How to Check a Wholesale Food Supplier Before You Pay
Buying food and commodities from overseas can be very profitable, but it also carries risk. Unfortunately, the wholesale food trade – cooking oil, sugar, grains, energy drinks and baby milk in particular – attracts fake sellers who take deposits and never ship. The good news is that a few simple checks will protect you from most problems. This guide explains how to check a supplier before you send money, and the warning signs to look out for.
1. Check the company is registered
Ask for the supplier’s full legal company name, registration number, tax number and registered address. Then check them yourself rather than relying on documents the seller sends you. In Turkey, companies are registered with the trade registry, and registration notices are published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette (Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi). Many Turkish companies also have a MERSİS number from the central registry system. If the company name on the registry does not match the name on the invoice and bank account, stop and ask why.
2. Make sure the bank account belongs to the company
This is the single most important check. Payment should go to a business bank account in the exact name of the company you are buying from, in the country where it is registered. Be very careful if you are asked to pay:
- into a personal account,
- to a company with a different name (“our partner” or “our agent”),
- by money transfer services, gift cards or cryptocurrency,
- to new bank details sent by email just before payment – a common sign of email fraud. Always confirm changed bank details by phone using a number you already know.
3. Talk to real people
Speak to the supplier by phone or video call, not only by email or chat. Ask detailed questions about the product, packaging, specification, loading port and lead time. Genuine traders answer confidently and in detail. If you can, visit the office or warehouse, or ask a trusted contact or agent in the country to visit for you.
4. Ask for product proof
- Recent photos or a video of the actual product and packaging – not pictures copied from the internet.
- A specification sheet and a sample certificate of analysis.
- Samples, if the product allows it.
Our guides to importing sunflower oil and Turkish lentils show the quality points you should expect a real supplier to discuss.
5. Use safe payment terms
For a first order, choose payment terms that protect you:
- Letter of credit (L/C): the bank only pays when the agreed shipping documents are presented.
- Deposit and balance against documents: a partial deposit, with the balance paid when you receive a copy of the bill of lading and other documents.
- Trial order: start with a smaller quantity before committing to a large contract.
Learn which documents to expect in our guide to export documents when importing from Turkey.
6. Use independent inspection
For larger orders, appoint an independent inspection company such as SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek to check quality, quantity and loading at the port. The cost is small compared with the value of a container, and it protects both you and an honest supplier.
7. Check the shipment is real
Once goods are loaded, ask for the bill of lading and container number, and track the container on the shipping line’s own website. A real booking can be tracked; a fake one cannot.
Warning signs of a fake supplier
- Prices far below everyone else in the market.
- Pressure to pay quickly, “special offers ending today” or refusal to accept a letter of credit.
- Requests to pay a personal account or a different company.
- Famous-brand products offered in unlimited quantities at very low prices.
- No clear company name, registration details or physical address.
- Vague answers to technical questions about the product.
- Extra fees that appear after payment – “insurance”, “customs” or “release” charges.
Checklist before you pay
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| Company registration verified independently | ☐ |
| Bank account name matches the company | ☐ |
| Spoken to the supplier by phone or video | ☐ |
| Product photos, specification and COA received | ☐ |
| Contract with Incoterms, specification and documents agreed | ☐ |
| Safe payment terms agreed | ☐ |
| Inspection arranged for large orders | ☐ |
Our approach at BS Sariyavuz Export
We believe careful buyers make the best long-term customers. If you are thinking of ordering from us, ask us any of the questions in this guide, and agree the product specification, shipping terms and documents in writing before you pay. Browse our products in the shop, and contact us on WhatsApp or by phone at +1 727 201 2398, or through our contact page. We are available 08:00–17:00 every day, including weekends.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to pay a 100% deposit?
Paying everything in advance to a new supplier carries the most risk. For a first order, a letter of credit or a partial deposit with the balance against documents is safer.
How can I check a Turkish company?
Ask for the full company name and registration details, then check them independently, for example through the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette, and make sure the name matches the invoice and bank account.
What should I do if I think a seller is fake?
Do not send any more money, keep all messages and payment records, contact your bank immediately, and report the case to the police or fraud authority in your country.
