Before placing a first order with a wholesaler, three questions always come up: from what amount is delivery free, do you have to order by the pallet, and how fast does it arrive. Here are the answers, with figures, and no « contact us for details ».
Free delivery threshold, costs and lead times
A serious supplier publishes its terms. These are ours, as they apply at the moment you order.
| Destination | Delivery cost | Free delivery | Indicative lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | €10 excl. VAT | from €300 excl. VAT | 24-48 h |
| Luxembourg | €10 excl. VAT | from €300 excl. VAT | carrier dependent |
| France | €15 excl. VAT | from €300 excl. VAT | carrier dependent |
| Netherlands, Germany | €15 excl. VAT | from €300 excl. VAT | carrier dependent |
The threshold is calculated on the order value excluding VAT, delivery not counted. This matters for customers outside Belgium holding a valid VAT number: their invoice is issued without VAT, so a threshold based on the VAT-inclusive total would have penalised them — it does not here.
€300 of consumables — what does that look like?
The threshold looks high until you translate it into products. In consumables it matches an ordinary restock for a business, not six months of stock.
Recycled kraft carrier bags F&G 32 × 21 × 30 cm
The carrier bag, the most consumed item in takeaway. Eleven boxes of 250 bags are enough to reach free delivery — that is 2,750 bags, a few weeks for a busy snack bar.
- Pack: 250 units
- €26.98 excl. VAT per box, that is €0.108 per unit
- Own brand F&G, imported directly
Blue disposable nitrile gloves F&G
Powder-free and latex-free, food-contact compliant. Seven cartons of 1,000 gloves reach free delivery. It is typically the reference you order in volume because it does not expire.
- Pack: 10 boxes of 100 units
- €43.90 excl. VAT per carton, that is €0.044 per unit
- Sizes S, M, L and XL
Three ordering principles
📦 By the box, never by the pallet
Every reference is ordered by the box. No minimum order imposed: the threshold is a free-delivery level, not a floor.
🧮 Group rather than split
Two orders of €160 cost €20 in carriage. One order of €320 costs nothing. Over a year the gap far exceeds the price of a box.
📄 A negotiated rate sticks
Agreed terms are recorded on your account: they apply automatically to later orders, with nothing to ask for again.
Reaching free delivery without overstocking
The natural reflex is to pad an order with anything to reach the threshold. That is a false economy: €40 of useless product to save €10 of carriage does not add up. Three better ways.
- Group the families. Packaging, hygiene, gloves and bin bags from the same supplier: the basket reaches the threshold naturally, without buying what you do not need.
- Bring forward what keeps. Gloves, bin bags and paper do not expire. Those are the ones to pull forward an order, never board, which dislikes damp and takes up space.
- Set a rhythm. An order every three or four weeks clears the threshold effortlessly for most businesses. Carriage becomes a non-issue.
On the criteria that genuinely separate two suppliers, see our grid of 7 measurable criteria. On prices by product family, the guide to trade prices in Belgium puts a figure on each item. And if you are based in the Grand Duchy, ordering from Luxembourg covers the VAT treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order?
No. Every reference is ordered by the box, with no minimum value. The €300 excl. VAT threshold concerns free delivery only: below it, the order goes through with €10 excl. VAT carriage in Belgium and Luxembourg, €15 excl. VAT elsewhere.
Is free delivery based on the net or gross amount?
On the amount excluding VAT, delivery not counted. This is a deliberate choice for trade customers outside Belgium: their invoice is issued without VAT, so a gross-based threshold would have penalised them.
How fast will I be delivered?
24 to 48 hours in Belgium for references in stock. To Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands and Germany, the lead time depends on the carrier and is given to you before you confirm the order.
Can I get a negotiated rate?
Yes, on references you order regularly in volume. The agreed terms are recorded on your customer account and then apply automatically, without having to ask again at every order.
Do I need an account to order?
A business account with a VAT number is required: it is what applies your rates, keeps your order history, and allows VAT-free invoicing for customers outside Belgium.
Place your first order
Free delivery from €300 excl. VAT to Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Ordered by the box, with no minimum imposed.
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