Micro food wholesaler

You must have a license to sell your specialty foods to other retailers.

About

A micro food wholesaler sells food items to other licensed food businesses in Minneapolis.

In this section

food on shelves in a store

What to know

Availability

This license is available to:

  • Caterers
  • Food manufacturers
  • On sale liquor, wine, or beer
  • Restaurants
  • Businesses with seasonal food permits

For example, a restaurant may lease shelf space at a grocery store to sell their brand of salsa.

Tier one and tier two

  • A tier one license allows sales at up to five Minneapolis licensed retail food businesses
  • A tier two license allows sales at up to ten Minneapolis licensed retail food businesses

Application and fee

Application

Micro food wholesalers in Minneapolis must be licensed.

Apply for a micro food wholesaler license

Submit your application

Submit your application to Business Licenses 

If you have questions, contact Business Licenses

Requirements

Before you begin

Food plan review

You must submit plans to: 

  • Open a new food or alcohol business, including:
    • Food carts
    • Food kiosks
    • Food trucks 
  • Remodel or expand an existing food or alcohol business 
  • Replace food equipment that needs any of these permits for installation:
    • Gas
    • Mechanical
    • Plumbing  
  • Add ventless cooking equipment or ventless hoods  

The City must approve your plans before you start any work.

See food plan review

Food safety

You are responsible for food safety. This includes control of food from preparation to serving customers.

See City and State food safety resources:

Record some employee illnesses:

Follow City and State regulations:

 

More information

Inspection

Your food handling methods determine how often the City will inspect your business.

Disclaimer 

The information on this page should serve as a guideline only.

Request accessible format

If you need help with this information, please email 3 1 1, or call 311 or 612-673-3000.

Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Contact us

Environmental Health

Minneapolis Health Department

Phone

612-673-2301

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Business Licenses & Consumer Services

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 220
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday – Thursday

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday

Food Plan Review Team

Mohamed Yusuf

Jim Donovan

Janna Beard

Phone

Mohamed Yusuf
612-673-2612

Jim Donovan
612-673-2795

Janna Beard
612-673-3529

 

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S. 
Minneapolis, MN 55415