It's sensible for any cafe owner to bulk-buy the non-perishable items they need to prep their customers' meals from a wholesaler, as this usually allows them to get a sizeable discount on these items. Here are a couple of tips that new cafe owners should follow when they want to order their herbs and spices in bulk.

They should only bulk-order the herbs and spices they anticipate using very regularly

It's best for new cafe owners to only place orders with their wholesaler for herbs and spices they are confident they'll be using very regularly. For example, if their supplier is offering wholesale crushed chilli 10kg bags, it might be wiser to get a few of these instead of ordering several 10kg bags of tarragon, as whilst crushed chillies can be used in dozens of dishes and drinks (including bolognese, curry, chai tea, hot chocolate, burritos, soups, etc.), tarragon is a herb that only suitable for a few dishes (mainly those that involve fish) and isn't a great addition to most drinks.

As such, whilst the cafe owner might find that their 10kg bags of crushed chilli get used up quickly, due to them incorporating this spice in so many of their customers' dishes, the 10kg bags of tarragon (or other infrequently-used herb or spice) might end up sitting in their cafe's kitchen and using up valuable space for a year or more. There is also a possibility that by the time the cafe owner reaches the end of the last bag of tarragon, the herb may have lost much of its flavour and may not enhance the dishes it is added to.

They should order bags of herbs and spices that are light enough for their staff to carry on their own

Most wholesale food suppliers sell their herbs and spices in large bags that might weigh, for example, between 10kg and 50kg. When the cafe owner is putting in their order, they should consider ordering bags of herbs and spices that each of their staff members would be able to pick up and carry on their own. 

For example, a 10kg bag of crushed chilli would be relatively easy for most people to carry, but a 25kg bag could be challenging for a lot of people to pick up. If the cafe owner takes this advice, then their staff members will be able to quickly pick up and move the bag of chillies (without having to find a co-worker to help them) if, for example, some liquid gets spilt on the shelf that one of the bags is on and they need to remove the bag to keep its contents dry. It will also reduce the chances of the cafe owner's staff members getting back injuries as a result of having to pick up hefty bags of herbs and spices.

For more info, contact a company near you.