Vegetable business: how to open a vegetable store. Business plan for a vegetable kiosk from A to Z. Business from scratch: vegetable kiosk How to start a vegetable business

The vegetable business, despite the crisis in the country, has been and remains a profitable way to make money. Fresh vegetables and fruits are in great demand among the population at any time of the year. It is especially profitable to trade produce from the garden in winter. The cost of fresh vegetables and fruits increases significantly in cold weather, and competition decreases, which is also a big plus for you as an entrepreneur.

In this article, we will discuss how to open a vegetable stall. Where to start and how to make a profit in a short time.

Start-up capital

First of all, you must find funds to start a vegetable business. Where can I get money? There are several options. Firstly, you can take out a loan from a bank, but you should think carefully about this. Secondly, you can borrow the required amount from acquaintances or friends; it is also quite possible to find companions and open a grocery store together. Thirdly, you can receive a certain amount of money from the state.

In order to receive money to develop your business, you must be registered with the employment service as unemployed, present salary certificates from previous jobs, and also provide the commission with a detailed business plan.

Business plan for a vegetable store

The profitability of an idea is the ratio of investments and timing of profit. You must determine the competition in this area of entrepreneurship and draw conclusions about the profitability of the project.

Business payback period. Everything will depend on the implementation of the idea. Perhaps you will start growing vegetables and fruits for sale yourself, and thus reduce the cost of purchasing goods. Or you will find profitable suppliers. In any case, the payback period will depend on the intensity of sales and the profitability of purchasing goods.

Paperwork

Opening a business requires the preparation of all documents and legal registration of its activities. First of all, you need to get permission from the municipality to set up a kiosk. In a small town this is easy to do, but in a big city some problems may arise. In large cities, installation of kiosks is carried out on the basis of a tender, take this nuance into account.

You must also obtain the appropriate permit from the local building and architectural authority.

In addition to permits, you will need to complete other documents. First, you need to decide on the material and legal form of the activity. You can register as an individual entrepreneur or a limited liability company. After this, it is necessary to obtain permits for activities from the sanitary and fire services.

Having completed the package of necessary documents, you can begin organizational issues.

Renting premises

In order to start selling vegetables and fruits, you need to rent a room for a future kiosk. The cost of monthly rent will depend on the location of the kiosk. It is advisable to choose places with high traffic volumes. As an option, you can rent a tent at the market or in the residential sector near high-rise buildings.

Stalls and tents have one important advantage - mobility. That is, you can move your point to another location at any time. With a store, it’s a little more complicated; you need to immediately assess the profitability of its location.

Purchase of commercial equipment

What do you need to open a stall? First of all, you need to equip your kiosk with everything necessary to sell vegetables.

Necessary equipment:

Scales for weighing products;
Cash machine;
Refrigerators for food storage;
Counters and display cases;

To save money, you can purchase used equipment. Finding it will not be difficult; look for advertisements in newspapers and on the Internet.

Assortment and supply of goods

Selling vegetables as a business is quite profitable, but requires wise implementation. Your task is to purchase goods at a low wholesale price and sell them at many times higher prices to consumers. But there are also some nuances here. As a rule, a cheap product is not of high quality, so you should set your priorities wisely. In order to adequately survive in the market, you must always sell fresh goods. Remember that reputation comes first, every client counts, because competition in this area of business is quite strong. Work only with trusted, regular suppliers. Do not purchase a lot of goods; it is better to agree on the supply of products several times a week, because vegetables are a perishable product that requires quick sale. Thus, you will always have fresh, undamaged goods, satisfied customers and good, stable profits.

Range

The main products at your kiosk will be fresh vegetables and fruits. In addition to seasonal products, you can also trade exotic fruits. You can also sell related products in the vegetable stall, for example, fresh herbs are in great demand among buyers: green onions, dill, parsley, lettuce.

Staff

To sell vegetables, you need to hire a staff of workers. For a small vegetable stall, it is enough to hire one seller and a loader. If possible, a cleaner is also required, but these functions can also be performed by a salesperson. At the initial stage, you can sell in your own vegetable shop, so you can save money and spend it on purchasing goods.

Don't forget to be polite. Sellers should be courteous to every buyer, not be rude or argue with them.

Selling vegetables and fruits as a business - the price of the issue

How much does it cost to open a vegetable stall? Let's calculate the costs together.

Food products are essential products that are in high demand regardless of the season. This type of product includes vegetables and fruits. It is the high demand in this area that pushes many aspiring entrepreneurs to open such a business. Below we propose to consider where to start a vegetable business and carefully analyze the nuances of this market.

