervies on a consistent basis. The last thing you need is to be told your credit application was not approved and your order is on hold.

DON'T switch to a new supplier until you have met in person with the local representatives to be assured you have a professional that will handle personally any problem that comes up as you get started.  A phone number does you NO GOOD at 5:01pm the day your delivery was to have arrived.

DON'T forget to check reference of other similar establishments and their experience with said distribution company. Look for other visual clues - what level of professionalism and condition of order taking equipment (ie laptop computer) does the new company present as well as the professionalism of the sales associate.  How many other accounts does your sales representative handle and if they are new to the position do they have the product knowledge you seek?  If they have over 40 active weekly accounts, can they service you when you need special attention or assistance?

DON'T overlook the many other support people, products, and systems that may be affected once you make a move to a new distribution company.

DON'T burn your bridges. Again - many times you'll be back to your original distributor within 1 year for something if not a return to a total full-line service relationship.

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