Buying wholesale
Can you request products that aren't in the catalogue?
Yes. If something you need isn't shown in the catalogue, say so in your inquiry — our eight supplier houses across Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Türkiye and Egypt often carry sister products, sizes and variations beyond what's published on the public site. Asking costs nothing, and we'll tell you plainly whether it's realistic to source.
The published catalogue is a working selection, not the full range each supplier house can produce or pack. A supplier that appears with a wide published range on its own — El Captain's natural oils line is a good example — is usually capable of more than what's listed, because the catalogue reflects what's been added so far rather than the ceiling of what exists.
What 'sourced on request' actually means
It means a product isn't confirmed and ready to quote the way a catalogue line is — it means we check with the relevant supplier house on your behalf once you ask. Some requests are simple substitutions, such as a different pack size of something we already carry; others involve a product a supplier makes but hasn't been listed on the site yet. Either way, the honest answer comes back with your quotation, not before, once we've actually confirmed it rather than guessed.
This is a normal part of how import-based wholesale works, not a workaround. A catalogue of any size is a snapshot of what's currently listed for sale, while a supplier house's real production range is broader and can shift with the season, the harvest, or simply what's been prioritized for the website so far. Treating the catalogue as a starting point rather than a hard boundary is standard practice across the trade, and it's exactly why the inquiry process exists in the first place — to let a specific, unlisted need reach the people who can actually answer it.
How to ask for something that isn't listed
Add it as a line in your inquiry the same way you'd add a catalogue product — name it as specifically as you can, and note that you're not sure it's carried. There's no separate process for this; it travels through the same inquiry basket as everything else, alongside anything already in your list.
- Be specific about format — glass vs tin, bulk vs individually wrapped, a particular size
- Mention if a close substitute from the catalogue would also work, in case the exact item isn't available
- Say whether it's a one-off curiosity or something you'd order regularly — that context helps us gauge whether it's worth pursuing with the supplier
What affects whether a request can be filled
Not every request can be sourced, and lead time on anything outside the published catalogue generally runs longer than an in-stock line, since it depends on a supplier house's own production and export schedule rather than stock already moving toward Canada. We'll tell you plainly if something isn't realistic rather than leave it open-ended, and we won't promise a product exists in our range until it's actually been confirmed with the supplier.
Why this is worth asking rather than assuming
Eight family-run supplier houses across five countries cover a lot of ground beyond a single published page, and buyers are often surprised by what turns out to be available once they ask directly. It costs you nothing to add an unlisted item to an inquiry alongside the products already in the catalogue — the worst outcome is a plain no, and the best is a new line for your business.
This matters most for buyers whose menu or shelf depends on something specific — a particular pack size for a bakery's exact recipe, a brand a customer base already recognizes, or a format that suits your storage rather than a supplier's default. Rather than settling for the closest catalogue match, it's worth naming the exact thing you actually want and letting us check. Even a partial match — a similar product from a different one of our supplier houses — sometimes turns out to be a better fit once it's on the table.
How this fits with the rest of the inquiry process
An unlisted request doesn't need its own conversation — it rides along with everything else. If you're already building a list of catalogue items with quantities, simply add the requested product as an extra line and flag that it isn't published, and it moves through inquiry-based ordering exactly like the rest of your order. You'll see the outcome — sourced and quoted, or not available this time — in the same written reply as everything else on your list.
Related questions
Does asking about an unlisted product cost anything?
No. Naming it in your inquiry costs you nothing — we check with the relevant supplier and come back with an honest answer alongside your quotation.
How do I know if something can realistically be sourced?
You often won't know until you ask — that's the point of raising it in your inquiry rather than assuming either way. We'll tell you plainly if a request isn't practical.
Does sourcing an unlisted product typically take longer than an in-stock order?
Generally, yes, since it depends on a supplier's own production and export timing rather than stock already in the pipeline. Exact timing is stated on your quotation.