Vegetables and fruits are desirable and necessary products in the daily diet of any person.

Market Review

Fruits and vegetables are in high demand not only in summer, but also in the winter months. This category of products is rich in vitamins and nutrients necessary for the body. Despite the high demand at any time of the year, this business is seasonal. Such an enterprise generates its main income from early August to November.

It is very important that the sale of such products is often accompanied by various difficulties. When considering opening a grocery store, it is necessary to take into account the various difficulties associated with constant inspections by quality control authorities. That is why such an enterprise requires a thorough analysis of possible risks.

What to pay attention to

Before opening a retail outlet, it is necessary not only to draw up a business plan, but also to develop a business development strategy. In order for a store to become a source of constant income, many different nuances should be taken into account. It is equally important to attract the attention of a potential audience and win the favor of buyers.

Before opening a retail outlet, you should carefully study the proposed location. An open retail outlet should be convenient for visiting residents of the surrounding areas. In order to attract a potential audience, you need a rich and rich assortment. The interior of the store itself plays an important role.

You should also work out a strategy for attracting clients in advance. In order to increase your potential audience and not lose regular customers, you should sell only fresh and high-quality products. Poor quality of products is a sure way to lose the bulk of customers, which negatively affects daily profits.

What products are in high demand?

A profitable business selling vegetables and fruits is built on constant analysis of consumer needs. An interesting, popular and wide range is a real guarantee of the company’s profitability. When developing an enterprise development strategy, you should take into account the seasonal demand for various products. The offered assortment should include dozens of different items so that every potential buyer has the opportunity to choose.

Vegetable business is very popular in different localities

Speaking about seasonal preferences, it should be noted that in the winter months tangerines, lemons, apples, beets and potatoes are in high demand. In the summer months, the role of popular goods goes to berries, cherries, cherries, watermelons and melons. There is another category of goods that is popular regardless of the season. These items include onions, pumpkins, zucchini, eggplants and cauliflower.

A competent approach to assortment compilation and a thorough analysis of seasonal demand will not only increase income, but also significantly increase the coverage area of the potential audience.

Where to get the goods

There are several ways to obtain products, so at the stage of creating a business plan it is necessary to take into account how to obtain goods. Let's look at the main ways to obtain an assortment:

Purchasing from farmers. One of the most common ways to obtain the necessary goods. Most residents of villages and villages willingly enter into contracts for the supply of vegetables and fruits. This option involves a low level of investment in the purchase of goods.
Import. This method is most often used to purchase exotic products that are grown abroad. These foods include mangoes, kiwis, pineapples and bananas.
Own farm. One of the most expensive options, due to the need for a prepared plot of land. A similar method is used by various hypermarket chains. Here it is important to take into account that own farming is significantly limited due to climatic conditions.

The business plan of a vegetable store is based precisely on the method of obtaining goods. All of the above methods can be combined, which will significantly reduce the cost of purchasing certain goods.

Sales format

There are several formats for the appearance of a retail outlet. Below we suggest familiarizing yourself with various formats of retail outlets:

Tent at the market. In order to interest a potential buyer, it is necessary to have a wide and rich assortment. A tent at the market must attract the attention of the audience due to the high level of competition.
Selling from a car. This method is most often used by farmers who, after harvesting, export their products to markets and food fairs.
Stationary store. When opening such a point, you should take into account the future location of the store. It is very important that your store is located near residential areas and roadways. A small store should offer the buyer a rich assortment. In order to increase the number of regular customers, it is necessary to pay increased attention to the quality of the product.
Wholesale. The last option considers selling existing products to catering establishments or small retail outlets.

Selling fruits and vegetables involves many risks

Wholesale trade of fruits and vegetables as a business can become a source of constant profit and high income, taking into account the presence of certain connections. Useful contacts with the management of catering establishments will allow you to have a stable demand for your offer. Despite this, the most popular format for such a business is opening a full-fledged retail outlet.

Market analysis

Before opening a retail outlet, you should carefully analyze the market situation. Increased attention should be paid to possible competitors. An objective assessment of competitors' offers will allow you to correctly approach the assortment. Also, this business plan must take into account possible risks.

Such an analysis allows you to obtain a lot of information that will serve as a kind of foundation for your business. At the initial stage, the location and number of competitors should be determined. Next, you should analyze the demand for various categories of goods.

The target audience plays an important role in this matter. At the stage of market analysis, you should identify the possibility of supplying your future store with unique or rare goods.
A business plan for fruits and vegetables should be based on careful processing of competitors' offers. In order to interest the buyer, your store must offer services and products that competitors do not have.

