28 verified suppliers — nationwide depots, regional specialists, fresh importers, and online wholesalers. Plus real ingredient price benchmarks so you know if you're overpaying.
Wholesale case prices for the 6 ingredients Thai restaurants buy most. Prices are trade-account estimates (June 2026) — use these to check if your supplier is competitive.
| Ingredient | Typical Pack Size | Wholesale Price | Per Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut Milk (Aroy-D) | 24 × 400ml | £30–£35/case | £1.25–£1.46/tin | Aroy-D is the industry standard. Chaokoh & Mae Ploy alternatives similar pricing. |
| Jasmine Rice (Hom Mali) | 25kg bag | £22–£32/bag | £0.88–£1.28/kg | Price fluctuates seasonally. New crop arrives Dec–Jan, cheapest then. |
| Fish Sauce (Squid Brand) | 12 × 725ml | £18–£25/case | £1.50–£2.08/bottle | Tiparos & Megachef premium brands cost 20–30% more. |
| Red Curry Paste (Mae Ploy) | 12 × 1kg tub | £38–£45/case | £3.17–£3.75/kg | One 1kg tub makes ~25 portions. Mae Ploy is the restaurant workhorse. |
| Thai Sweet Basil (fresh) | Per kg, imported | £8–£15/kg | — | Highly seasonal. Price spikes in UK winter. Order twice weekly. |
| Galangal (fresh) | Per kg, imported | £6–£12/kg | — | Frozen galangal is £3–5/kg — acceptable for soups, not salads. |
Large foodservice distributors with depots across the UK. Best for dry goods, frozen, and non-specialist ingredients. For Thai-specific fresh produce, pair with a specialist importer.
The backbone of Thai restaurant supply. These are the suppliers that carry what the nationals don't — fresh Thai herbs, specific curry paste brands, authentic fish sauce, and imported equipment.
These are the suppliers your chef will care about most. They import fresh Thai produce weekly — the galangal, kaffir lime leaves, Thai sweet basil, and bird's eye chillies that define authentic Thai cooking. If you're serious about quality, you need at least one specialist importer.
E-commerce wholesalers that ship UK-wide. Useful as backup suppliers, for price comparison, or if you're not near a major Oriental supermarket.
If your sole coconut milk supplier has a stock issue during peak season, you're closed. Maintain relationships with at least one national wholesaler and one Thai specialist importer.
Jasmine rice fluctuates £5–10 per 25kg bag seasonally. Coconut milk prices moved 18% in 2025. If you're using last year's price list, you're bleeding margin. Use our Wholesale Benchmarker to track.
Frozen galangal, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves are 40–50% cheaper than fresh and indistinguishable in cooked dishes (curries, soups). Reserve fresh herbs for raw applications (salads, garnishes). This alone saves £50–100/week for a typical 40-cover restaurant.
Most wholesalers hide pricing behind trade accounts. Tradewinds Oriental (Scunthorpe) publishes their prices publicly. Even if you don't buy from them, use their price list as a negotiation tool with your current supplier.