Food and supply costs keep climbing. And with party season, picnics and vacations upon us, prices matter more than ever.
Even if you’re not hosting gatherings, it’s a smart moment to hunt for bargains.
We ran the numbers comparing grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurant supply outlets to determine if you can cut costs (and by how much) for that celebration or big meal you want to prepare — or simply to trim your grocery bill.
Ultimately, shoppers can often save money by buying at restaurant supply stores.
What Are Restaurant Supply Stores?
As the name implies, these stores exist to supply restaurants. Beyond food sold in larger quantities at lower prices, they offer affordable yet rugged kitchen gear. Typical items include mixing bowls, baking sheets and utensils, plus food-service items such as napkins, plates and cups.
But they’re not only for professional chefs. Practical shoppers have long used physical restaurant supply stores to equip home kitchens.
The pandemic hit restaurants hard, with more than 110,000 restaurants initially closing in 2020. Restaurant supply retailers adapted to survive, and many started welcoming the general public.
Below is a list of both storefront and online restaurant supply retailers (that also carry grocery items) across the country:
Gordon’s Food Service online store and Gordon’s Food Service brick-and-mortar stores
What’s Different at Restaurant Supply Stores?
Here’s a look at what distinguishes them beyond price.
Package Sizing
Package size matters if you’re considering these stores for regular shopping. They commonly sell in bulk. Do you have adequate storage? Will you tire of eating five pounds of chopped lettuce? If the food goes bad, you haven’t actually saved money.
Portion Sizes
Another consideration when comparing costs is each item’s portion size. For instance, we checked prices for salmon burgers. At the grocery store, each patty weighs 3 ounces, whereas restaurant supply and warehouse outlets often sell 4-ounce patties.
Selection
Finally, think about variety. A grocery store might offer multiple versions of the same product (hello, frozen pizza aisle). Other outlets may carry a narrower assortment of choices.
Online vs. Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant Supply Stores
Shopping in person means no shipping charge, but online suppliers may offer free delivery over a threshold (often between $150 and $750), or as a first-order perk.
Delivery costs don’t always erase savings. For example, a case (144 count) of spinach-flavored, gluten-free wraps sells for $34 at Webstaurant, and ships for $18.49. That’s about $0.36 per wrap — far less than the $1.10 per wrap price at many grocery stores.
However, online restaurant supply retailers don’t always stock every item you might want, or they may not offer them in the formats you expect. We didn’t find fresh greens online, nor were cans of soda available.
Is a Paid Membership Worth It?
Some online restaurant suppliers require a membership fee. For example, Webstaurant offers a Plus membership for $99 per month that includes free shipping and order prioritization — clearly aimed at businesses. Most other online outlets ask you to set up accounts but don’t charge membership fees.
Warehouse clubs, by contrast, do have membership costs. Costco starts at $60, Sam’s Club at $50 and BJ’s at $55. Depending on how often you shop and how much you buy, a membership may pay for itself.
You may also want to explore restaurant subscriptions as another way to lower recurring costs on food and supplies.
Let’s Compare Prices
Imagine you’re hosting a summer get-together with beef burgers and buns, potato chips and disposable plates.
Here’s how grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurant supply stores compare on price.
Grocery Store vs. Warehouse Store vs. Restaurant Supply Store
Comparison Shopping
| Type of store | Beef burgers | Buns | Potato chips | Plates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery store | $9.96 for 32 ounces | $2.94 for 15 ounces | $1.98 for 8 ounces | $5.18 for 100 |
| Price per ounce or unit | $.31 per ounce | $.20 per ounce | $.25 per ounce | $.05 each |
| Restaurant supply store | $24.99 for 80 ounces | $3.79 for 22 ounces | $4.99 for 20 ounces | $5.49 for 100 |
| Price per ounce or unit | $0.31 per ounce | $0.17 per ounce | $0.25 per ounce | $.05 each |
| Warehouse store | $18.98 for 48 ounces | $3.78 for 30 ounces | $2.98 for 16 ounces | $23.98 for 600 |
| Price per ounce or unit | $0.40 per ounce | $0.13 an ounce | $0.19 per ounce | $.04 each |
Our Conclusion
For our hypothetical party items, warehouse clubs offered the best deals — though that doesn’t factor in membership fees. Grocery stores surprised us with competitive plate prices.
Overall, if you have space to store bulk purchases, shopping at a nearby restaurant supply store is often the most budget-friendly option for stocking up.
Happy bargain hunting!
Savinly contributor Morgan Reed covers lifestyle and culture. Morgan previously ran a small café in St. Petersburg, Florida, and hosted a community arts program on WMNF radio for many years.