Possible risks and benefits

It should be understood that, despite the profitability of this area of business, such an enterprise is always accompanied by certain risks. That is why, before opening a store, you should carefully weigh various factors that negatively affect business development.

One of the highest risks in this area is the short shelf life of the product range. If the received goods are not sold within the first week, then most products will lose their aesthetic appeal. Loss of marketability is one of the most common causes of losses. Competition also plays a significant role, so you need to constantly monitor the price dynamics of your competitors.

The goal of opening a retail outlet specializing in the sale of vegetables and fruits is to obtain high profits

The above risks, with the right approach to the organizational issue, can become a kind of advantage. The short shelf life of fruits and vegetables allows you to avoid renting a warehouse with a large area. You can also refuse significant investments in the purchase of large quantities of goods, and purchase the necessary products in small wholesale. At the initial stages of development, this approach allows you to assess audience demand.

The main advantage of this area of trade is that the products in question are always in demand regardless of the region. Also, the low cost of the offered range allows us to work for a wide audience.

Marketing Promotion

When considering the question of how to open a grocery store from scratch, it is necessary to highlight the importance of a marketing plan. The right approach to an advertising campaign allows you to attract the attention of the general public. To do this, it is necessary to equip the store with a bright sign. The aesthetic appearance of the room itself plays an important role.

To attract your first customers, you should organize the distribution of leaflets and arrange “discount” days. In order to increase the potential audience, the products offered must be of only high quality. In addition, the level of service is of no small importance.

Selecting the right room

At the stage of developing a business strategy, it is necessary to take into account the location of the future store. You should also take care in advance about suppliers and the purchase of various equipment. One of the most important aspects of development in this area is the correct choice of location for trade.

When opening a small store, factors such as distance from possible competitors and location close to a busy road should be taken into account. It is important that the store being opened is located within walking distance for residents of nearby residential areas. The main requirement for grocery stores is to be located on the ground floor. You should also take care in advance about placing bright outdoor advertising, so that at the equipping stage, the surrounding residents will look forward to the opening of the outlet.

Creating an interesting and in-demand assortment is the key to the profitability and prospects of any trading enterprise

How to properly equip a store

Equipment for a vegetable store is one of the most important components of a profitable business. It is necessary to purchase freezers that allow you to increase the shelf life of the goods and maintain their presentation for a long time. In addition to industrial freezers, cooling chambers are also needed for fruits that require careful storage.

However, the first place in importance is given to display cases for displaying goods. When purchasing equipment, you should give preference only to high-quality models from a trusted manufacturer. Proper display of fruits and vegetables is the key to increasing profits.

But in order to have the goods, it is necessary to select a responsible and conscientious supplier. Most of these companies independently supply goods to retail outlets. However, some farmers do not have such opportunities, so care should be taken in advance to rent trucks and hire appropriate personnel.

In order to avoid possible financial losses due to the expiration of the product, the store must be equipped with sufficient cooling equipment. Compliance with storage conditions will significantly extend the shelf life of many vegetables.

Organizational plan and business design

At the time of opening your store, your business must be officially registered. In addition, the required staff must be fully staffed. With a small retail outlet, the staff may consist of four people. To sell goods, two sellers are needed, working on a shift schedule. To deliver goods from farmers and village residents, it is necessary to hire a driver who can combine the position of a loader. Such an enterprise necessarily requires an accountant who will keep financial records.

One of the important requirements for hired personnel is the availability of a medical record.

When opening a grocery store, you must register with the tax authorities as an individual entrepreneur. Before the official opening, a number of certain documents should be collected. To open a retail outlet, you must obtain permission from Rospotrebnadzor, the fire inspectorate and the sanitary and epidemiological station. Having such a package of documents will help you avoid various problems during inspections.

The opening of a grocery store is carried out in two stages, lasting several months. At the first stage, suppliers are searched and a more convenient location is selected. At the second stage, goods and specialized equipment are purchased, employees are hired, and goods are placed on display.

Competent selection of assortment for different seasons contributes to a significant increase in profits and attracting customers

Business plan with calculations

The average initial cost of opening a retail outlet is about 1,200,000 rubles. The cost of monthly rent of the premises is 25,000 rubles. Repair work and outdoor advertising will cost an amount equal to 200,000 rubles. The approximate cost of purchasing fruits and vegetables is 200,000 rubles. The purchase of freezers and cooling chambers, as well as display cases, will cost 250,000 rubles. The cost of purchasing freight transport will be about 500,000.

