FEMAIL reveals how much you can really save on bulk purchases

Food in the UK is rising at its fastest pace in more than a decade as inflation rises to 7% as the cost of living crisis continues.

Most shoppers are turning to cheap stores to save money, including Lidl and Aldi: pasta prices rose 10%, lamb prices increased 17%, and oils and fats increased 34% by price. directory.

Increasing inflation combined with slow wage growth has caused many Brits to turn to wholesalers to buy wholesale products to save precious pennies.

Many food wholesalers, primarily serving restaurants, grocery stores, and entertainment venues, have had to rapidly change their business models to allow anyone to order online in bulk with businesses closed and supermarket shelves empty.

Some, including JJ Foodservice, continued to sell to the public, while others, such as Costco, have always sold the wholesale price directly to local customers.

US cashback chain Costco has 29 stores in the UK and customers have to pay a membership fee to shop there, with the store generating a staggering $3.8 billion each year from membership fees alone.

Customers wishing to have a value membership card must own their own business and register as a business member for £26.40 per year.

Non-entrepreneurs can also apply individually (for £33.60 per year) but must work or retire in certain occupations including: – banking and finance, local government, emergency services, airlines, education, public service, military, military, healthcare services and insurance.

Persons with qualifications of accountants, architects, experts, lawyers and engineers can also participate.

Online-only membership – for £15 a year – is open to everyone.

Customers can easily make up for this with products that cost much less than buying them at the supermarket.

While UHT milk costs just 9 cents per 100 ml at Costco, it’s almost six times more at 59 cents per 100 ml at Sainsbury’s.

Instant coffee is also twice as expensive at Sainsbury’s as at Costco, and essentials like olive oil and sugar are half price at Costco.

Costco also offers tech products, including televisions, smartwatches, grills, and coffee makers, often at discounted prices.

The $245 billion market also has a jewelry section where you can buy gold bullion.

Alcohol is also extremely cheap – a bottle of Mirval wine costs £14.59 compared to £19 at Tesco. The Barefoot Pinot Grigio costs £5.59 from Costco and £6.75 from Waitrose.

A one liter bottle of Smirnoff Red Label costs £16.89, at Tesco £21. Jack Daniels costs almost a quarter less per liter, £24.49 from Costco and £32 from Tesco.

Meanwhile, national wholesaler JJ Foodservice is encouraging consumers to buy in bulk and says they’re offering chef quality at home much cheaper.

As a leading supplier to hotels, restaurants and bars, the wholesaler offers a wide variety of “chef-quality ingredients at wholesale prices”, including premium steaks.

However, they do allow anyone to register on their website and order goods online.

“We sell many staples, including fresh poultry, cheese, vegetable oil and flour, in slightly larger packages, but it’s really worth it,” Chief Product Officer Sezer Özkul told FEMAIL.

“You can buy fresh English beef tenderloin for just £4 per steak – they usually cost £25 at a restaurant!”

“We sell in packs of five, so if you come with a few friends or neighbors, you can get chef-quality food at home at an affordable price.”

The JJ Home line includes more than 600 items that are significantly cheaper than the equivalent product sold in a supermarket.

Leg of lamb at the supermarket is 53% cheaper than Waitrose, eggs are 20% cheaper than Sainsbury’s, and flour is 175%.

Other wholesalers, which started to sell to the public during the pandemic period, continued to serve private customers without membership exceptions.

Specialty supplier First Choice Produce sells a wide variety of meats and vegetables directly to the public, while All Greens Wholesale, which has been supplying some of London’s best-loved restaurants and hotels for years, now supplies directly to homes in London.

Providing food for Ascot, the Olympics, Royal Albert Hall and Wimbledon, Nature’s Choice also provides food for all of London.