Calling all AUSSIE Sauce makers:

[bentalphanerd]

As many of you know the cost of sending our fine products to the other ends of the Earth is prohibitive. Add that to the fact that our parcels are used as footballs through the standard postal service, and you're never sure if they're actually going to arrive to your customer or not. I've been thinking that there must be a better way.

The answer is the Aussie sauce makers co-op (o.k so it really needs a better name than that :P)

Basically we band together - get bulk discount on air freight through a professional perishable goods freight company who delivers to a distributor in the U.S. As orders come in the distributor delivers to your customer for a few $ per unit.

I've been talking with the air freight council of Australia who have put me in touch with a very helpful company who amongst other things deliver fresh Seafood, Produce, Flowers, Dairy etc. They have offices throughout Australia & the U.S and a few other places around the globe.

I'm still nutting out a distribution company....in my spare time.

Great where do I sign? I hear you say. Whoa, slow down...theres a lot to do yet. What I really need is for all you Aussies who are or who know a sauce maker that may be interested in getting their product to U.S & England cheaper & safer to get in touch with me so we can form a co-op and get the ball rolling ...oh and think of a cool name too!

Who's in?

~bent

[fisting_mayfield]

how about HABS?

Hot
Aussie
Bottled
Sauces

[bentalphanerd]

how about HABS?

Hot
Aussie
Bottled
Sauces

Very good :clap: Thanks

[dreamtheatervt]

how about HABS?

Hot
Aussie
Bottled
Sauces

Not bad, but you could end up pissing off a bunch of French Canadians.

[bentalphanerd]

Not bad, but you could end up pissing off a bunch of French Canadians.

And that would be a bad thing?? lol.

Is HABS being used already?

[fisting_mayfield]

umm....

there is some crappy canandian hockey team called the "habs" but who cares :P

finding an original name that hasnt been used before will be near on impossible

[fisting_mayfield]

Oh, Oh,

what about the "trans pacific hotsauce express"

[bentalphanerd]

canadian hockey team pppfft - who cares :lol:

[Canuk Pepperhead]

lol The Montreal canadians...lol

[bentalphanerd]

lol The Montreal canadians...lol

wearing all that stuff....they'll never catch me;)

[bentalphanerd]

Negotiations are on hold while the shipping people go through their busiest week of the year.
On another note, I did find a source of new boxes, perfect size for 1 or 2 bottles with plenty of bubblewrap...could fit 3 bottles if you're confident about your postal service. They are 230 x 150 x 80 for 60 cents each. Nice thick board too.

It sounded like a good deal to me - what's everyone else using?

[stillmanz]

That sounds like a pretty good price. Have you checked OS Thailand, indo?

[bentalphanerd]

That sounds like a pretty good price. Have you checked OS Thailand, indo?

I haven't - these are available locally & can get them in as little as 100 at a time.

[bentalphanerd]

Latest from the freight ppl is that surface freight is going to save us a bundle (kinda knew that) They have containers going every 2 weeks that take 30 days to get to LAX & 35 days and dearer to NYC.
I'm thinking we try to find a distributor in LA.
Does someone know how much a bottle of sauce would cost to post from LA to NYC?
Just trying to nail down some numbers & see if it's all going to work out much cheaper.

[Sauceman51]

hey man, I met some people last summer that seemed like they would like to distribute more sauces. problem is they are in Florida. but what the heck, costs you nothing to check it out. the web site is: yourhotsaucecompany.com
also if you are paying the freight, u might want to look into plastic bottles, instead of glass. plastic probably costs more, but in the long haul,
might be cheaper.

[bentalphanerd]

Thanks sauceman51 but that would mean trucking it from LA or NYC to Florida only to post it back out again. I'm sure there must be a distributer in LA ....so you can all get to try a little aussie sauce & have it burn a hole in your tongue & not your wallet!

[Pam]

Does someone know how much a bottle of sauce would cost to post from LA to NYC?
Just trying to nail down some numbers & see if it's all going to work out much cheaper.


Bent, you might try this

http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatepostage/welcome.htm

and see if that helps with your numbers. There might be other options that might be cheaper, like freight or UPS, but this should give you some ball park figures.

[Omri]

I'm not sure about other postal services, but here in Israel the 'Israel Post' had me paying $1 for a 300 gram package to Europe, and $2 for the same package to America.
I can't see myself paying more than $5 for a none-express/overnight delivery. I just don't send packages that heavy.

[bentalphanerd]

How much does an average sauce bottle weigh? so, i don't have scales...
It costs me between 12 & 15 $au to send 1 bottle to the states, $20 to send two. Thats airmail but still will take from 8 to 14 days. Stillmanz can probably fill me in on the cost to Europe or UK. I've heard it's even more. Honestly who's going to buy a $8 bottle of sauce & pay $15 postage?
We reduce the postage, we can enjoy more sauces.

Thanks Pam I'm having trouble with the zip codes, addresses & can't get a quote from that link. Dial-up is a carbuncle in the backside of the pursual of knowledge!

Thinking about it, this could help us all out if we find the right carrier & a few well placed distribution points :think:

[stillmanz]

a 150 ml bottle weighs about 400gm, cost $16.5 to UK
I got a sister in Miami but thats still a long way from New york lol

[bentalphanerd]

a 150 ml bottle weighs about 400gm, cost $16.5 to UK
I got a sister in Miami but thats still a long way from New york lol

Thanks Mick. I've got someone to chat to in Cal. when I get back from hols.
Someone right in LA may be better. PM me please if anyone knows someone with a little garage space to spare.

[Sauceman51]

stillmanz, there are ports in Miami, probably more there than in New York.
and Bent, if you go into LA, that's good I guess, but you said to move the freight farther it would have to go by truck. wrong, then it would move by rail, almost as cheap as ocean freight. something else to consider there are several options for you to bring ur product to the USA, try calling one of the freight experts in ur country. i would be willing to bet there are the same type of freight companies there as here. i think what you need to find is someone that is willing to rent you a partial ocean container. if you cant find someone, i'll try calling some of the people i use to work with. i was in the air/ocean freight business(import/export)in Chicago. but i think ur main issue is going to be the actual weight of ur product, plus is ur product going to sail through a winter climate? plastic bottles is the answer for u guys. it's light n more durable. wont break when the product is frozen or dropped, or kicked around a little. lol.

[Sauceman51]

Pam, what these guys need is the slowest freight out there. they need slower than snail freight, which comes out to cheapest.

[bentalphanerd]

Sauceman51 - we are dealing with a freight company here that specialise in food products. I'm looking at all the ways of getting our stuff there and to everyones door in an economical/secure way and weighing that against excessive handling & time.
So far sending by surface to LA is by far the best option. I have found condiments distributors in other cities but still looking in LA. They basically just store the sauce until someone puts in an order & then send it out.
Given that we wont be sending much over to start with I thought a THP member may know someone in LA who had some space & was willing to help out.
The freight company we're dealing with guarantee their cargo will remain at 3 degrees C for the whole time they have it until it's picked up from their warehouse in LA....so far so good.
Thanks for the input

[stillmanz]

My sister it seems is based in Big Sur which I'm pretty sure is in California, (at present) but won't answer my emails I'll keep trying.

[staffing]

How about the Aussie Sauce Society, or A.S.S.? :lol:

But seriously, folks....I need some more sauces in my collection (and gullet) from your neck of the woods.