Next, you should consider your monthly expenses. To renew the sold goods, at least 200,000 will be required. Staff compensation is about 55,000 (for regions). Costs for gasoline, utility bills and taxes are about 20,000. It is also necessary to take into account unforeseen expenses - about 5,000 rubles every month. Thus, the amount of monthly expenses is about 300,000 rubles.

Let's evaluate the level of profitability of such an enterprise. The average daily income of a small retail outlet is 12,000. The average revenue for one month is about 350,000. If you subtract monthly expenses from this amount, you can get an approximate monthly income of about 50,000 rubles. Thus, the invested capital can be repaid within two years.

A business related to the sale of fruits and vegetables is a profitable enterprise suitable for both men and women. Due to the high demand for such essential goods, it is possible to recoup the invested capital in just a few years. In order to attract public attention to your store, you need to constantly analyze changes in this market.

In contact with

Food products are one of the most popular goods in retail trade, which is why many entrepreneurs are interested in starting a business in this direction. On our website in the business ideas section you will find a guide to opening many different specialized stores with different types of products. In this article we will talk about how to organize retail trade in fruits and vegetables and try to assess whether it is profitable to do this or not.

Business nuances and trading format

Let's now talk about the pros and cons of this business.

Pros:

high profitability;
constant demand;
small investments in business;
availability of seasonal vegetables and fruits for sale, that is, even in winter there will be no downtime.

Of the minuses:

perishable products;
high level of competition;
Working in winter is not very comfortable.

As you can see, we have highlighted the main advantages and disadvantages of a business selling fruits and vegetables, and whether the pros cover the cons is up to you to decide.

Now let's talk about the formats for running this business and describe the main ones.

Business selling fruits and vegetables from a car. For such activities you will need to obtain a fruit trading permit. The disadvantages include the need to purchase freight transport and the inconvenience of working in the winter season. Typically, seasonal fruits or vegetables are sold in this format, for example, watermelons, strawberries, potatoes, cabbage, etc. There is no point in renting a full-fledged retail space for seasonal goods, so entrepreneurs trade from their cars.
Trading fruits and vegetables at the market in a kiosk or tent. Also one of the most popular sales methods. The market is a place where customers for your product gather. If you serve your customers well and at the same time constantly monitor the quality and availability of products, you will have regular customers who will generate the main income from your business. The only problem can be that it is difficult to find a good trading place on the market and the second disadvantage is the huge competition concentrated in one place.
Street fruit trade. Typically this is a tent with several racks. One of the features of this format is that you will either need to have your own transport to transport the entire range of goods, or rent a small warehouse to store them. How you will solve this issue needs to be decided right away. Also, when selling fruits and vegetables on the street, you need to obtain permission from the city administration to sell these goods in the place where you want to set up a tent.
Fruit trade in the pavilion. In this business format, the entrepreneur rents a counter on which he places all the products. This is also a very attractive type of business, but the problem with a warehouse is partially solved there, since such places are usually given out to those who rent a retail outlet there.
A full-fledged store. Including renting premises, signage, retail equipment and more. It’s worth considering that this is the most expensive start in the fruit business, so it’s better to test the niche using the formats suggested above, it will be easier for you to attract buyers.

Why do we recommend the market trading format? Because when renting a store, you will need to spend money on advertising, and your competitors will be large retail chains that you cannot compete with either on price or choice.

Fruit trading rules

As in any product business, you must obtain all necessary work permits. Let's look at what documents are needed for trading fruits and vegetables.

— firstly, you need to register as an individual entrepreneur;

- secondly, select the necessary OKVED documents for work. For Russia it is: 52.21. Retail trade in fruits, vegetables and potatoes. For Ukraine: 47.21 Retail sale of fruits and vegetables in specialized stores.

- thirdly, obtain permission to trade from the SES and fire service;

— fourthly, arrange a buyer’s corner;

— fifthly, it is to have in hand all the necessary certificates of product quality.

Selection of retail space and equipment

The next step, if you decide to rent a kiosk or store, is to look for sites on or near the market. There is also an option to look for offers for renting premises for selling fruit in shopping arcades, you may also find a good place there.

It is advisable to look for a room size of 10 sq.m. and higher. In the case of a stall or kiosk, you won’t have much choice.

Equipment you will need:

organize a workplace for the seller;
shelves on which you will need to beautifully present fruit;
racks and display cases;
boxes for storing products;
scales, preferably electronic;
bags for selling goods.

Assortment and suppliers

When starting a business selling fruits and vegetables, it is very important to carefully work out the assortment. You must have all the popular items of goods in stock, and in addition to everything, you can carry rarer options, because perhaps some of the customers will come for them.

