Your Sources For Inexpensive Bulk Food Staples?

[amicamom]

I live in the upstate of South Carolina and I'm trying to find the lowest prices for bulk food items.  I've started a price book and I can't beat Aldi & Sam's for their prices on the basics.  It seems to me that I should be able to buy 50# bags of rice and beans for less if I buy in bulk.  I'm having a hard time finding anything online.  The co-ops that are around specialize in health foods so their prices are higher than what I can find at Sam's & Aldi

For those of you frugal mamas out there, where do you buy your staples?

Here are the main staples I'm looking for including the cheapest price I've found:

Whole Grain Rice ($0.35/lb @ Sam's)
Whole Oatmeal ($0.80/lb @ Aldi)
Pinto Beans ($0.46/lb @ Sam's)
Powdered Milk (Still looking)
Flour ($0.28/lb @ Aldi)
Coffee Beans (Still looking)


It doesn't have to be organic or health food, but we do want to pass on the animal feed.  

[amicamom]

Has anyone ever ordered staples from a restaurant supply distributor through a restaurant?

[Chicky2]

I haven't but I'm subbing to see what others say...

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by amicamom 

Whole Grain Rice ($0.35/lb @ Sam's)
Whole Oatmeal ($0.80/lb @ Aldi)

Aw, man! Our Sam's doesn't carry whole grain rice. Just white/jasmine/etc. And when you say whole oatmeal, do you mean just "not rolled", or steel cut, etc? I think the best I've found for oatmeal there is maple flavored instant packages.   But our Sam's does do great for Sugar, vinegar and baking soda (for cleaning). I know I shouldn't buy sugar 25 lbs at a time, but at that price (I don't have my price book, but I think it's .52/lb) I must.

[jimblejamble]

"My" prices aren't that good but I go to Costco for bulk things like rice, beans, oats, and rice milk.

[onetrumpeter]

those bulk prices look really good to me, OP!

[elbow]

Honeyville Grain store.  I think its cheaper if you buy in person, not online.

I bought steel cut oatmeal there, 50# for about 50cents a lb.

[EmsMom]

I don't order alot of bulk staples, but when I do I do so through the health food store in the next town over.  They charge a very small mark-up on the bulk price, maybe 10%?  I order 50 lb bags of organic oatmeal and 25 lb bags of organic sugar.  I know many of you don't do organic.  I think they also sometimes have non-organic, particularly with grains.  I don't make my own breads anymore, but I used to get flours this way as well.  It is much easier than the food co-op I used to be a part of and the prices are nearly as good.  Plus they get delivery in a couple of days and will hold it for me for a day or so until I can get it.  Not all of them do this (my town's doesn't) so you might want to call around and see what you can come up with.  I don't pay anything at all for shipping because it comes with their regular order. 

[Chicky2]

That is a fabulous idea.  I must call my HFS and see if they offer this!
 

Originally Posted by EmsMom 

I don't order alot of bulk staples, but when I do I do so through the health food store in the next town over.  They charge a very small mark-up on the bulk price, maybe 10%?  I order 50 lb bags of organic oatmeal and 25 lb bags of organic sugar.  I know many of you don't do organic.  I think they also sometimes have non-organic, particularly with grains.  I don't make my own breads anymore, but I used to get flours this way as well.  It is much easier than the food co-op I used to be a part of and the prices are nearly as good.  Plus they get delivery in a couple of days and will hold it for me for a day or so until I can get it.  Not all of them do this (my town's doesn't) so you might want to call around and see what you can come up with.  I don't pay anything at all for shipping because it comes with their regular order.