Top 10 Best Food Wholesalers in Adur

Feeding Adur's Hospitality and Retail Sector

Adur's food scene has blossomed in recent years. Shoreham-by-Sea is known for its independent cafes, bakeries and seafood restaurants, Lancing's seafront kiosks draw crowds in summer and community venues across Southwick and Sompting serve meals throughout the year. Behind every menu is a supply chain of food wholesalers delivering fresh, chilled, frozen and ambient products.

Adur is fortunate to host several significant food distribution operations, alongside excellent regional suppliers and national cash and carry networks. The ten wholesalers below have been selected for their product range, reliability, quality and value for businesses across the district.

1. Bidfood

Bidfood operates a depot on Chartwell Road in Lancing, providing a full range of frozen, ambient and chilled catering supplies. As one of the UK's largest foodservice wholesalers, Bidfood serves restaurants, schools, care homes and hospitals with dependable deliveries and menu support. Its local depot makes it an essential partner for Adur's hospitality businesses.

2. Infinity Foods Wholesale

Infinity Foods Wholesale is based on Dolphin Road in Shoreham-by-Sea and specialises in organic and natural products. As a long-established cooperative, it supplies health food shops, delis and cafes across the UK with grains, pulses, dried fruit, nuts, plant-based foods and eco-friendly household products. Its ethical values have made it one of Adur's most admired businesses.

3. Adams Foodservice

Adams Foodservice is located in Worthing and delivers across Sussex. As an independent wholesaler, it offers personal service alongside a broad catalogue of catering products. Many Adur cafes and pubs value its flexibility and the relationships built with its sales and delivery teams.

4. Enterprise Catering

Enterprise Catering operates in the Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing area, supporting local caterers and food businesses with supplies and services. Its local presence allows for responsive service, which is especially valuable during busy summer weekends on the coast.

5. Bodiam Foods

Bodiam Foods is a regional supplier delivering throughout Sussex. It is known for supplying quality ingredients to restaurants, pubs and catering businesses, with an emphasis on reliable delivery schedules and good customer service.

6. West Horsley Dairy

West Horsley Dairy supplies dairy products and chilled foods to businesses across the South East, including Sussex. Cafes and coffee shops in Shoreham rely on consistent milk supplies, and specialist dairy suppliers like this offer a wide choice of milks, creams, cheeses and plant-based alternatives.

7. Booker

Booker is the UK's largest food wholesaler, operating cash and carry branches and delivery services for caterers and independent retailers. Its combination of competitive pricing, own-label ranges and retail support programmes makes it a key supplier for convenience stores and takeaways throughout Adur.

8. Brakes

Brakes is a major foodservice supplier offering thousands of products across fresh, frozen and ambient categories. Its menu development support, allergen information and sustainability initiatives are particularly useful for restaurants and care settings that need to manage complex dietary requirements.

9. JJ Foodservice

JJ Foodservice supplies takeaways, restaurants and caterers with a wide range of products through delivery and collection services. Its digital ordering platform and competitive pricing have made it popular with independent food businesses looking to streamline purchasing.

10. Local Sussex Producers

While not a single company, Sussex's network of farms, bakeries and fishermen deserves recognition. Many Adur restaurants supplement wholesale orders with seasonal produce from nearby farms and fish landed along the coast, creating menus that reflect the flavours of the region.

Trends in Food Wholesale

Plant-based and free-from foods continue to grow rapidly, with wholesalers expanding their vegan, gluten-free and allergen-friendly ranges. In Adur, where many diners are health and environmentally conscious, these products are now essential rather than niche.

Sustainability and local sourcing are also major priorities. Customers increasingly want to know where their food comes from, and wholesalers are responding with traceability information, reduced packaging and lower-emission delivery vehicles. Digital ordering, real-time stock updates and flexible delivery slots have become standard expectations for busy kitchens.

How to Choose a Food Wholesaler

Start with your menu and volumes. Restaurants with fresh-focused menus need frequent deliveries and strong chilled ranges, while takeaways may prioritise frozen products and competitive pricing. Check minimum order values, delivery days and cut-off times to ensure they fit your operation.

Quality and food safety are paramount. Ask about temperature-controlled delivery, allergen information and product specifications. Many Adur businesses use one main wholesaler for core items and specialist suppliers for organic produce, dairy or seafood.

Seasonality on the Adur Coast

Food businesses in Adur face distinctive seasonal patterns. Warm weekends bring crowds to Shoreham Beach, Widewater Lagoon and Lancing seafront, sending demand for ice cream, cold drinks and takeaway food soaring with very little notice. Wholesalers that can add extra deliveries or offer flexible collection options are invaluable during these peaks. In winter, trade shifts towards pubs, cafes and community venues, with heartier menus and festive events driving orders.

Planning ahead with your wholesaler can smooth out these swings. Sharing forecasts, agreeing standing orders for core items and keeping a small buffer of ambient and frozen stock helps kitchens avoid running out on the busiest days while keeping waste low during quieter periods.

Conclusion

Adur is home to an impressive concentration of food wholesale expertise, from Bidfood's Lancing depot to the organic specialists at Infinity Foods in Shoreham. Combined with national networks and regional Sussex suppliers, these businesses ensure that local kitchens have access to quality ingredients at fair prices. Choosing the right wholesaler will help your food business deliver great meals, manage costs and meet the evolving expectations of customers along the Sussex coast.