The second important factor is the freshness of the product and presentation. Carefully ensure that all goods are in marketable condition and do not allow any rotten fruits or vegetables in the boxes.

So, here is a basic list of assortment:

Vegetables

Tomatoes cucumbers
Potatoes, carrots, beets
Cabbage
Onion garlic
Pepper
Zucchini, eggplant
Mushrooms, radishes, pumpkin
Corn, peas, beans, beans

Fruits

Apples and pears
Citrus
Grape
Berries
Stone fruits
Melons
Exotic

Greenery

Salads
Dill
Parsley
Herbs

The assortment can be expanded with seasonal products; we have named only the main categories; each of them has a number of subcategories.

Suppliers can be found either in wholesale markets or work with sales agents directly, who will deliver the desired product directly to the store. Here you will need to focus on the cost of products and calculate the benefits.

How much money do you need to open?

In many ways, investments in this business depend on the format of trade and the volume of the product range, but before you think about where to start this business, you need to decide on the start-up capital, and then move on to finding suitable solutions for distributing the initial costs. Here's just some of what you'll need before opening a fruit and vegetable store from scratch.

Room rental – $200 – $250
Taxes - $150
Salesperson salary - $200
Initial purchase of goods – $2000 – $3000
Purchase of equipment – $1000 – $1500
Signboard, price tags, banners – $150
Transport costs - $50.

How much profit can you expect?

The choice of location for a kiosk or tent will determine the success of your fruit trading business. The more clients you have, the larger volumes of products you can sell, taking into account the fact that you will keep the quality of the product at its best.

The average markup on vegetables and fruits is 30% – 70%.

Based on these figures, you can roughly estimate the required sales volumes.

Conclusions. Opening a Fruits and Vegetables store is a very profitable niche, provided there is a good place for trading. If it is, then you are guaranteed year-round income from this outlet.

Do you work in this field? We look forward to your additions to this article.

The fruit and vegetable market is quite dynamic, especially in the segment of imported goods. Competition here is almost always high, and in order to create a confident business, a novice entrepreneur will have to put in a lot of effort. The starting stage is quite difficult; establishing relationships with profitable and reliable suppliers of goods, organizing logistics and attracting regular customers is not easy, but if you achieve the first victories, the next steps are not so difficult.

Pros and cons of vegetable business

Selling vegetables and fruits is a promising direction. But it will be quite difficult for a beginner, especially with a lack of investment, to occupy his niche in the market. Firstly, fierce competition has formed in almost every city, and secondly, in order to successfully launch a business, you must immediately establish contacts with reliable suppliers, find regular customers and be able to achieve high-quality logistics of goods. But if a novice entrepreneur manages to overcome difficulties at the initial stage, it is quite possible to expand a small vegetable business relatively quickly, thereby increasing the amount of net profit several times over.

The advantages of the idea of starting your own business selling vegetables include high demand for goods (even out of season), relatively small investments for opening a retail outlet or small store, and good profitability. Among the disadvantages, experienced entrepreneurs note the difficulties associated with finding reliable wholesale suppliers who will agree on an acceptable price, organizing a business (it is necessary to find, deliver and distribute the goods on time, to prevent damage to the products), the need for a warehouse, as well as fairly high competition. But with the desire and careful preparation for creating your own business, consulting with experienced entrepreneurs and experts, most serious problems can be avoided. Without a competent start, it is simply impossible to occupy your niche in the segment of sales of vegetables and fruits, as well as achieve real profit. These rules are relevant for all market players, as in the case of organizing sales of tea, etc.

Possible formats for conducting business

Selling vegetables as a business can be organized in several formats. The choice depends on the available investments, the experience of the entrepreneur (if you don’t have it, you shouldn’t start with the most complex and costly), the peculiarities of the economic situation in the region and the needs of potential clients.

The most popular formats for running a fruit and vegetable business:

