Overstocked: 6,700kg diced cranberries and 2,400kg diced blueberries

This parcel was overstocked food ingredients: 6,700kg of diced cranberries and 2,400kg of diced blueberries, with an expiry date of April 2013. We didn't publish the manufacturer or the pricing, to maintain our client's confidentiality, and discussed the details privately with buyers.

Why do food businesses end up overstocked on ingredients?

Ingredients are bought in bulk against a production plan. When a product is discontinued, a recipe changes or a customer cuts an order, the raw material keeps ageing. Dried and diced fruit keeps well, but not forever. Nine tonnes of it is far more than the original business can use before the date, and too much for most single buyers to take at short notice.

What makes overstocked dried fruit sellable?

• Many users. Bakeries, cereal and snack makers, confectioners and food service all use diced fruit.
• Bulk format. Manufacturers prefer large, consistent lots.
• Popular fruits. Cranberries and blueberries are in steady demand.

What makes it harder?

• The date. With food, the expiry date sets the timetable. The closer it gets, the fewer buyers can use it in time.
• Specifications. Manufacturers want specs, storage history and sometimes samples.
• Food rules. Use-by and best-before dates mean different things. Our guide to what date labels really mean explains the difference.

Who buys overstocked food ingredients?

Food manufacturers, bakeries, food service wholesalers, overseas buyers and food charities. We once sold 37 semi-trailers of short-dated orange juice, so we know how to move food against a date. We structure each offer to suit the buyer. See the food and grocery stock we buy.

What should you do with overstocked ingredients?

Act early, and send us:

1. A stock list spreadsheet: product, specification, quantity, best-before or use-by date, and cost if you're happy to share.
2. Photos of the product and packaging.
3. Where the stock is and how it's stored.

John discreetly surveys the market. In most cases he makes an offer for all of it. If not, he gives his best advice on how to sell it.

See how we handle short-dated stock, or sell your excess stock now.