Want to buy wholesale coconut milk? Then, you first need to understand the types of milk, processing methods, package and storing, competitive pricing, and labeling rights.
I will often work as a consultant for people who want to get into selling coconut milk in bulk. This is because business owners are now aware that people are taking a much closer look at the products that they are buying. As such, they will source these food products more carefully.
I walk these individuals through several elements of sourcing and buying coconut milk and you can find these here, in this post. This includes showing them that there are different types of coconut milk, why some processing methods are better than others, how to safely package the milk, and a whole lot more!
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As you are well aware, there are different types of coconut milk available. The most commonly available types of coconut milk are the canned or boxed version that is used for cooking. Then, there is also the beverage version that is traditionally used in coffee, smoothies, and other drinks.
When buying wholesale, though, you have to consider a third option – coconut milk powder. The powdered milk is made from dried coconut, although other ingredients can be added to it. It can be reconstituted with the addition of water and used as regular coconut milk.
Coconut milk powder is a popular choice for wholesale purchases as it is so versatile. The powdered version is more stable and has a longer shelf-life. Also, the powder is easier to package and transport. Last but not least, a small amount of coconut milk powder is capable of producing a far larger amount of liquid coconut milk.
This is not to say that coconut milk powder is the best option for you when buying in bulk. After all, liquid coconut milk can taste fresher and be easier to use in recipes. They also tend to be healthier, too. Thus, before buying in bulk, you should consider your consumers and determine which item they would be most interested in.
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Your Guide to Uncovering the Best Coconut Milk
An Overview of the Best Canned Coconut Milk
Commercial coconut milk can be processed in a number of different ways. These can depend on the type of coconut milk being produced or how the milk will be packaged later on. It is important to understand what processing method is being used. This will give you an idea of the shelf life of the milk as well as how good the quality is.
Since coconut milk boasts a high level of oil, moisture, and organic compounds, the milk has a tendency to spoil shortly after extraction. In fact, for the highest quality milk, it is important that the milk is treated no later than two to three hours after it has been extracted.
If coconut milk is meant to be canned, the extracted milk will be heated for several minutes, followed by homogenization. Then, the milk will either be hot-filled into cans or passed through an exhauster before sealing. In case the coconut milk is going to be stored in UHT boxes, then aseptic processing may be applied to it.
You need to be especially mindful of how coconut milk powder is being processed. This is because the differences between coconut milk powders can be especially stark. The most common method is the spray-dried process. The issue here is that powders produced through this method tend to be mixed with casein, whey, and similar ingredients.
Such additional ingredients can help to thicken the coconut milk powder or even improve the shelf life. However, this can reduce the quality of the overall product. Not to mention, if you are trying to market vegan or lactose-free coconut milk, the above ingredients simply can’t be accepted.
This is why you should look for coconut milk powders that have been freeze-dried. These are more nutritious, taste better, and tend to be rather stable as well. Naturally, coconut milk powders produced in this manner may cost more. However, the additional cost can be offset by your selling price for a higher quality product.
With the coconut milk powder, you need to take special care to ensure that no additional ingredients have been added. These will compromise the quality and perhaps the taste of the milk as well.
As the demand for coconut milk has increased throughout the world, there has been a greater focus on price modeling and forecasting. This is something that you need to be aware of as you look for suppliers. Bear in mind that the prices can fluctuate quite a bit from one moment to another. This has to do with production costs, climate, geopolitical situations, and demand.
Of course, with coconut milk, you can’t opt for a supplier who is offering the lowest prices. This is typically indicative of lower quality. Rather, when considering coconut milk wholesale prices, you have to compare cost against value.
This means also thinking about how the coconuts are sourced and grown. For instance, organic coconuts producing organic coconut milk may be more expensive but will fetch a higher price. Similarly, minimally processed or well-processed milk will also be a more prized possession.
Needless to say, packaging and storage of liquid coconut milk is quite important. For the most part, coconut milks in cans and Tetra-Pak containers tend to have a similar shelf life. Nevertheless, you should always check with your supplier about their specific best buy or sell-by dates.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the sealing on the cans as well as the Tetra-Pak containers. These will ensure that sediment and particles stay out of the coconut milk, boosting its safety rating as well as its shelf life.
Now, when it comes to coconut milk powder, you have two options as well. The powder may come in aluminum foil laminated polyethylene packaging material or in a can. Once again, the shelf life of each packaging should be similar, unless stated otherwise.
However, you should consider the re-sealing elements of each type of packaging. For instance, a bag-like packaging may not have resealing features that are on par with a can with a lid. This can impact the overall shelf life of the powders.
Most liquid coconut milk tend to come equipped with labels from the manufacturing company. As such, it is unlikely that you will be able to put your own label on them. It is a different story with coconut milk powder, though. It is becoming more commonplace to get labeling rights.
Bear in mind, however, that this isn't a standard operating procedure. Every wholesaler will have their own terms and conditions. Even if they do hand over labeling rights to you, you may be expected to acknowledge the manufacturer in one way or another, particularly if you are selling the milk as it is.
Your best option as an independent seller would be to find a supplier that supports private sales label. This will help to avoid any legal issues in the future.
These are the top things to bear in mind when buying coconut milk powder wholesale. As you can see, navigating this industry with the right information can make all the difference. Now that you are well aware of the processes involved, though, you will find it easier to get your hands on high-quality, long-lasting, and affordable coconut milk.