In a tent. This is one of the most affordable formats that does not require significant investment. You will need to register your entrepreneurial activity, find investments for the purchase of a minimum set of equipment (tent, counter, scales, containers, etc.), as well as the first batches of goods. To attract regular customers and accelerate the growth of your business, you need to ensure a good range and quality of products. If you focus on seasonal positions, you will be able to significantly increase your turnover.
From the car. The advantage of this format of work is its mobility. An entrepreneur can change several localization points per day, taking into account the traffic flow of the retail location and other factors (but do not forget about the punishment for violating the rules of non-stationary trade). In order to fully work and develop the prospect of expanding the business, it is necessary to immediately issue permits, without hoping for a lucky break. By trading from a car, an entrepreneur saves on renting a retail space, warehouse and the number of staff.
In the pavilion. As a rule, in this case, space is allocated in warehouses, which can completely solve the problem of storing products. An entrepreneur will need to pay for a retail space and pay a certain amount for renting space in a warehouse, but at the same time, he gets the opportunity to work in a place with excellent traffic, and also find regular customers faster, although the level of competition is becoming tougher. It is important to remember the conditions for proper storage of vegetables and fruits, to export to the pavilion such a volume of products that can be sold, avoiding spoilage and losses as much as possible.
Opening a specialty store. The ideal format for working in the fruit and vegetable sales segment is to open a specialized store of vegetables and fruits. But at the same time, several serious obstacles arise, especially for a new entrepreneur. This means the need for significant investment and work experience, otherwise it will be very difficult to organize the business correctly. The procedure for obtaining permits is also not easy, but if you obtain all the permits, properly organize logistics and storage of goods, find a reliable and profitable supplier, providing customers with a high level of services at an affordable price, a vegetable store can become a successful start of a big business.

Sale of vegetables and fruits business

To make the sale of vegetables and fruits a successful project, you need to independently understand the essence of the work, practical nuances, think through the marketing and merchandising of your business, as in the case of sturgeon breeding. Experienced entrepreneurs working in this market segment advise newcomers not to rely solely on the honesty of employees and the competence of managers. As practice shows, it is very difficult to find professionals to work in this profile, especially when there is a lack of investment. For a successful start and dynamic development, you will need to strictly control each stage yourself.

Business registration

Trade in vegetables and fruits as a business can only be started after registration of entrepreneurial activity. To do this, you need to contact the tax service and write a corresponding application, correctly indicating OKVED, provide a package of documents, or launch the procedure through the State Services reference and information portal. Then we pay the state duty, its amount is 800 rubles. (if you register through State Services, you can get a 30% discount). There are alternative ways of registration - through a legal representative, by mail and at the MFC. If all conditions are met, the entrepreneur’s status is approved within 3 days, and he receives a Certificate of State Registration of an individual as an individual entrepreneur. In some cases, it is necessary to obtain permits from the SES, Rospotrebnadzor and Gospozhnadzor. When organizing work, it is important to comply with the Sanitary Rules for the sale of food products in small retail enterprises.

Advice: It is necessary to remember that before the start of actual work, the individual entrepreneur must submit a “Notice of Commencement of Activities” to the territorial department of Rospotrebnadzor. The form of the document is specified in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated July 16, 2009 No. 584. This will confirm the fact of compliance with trade rules and sanitary rules for the sale of food products.

Selecting a sales location

It is necessary to choose a place of sale based on the format of work. In any case, it must have good cross-country ability and be convenient for the buyer (the chances that he will deliberately go an unusual route to buy vegetables or fruits are very low). With proper preparation, you can organize a good business either in a tent or in a specialized store. It is important to take into account the specifics of working at the chosen place - when trading in a pavilion or kiosk at the market, it is necessary to win the loyalty of the administration and win in the competition; in a tent - to ensure proper storage of products, find reliable suppliers and organize logistics well.

Selection of premises

The room parameters must correspond to the work profile. Most often, they are looking for an option with an area of up to 60 m², of which about 20 are allocated for storage, where it is necessary to ensure the appropriate temperature (up to about +8 in the summer and not lower than 0 in the winter). With small investments, entrepreneurs organize trade using garages and utility rooms as warehouses. But since in this case it will not be possible to maintain the temperature regime, it will not be possible to store large volumes of products.

Equipment purchase

Many businessmen who have organized a business selling vegetables and fruits work with a minimum of equipment - counters, containers, scales, a cash register, vehicles for bringing goods. But to develop your business, create high-quality service and attract regular customers, it is necessary to expand the list of equipment. In order to properly store products and not purchase small volumes for every day, the entrepreneur needs to purchase cooling chambers and, if possible and in accordance with the work format, a special display case.

Recruiting staff

Experienced entrepreneurs talk about the problem of personnel selection as one of the most important, especially for a newcomer to this field. With limited investments, they advise involving only relatives, close acquaintances and friends who can be trusted. This will reduce the risk of theft and customer fraud. If there are investments, the issue of personnel selection still needs to be approached very carefully. It is recommended to increase salaries thanks to additional percentages of sales volume. To organize high-quality work, you will need a salesperson, a driver, a loader, and, if financially possible, an accountant. But if necessary and for small business volumes, the owner can combine all these positions in one person.

