Hey kid, wanna buy some eggs?
May 31, 2018 8:42 AM Subscribe
My company has approximately 80,000 eggs that we need to get rid of as quickly as possible. The eggs are in the Seattle area. I am in Sacramento, and I have been tasked with finding a buyer. This is outside of my area of expertise, and I'm not trying to cold call every super market in the area. How do I go about finding a buyer (or buyers)? Is there a Seattle-area eggBay that I'm not aware of?
If they aren't sold, they will be donated to a food bank. We would like to sell as many as possible first.
If they aren't sold, they will be donated to a food bank. We would like to sell as many as possible first.
The local USDA office might be able to give some advice or at least point you in the right direction.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:01 AM on May 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:01 AM on May 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
That's about 6000 dozen, which doesn't seem like that many. Whatever the local grocery store chain is, if they have 100 locations, that's only 60 dozen per location. I know you say you don't want to call every supermarket, but how many big chains are there in your area? 2?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2018
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2018
You might also call local bakeries or food producers and see if they want to buy them in bulk for their production.
posted by nickggully at 9:08 AM on May 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by nickggully at 9:08 AM on May 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I am not sure a conpany would buy that many eggs without some knowledge of the production and quality control history. I can’t see your company having that many eggs without having anyone familiar with the egg business that would know a buyer or a seller that could act as a broker for you. I assume these came from a lien situation or could not be used for their intended purpose. I would probably start with tracking down where these were purchased from and seeing if they could try to resell them for you in commission.
I also assume a grocery chain would probably not want to buy these as they likely. It from a trusted source and do not do their own quality control. A factory is probably your best bet as they may have internal procedures to sample test eggs from different sources for contaminants. There is a conpany called S K Food Group there that makes a lot of products that use eggs, although they have several factories in different locations. That might be a good place to start.
It also appears like you may need a license to sell large quantities of eggs in Washington State.
posted by Yorrick at 9:38 AM on May 31, 2018 [29 favorites]
I also assume a grocery chain would probably not want to buy these as they likely. It from a trusted source and do not do their own quality control. A factory is probably your best bet as they may have internal procedures to sample test eggs from different sources for contaminants. There is a conpany called S K Food Group there that makes a lot of products that use eggs, although they have several factories in different locations. That might be a good place to start.
It also appears like you may need a license to sell large quantities of eggs in Washington State.
posted by Yorrick at 9:38 AM on May 31, 2018 [29 favorites]
I presume the eggs did not spontaneously appear in your warehouse. Who were the previous owners, and who would they have sold them to?
posted by ubiquity at 9:56 AM on May 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by ubiquity at 9:56 AM on May 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Best answer: There are chains like Grocery Outlet that deal with this kind of overstock.
posted by fake at 10:06 AM on May 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fake at 10:06 AM on May 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm dying to know how a company came into that many eggs unexpectedly.
Maybe call some of your local popular breakfast restaurant places? Although I think the challenge would be that they've suppliers and have already booked their deliveries in advance.
posted by Ftsqg at 10:13 AM on May 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Maybe call some of your local popular breakfast restaurant places? Although I think the challenge would be that they've suppliers and have already booked their deliveries in advance.
posted by Ftsqg at 10:13 AM on May 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
The Navy? They may not have to abide by state red tape. Emphasis on may. On the other hand, they may not be able to buy off the cuff.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2018
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2018
Also, how are the eggs packaged? Eggs for different industries are packaged/labeled differently, and unless you can re-package them, you're likely going to be limited to the original intended market segment. McDonald's isn't going to take a bunch of individual cardboard cartons, and the grocery store isn't going to be able to repackage them down from a commercial container to the carton they can sell on the shelf, with nutrition info and other required labeling.
posted by yuwtze at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by yuwtze at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
I agree with ubiquity that it would be helpful to know who the previous owners were and if they have any suggestions as to who might want to purchase them.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 10:21 AM on May 31, 2018
posted by Winnie the Proust at 10:21 AM on May 31, 2018
Best answer: This is a shady thing to ask you to do. If I were tasked with this I would not bend over backwards to do anything but donate...generally any entity in need of that many eggs has contracts in place. And the supply chain is pretty regulated, so you're exposing your company to a lot of risk if you're not qualified to make these sorts of deals.
posted by kapers at 11:04 AM on May 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by kapers at 11:04 AM on May 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
Pet food manufacturers may have different standards for this than human food businesses.
