A Flavorful Expansion: Why We're Launching Asian Products

The specialty food space is brimming with opportunity, and it’s an exciting time to be part of it. According to the Specialty Food Association’s 2024 State of the Specialty Food Industry report, the U.S. specialty food market grew to $194 billion in 2023, with a 9.2% year-over-year increase driven by demand for unique, high-quality products (source: Specialty Food Association).

As a wholesale marketplace built to support independent food businesses, we’ve recognized that staying ahead means adapting—and that’s why we’re expanding our selection to include a broader range of Asian specialty products. We started with a strong lineup of European specialty food products—think Italian extra virgin olive oil, French escargots and Spanish chorizo. This move isn’t just about adding new products—it’s about strengthening your—and our—ability to differentiate, improving access to sought-after items, and ensuring we have the right tools to succeed in a changing market.

Here are some of our thoughts behind our recent Asian product launch.

Differentiation Enhances Competitiveness

In a saturated market, differentiation is key to standing out. By incorporating Asian products into our offerings, we aim to give our customers a risk-free, no-minimum option to test and tap into some of the most popular specialty food products from Asia.

Value, Margin, Value, and Margin

Our commitment is to offer an extensive selection of high-quality products that provide great value, ensuring stores maintain proper and predictable margins to operate effectively. Our team reviews and researches each SKU’s suggested retail price—both online and in brick-and-mortar settings—and ensures there’s room for a healthy margin. This approach allows our customers to focus on curating their selections and enhancing customer service while we handle the complexities of sourcing and pricing.

Catering to Evolving and Curious Customer Tastes

Today’s consumers are more adventurous and informed, seeking novel culinary experiences. The rise in popularity of Asian cuisines, such as Japanese, Taiwanese and Korean, reflects this trend. By offering a curated selection of Asian products, our customers can cater to this growing curiosity and position themselves as destinations for culinary exploration.

Tapping into Growing Demographic Demand

Demographic shifts, including the increasing Asian diaspora and a younger generation eager to experiment with global cuisines, have amplified demand for authentic Asian food products. The proliferation of Asian food in grocery stores has been notable, with sales in the “Asian/ethnic” aisle growing nearly four times faster than overall sales from April 2023 to April 2024, according to The Food Institute. By aligning our product offerings with these demographic trends, we aim to help our customers meet the needs of a diverse customer base and capture emerging market opportunities.

Filling Gaps in Local Supply Chains

The inclusion of Asian products addresses existing gaps in local supply chains, ensuring our customers have access to a comprehensive range of gourmet items. This strategy not only enhances customer satisfaction to GFM but also provides an option for our customers to try new products risk-free and without minimums.

Looking Ahead Together

We’re a young company that wants to do business the old-fashioned way: treating our customers how we’d like to be treated and staying ahead in the market. Adding Asian products to our catalog is about giving our customers options and tools to keep your own customers coming back—whether your customers are after something familiar or something they’ve never tried before. We’re committed to staying ahead of the curve with products that spark interest and keep your shelves fresh.

Take a look at the new section of our wholesale specialty Asian products when you get a chance. See what catches your eye. And if you’ve got thoughts—whether it’s feedback on the products or ideas for what else you’d like to see—just let us know. We’re here to support you, one unique find at a time.

Happy curating!