Conducting an advertising campaign

To successfully start a business selling vegetables and fruits, a large advertising campaign is not necessary (if you do not plan to open a network of retail outlets). Many manage to quickly win the loyalty of regular customers thanks to skillful marketing, high quality products and streamlined logistics. But still, high-quality advertising will never be superfluous, and a novice entrepreneur needs to competently present his services, immediately pointing out competitive advantages. The following elements can be used:

bright sign;
billboard;
constriction;
poster;
advertising posts on social networks.

If you have the funds, it won’t hurt to place videos on local radio, organize promotions and create a discount system. The use of certain elements of advertising depends on the format of the work and the purpose of its behavior (dissemination of information about the service, attracting customers, creating a competitive advantage, etc.). In the process of business expansion, it will be possible to place banner and text advertising on specialized websites and organize mailings to email addresses. But the latter methods are more appropriate for finding wholesale buyers, sponsors and business partners.

Selling vegetables and fruits - business plan

A business plan is necessary both for opening a small retail outlet on the market and in the case of creating a specialized store. Thanks to it, an entrepreneur will be able to pre-plan the stages of development of his business, approximately outlining their time frame, calculate costs, and identify and minimize risks. It is not necessary to order the creation of a document from a specialist if you plan to open a relatively small retail outlet - after reading the relevant literature and expert comments, the entrepreneur will be able to draw up a financial plan on his own. We recommend including the following sections:

summary (goals, sales market, target audience, brief description of business development strategy, main risks, need for investment, payback period);
description of the service, assortment;
analysis of the situation on the regional market, if necessary - across the country;
main and potential competitors;
equipment;
financial plan (taxation system, calculation of tax amounts, insurance contributions to extra-budgetary funds, expenses - cost of production, wages of personnel, rental of premises, purchase of equipment, advertising costs, transportation costs, etc., as well as the expected volume of net profit, revenue, payback period).

FAQ

Let's look at frequently asked questions on the topic.

Where can I get products for business?

The most popular suppliers of products for beginners and experienced entrepreneurs who decide to build a business in the sale of vegetables and fruits are the owners of wholesale warehouses. Sometimes it is more profitable to find one or more farmers who can supply vegetables in the required volume and assortment or repurchase goods. The choice of supplier largely depends on the situation on the regional market, the level of competition, the number of wholesale bases and their pricing policy, as well as the logistics system. Growing products on private plots (personal subsidiary plots) and selling them is considered the most profitable option, but greenhouses for growing vegetables require significant investments and knowledge of technology.

Do I need permits for fruits and vegetables?

You do not need a special permit to trade vegetables and fruits. The entrepreneur will need to register his activities, and if the work format requires this, obtain the appropriate permits from Rospotrebnadzor, SES and state fire supervision authorities. But the seller must have at least copies of documents confirming the quality and safety of the products, and in the case of selling tropical fruits - papers indicating the passage of phytosanitary control. If trading activities are carried out on the market, and the goods are grown independently or supplied by greenhouse farmers, then it is necessary to obtain a conclusion from the state veterinary and sanitary examination laboratory at the place of production.

What vegetables and fruits are worth trading?

A good assortment is one of the most important keys to successful trade and business growth. But some types of products are in greatest demand, and if you organize their quick deliveries and monitor quality, you can quickly achieve the desired profitability. The best selling vegetables are potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cabbage. Buyers also often look for oranges, bananas, apples, grapes, kiwis, and pomegranates. Rarely do they buy exotic fruits, such as passion fruit, guava, carom, etc. (it is worth remembering the embargo on food products, including vegetables and fruits imported from some countries). The choice of assortment in each specific case depends on the needs of the target audience, the format of work and the investment of the entrepreneur.

August – September in our country are marked as vegetable months. Gardeners harvest their crops, begin to prepare for the winter or sell what they have collected, and those who do not have their own farms buy vegetables and fruits at “summer prices.”

Competition in the fruit and vegetable market during these periods is quite high; many sellers come from the CIS countries to Russia specifically for the purpose of sales, and everyone wants to sell to the maximum, since the product is quite specific and perishable.

If you are the owner of a vegetable stall or your retail store has a fruit department, you are more interested than anyone else in minimizing perishable losses and increasing turnover in the store.

The main difficulty here is not only in sales, but also in the fact that the demand for fresh vegetables and fruits is low, since people collect banal carrots, onions, herbs and even apples in their gardens and dachas. That’s why it’s so important to analyze your assortment and suppliers so as not to fall behind in this category.