posted by twoplussix at 11:49 AM on May 31, 2018
posted by twoplussix at 11:49 AM on May 31, 2018
2nding this as pretty shady. Businesses who are in the business of buying lots of eggs typically buy them from business who are in the business of selling lots of eggs. These eggs sound like none of your business.
posted by STFUDonnie at 11:58 AM on May 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by STFUDonnie at 11:58 AM on May 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
How much of a loss is your company prepared to take on these eggs? I feel like there are definitely buyers for this, but it will depend on what price you need to get. Also, how are they currently packaged and what kind of eggs?
posted by corb at 12:26 PM on May 31, 2018
posted by corb at 12:26 PM on May 31, 2018
I would track down the local wholesaler who handles eggs from local farms and ask them if they were interested in finding a buyer for a commission.
posted by zippy at 12:54 PM on May 31, 2018
posted by zippy at 12:54 PM on May 31, 2018
Best answer: According to Manta, this is a wholesale egg broker in Oregon. Looks like they gross $130,000 annually, so may be too small to take your eggs
Alabaster Egg LLC
219 Oak Grove Road
Medford, OR 97501
Alabaster Egg LLC is a privately held company in Medford, OR and is a Single Location business.
Categorized under Wholesale Eggs. Our records show it was established in 2008 and incorporated in Oregon. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of 130000 and employs a staff of approximately 2.
posted by layceepee at 1:05 PM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Alabaster Egg LLC
219 Oak Grove Road
Medford, OR 97501
Alabaster Egg LLC is a privately held company in Medford, OR and is a Single Location business.
Categorized under Wholesale Eggs. Our records show it was established in 2008 and incorporated in Oregon. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of 130000 and employs a staff of approximately 2.
posted by layceepee at 1:05 PM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can you get the company that sold you the eggs to buy them back, even if it's at a loss for you?
posted by quince at 2:14 PM on May 31, 2018
posted by quince at 2:14 PM on May 31, 2018
Search Food Broker, Oregon.
Call a grocery store, explain the scenario, ask for name of food broker, and/or buyer for the store. In my area, there's a chain of stores that buys and sells damaged, mis-shipped, etc., goods, including food that is close to out of date, or a wrong order (salvage). Most places have a similar type of store.
World's Largest Omelet.
posted by theora55 at 2:54 PM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Call a grocery store, explain the scenario, ask for name of food broker, and/or buyer for the store. In my area, there's a chain of stores that buys and sells damaged, mis-shipped, etc., goods, including food that is close to out of date, or a wrong order (salvage). Most places have a similar type of store.
World's Largest Omelet.
posted by theora55 at 2:54 PM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
A hog raising outfit may be able to take those eggs off your hands and turn them into feed. The would not pay much, though.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 3:15 PM on May 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Midnight Skulker at 3:15 PM on May 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Washington state has lots of prisons. The email for HQ is DOCCorrespondenceUnitATdoc.wa.gov.
posted by *s at 3:21 PM on May 31, 2018
posted by *s at 3:21 PM on May 31, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions! I have contacted a few companies and not had any luck, mainly because of the whole "trusted source" issue that Yorrick mentioned.
I agree that the whole situation is a little shady, but it is what it is. This came about because our customer requested a large number of egg-requiring widgets and then downgraded to about 10% of the original order after we had purchased all of the ingredients.
It's looking like they are probably going to be donated, which - as far as I am concerned - is the best outcome.
posted by sacrifix at 4:54 PM on May 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
I agree that the whole situation is a little shady, but it is what it is. This came about because our customer requested a large number of egg-requiring widgets and then downgraded to about 10% of the original order after we had purchased all of the ingredients.
It's looking like they are probably going to be donated, which - as far as I am concerned - is the best outcome.
posted by sacrifix at 4:54 PM on May 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
> egg-requiring widgets
I know this is AskMe and there are rules about chatter, but you can't just say that and walk away.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:29 PM on June 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
I know this is AskMe and there are rules about chatter, but you can't just say that and walk away.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:29 PM on June 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Response by poster: Sadly, it's not nearly as interesting as one would hope. My company makes meal kits. Like Blue Apron, but that's not who I work for.
Or maybe we make ovorobotics?? Wakey wakey, eggs and EXTERMINATION
posted by sacrifix at 3:54 PM on June 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
Or maybe we make ovorobotics?? Wakey wakey, eggs and EXTERMINATION
posted by sacrifix at 3:54 PM on June 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
eggstermination, you mean?
posted by batter_my_heart at 9:04 PM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by batter_my_heart at 9:04 PM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Rob Rockets at 8:48 AM on May 31, 2018