Competition and suppliers

The flood of chain retailers in Russian cities has taken away a significant part of consumers from markets and food stores, but the reason was no longer the walking distance of stores, but the association of the vegetable market with the underweight and placement of substandard goods. But as it turns out, retailers have their own drawback in the vegetable departments - fruits from Asian front gardens taste and look like plastic, and the unnatural color of some vegetables makes you wonder.

A small retail store will be able to compete between these two giants if the assortment of fruit products consists of truly high-quality products at reasonable prices. This condition requires finding a supplier that meets your requirements, but the problem may be that farmers and distributors are not interested in selling small quantities as required by a traditional convenience store.

Having found a good supplier, the stage of preparation and presentation begins. Storing fruits and vegetables is a different story; no one will come back to you if you ever buy frozen potatoes or cucumbers. It is better to carry out three-stage quality control:
When purchasing products (especially if you go shopping yourself).
Upon delivery, the rule “trust, but verify” already applies.
When placing goods on shelves (ask sellers to additionally inspect all fruits and vegetables).

When choosing a supplier, it is important not to miss the deadline for purchasing products and send the order to suppliers on time. For your convenience, Mercata offers now to join our VMI platform: electronic document management between the store and suppliers, sending orders and deliveries always on time. You can read more

Layout and tricks

Buyers choose with their eyes (we just mentioned this) and you need to give them this opportunity and show the product in all its glory - fruits and vegetables are laid out in slides and neat piles, often sorted by color and size. A good example can be found among sellers at the eastern market. Containers for fruits should always be clean and intact so as not to spoil the picture.

Many supermarkets also use tricks when displaying them in the vegetable departments - they wash and rub the fruits until they shine, and sometimes sprinkle them with water, despite the fact that this way the products will begin to rot faster. All this is done to associate it with freshness, the buyer sees a shiny, moist surface and the brain already begins to send a “buy” signal.

Another trick spotted by supermarkets is the location of the vegetable department.
Research in the field of willpower of buyers has shown that it is necessary to let a person do what is “good”, for example, buy healthy vegetables and fruits for the family table, and then buyers themselves begin to go beyond the diligence of purchases and buy more harmful products.
Conclusion: place such departments at the beginning of the store, and by the end, customers will buy everything related themselves.

Assortment and prices

When forming an assortment, do not forget about marketing tricks, for example, red apples sell consistently higher in the fall, and green apples in the spring - all this is connected with our psychology. After the winter and autumn periods, we lack freshness and vitamins, and it is these colors that evoke the necessary associations.

When forming an assortment, special attention must be paid to the so-called exotics. If bananas and pineapples have taken root in our country, then, for example, mangoes are still taken with caution, not to mention pitaya, lychee and rambutan, which are avoided simply out of ignorance. There is a greater demand for exotic fruits before the holidays; buyers are looking for something “special” for their table and sweeping the exclusive fruits off the shelves.

It will not be possible to set a high markup for this segment. As we have already said, competition is high and it is not only network operators and markets, but also summer residents and retired gardeners. By keeping prices at an acceptable level for fresh fruits and vegetables, you can form the image of the store - word of mouth will create advertising for you and buyers will come for the products, and at the same time buy other goods sold.

By the way, with the help of Mercat’s smart cash program, you can track the demand and seasonality for sold fruits and vegetables. The profit report will show which items are in demand and in how many days they will run out. This way you can always keep your assortment under control, and regular customers will not go to competitors.

Package

Not all buyers are ready to buy vegetables and fruits in packaged form; it all depends on the level of trust in your outlet, and also do not forget about the principle of buyers choosing with their eyes. By pre-packaging the product there is a certain risk that it will remain on the shelf, but there is also a positive feature - by pre-packaging the product you are already forcing the consumer to take more than he could do on his own.

There are several tricks to successfully sell pre-packaged products:
Pack products of exclusive and highest quality - for example, exotic mangoes or European strawberries will not tolerate careless treatment.
The packaging size should be convenient for the buyer; it is unlikely that anyone will want to carry a 50 kg bag of potatoes from the store.
Packaging should be as fresh as possible; customers have become more careful when placing purchases in their carts and more carefully checking all dates and deadlines.

Not so long ago, fruit sets in beautiful boxes became popular. Cardboard boxes and craft bags are a priori associated with the word “ECO”, and competent filling and beautiful presentation increase the price tag for such kits. You can mix the filling or offer your customers to choose the composition themselves, and you can present it as a gift set.

Conclusion

You can make a profit selling vegetables and fruits if you follow some rules, the main ones being freshness and quality. No customer will return to you if the product does not meet his expectations. You can increase sales if you properly build your assortment and track seasonality, and we will always help you with this