London’s wholesale buyers and market traders know that a reliable supply of quality plantains is key to satisfying customer demand. As a wholesale plantain supplier in the UK, Plantain Coast offers a fresh, consistent supply of premium plantains – delivered ripe, packed for efficiency, and backed by a self-managed cold chain. In this 2025 update, we break down our pallet specifications, volume price breaks, and lead times, and see how Plantain Coast stands against typical UK suppliers.
Streamlined Pallet Specs for Bulk Plantain Orders
Plantains neatly packed in sturdy wholesale cartons, ready for UK bulk delivery.
Our plantains are shipped in 22.5 kg net weight cartons, optimized for wholesale handling. Each heavy-duty box (approx. 50 lbs) contains dozens of fresh plantains (roughly 60+ pieces, depending on fruit size) securely packed to minimize bruising. These cartons meet Class I specs – uniform green (unripe) at harvest but ripened to order – and are made of double-wall corrugated cardboard with vent holes for airflow.
Standard pallets: We palletize cartons on Euro pallets (120×80 cm) in a 5-layer stack (8 boxes per layer). 40 cartons per pallet ensure a stable, cube-optimized load. Each pallet stands about 1.4–1.5 m tall and carries ~900 kg net of plantains. Pallets are wrapped, strapped, and edge-protected for safe transport, whether you’re unloading at a London wholesale market or a warehouse. This pallet configuration fits neatly in standard reefers and trucks, making handling and distribution more efficient for you and your logistics partners.
Competitive Pricing with Bulk Price Breaks
Plantain Coast keeps pricing straightforward and competitive. Our base rate is £30 per 22.5 kg box of ripe plantains – which works out to roughly £1.33 per kilo, offering excellent value for fresh cooking bananas in bulk. We understand wholesale margins are tight, so we’ve structured price breaks for larger orders. For example, ordering a full pallet (40 boxes) or multiple pallets unlocks lower per-box rates. This means your cost per plantain drops when you buy in volume, protecting your profit whether you’re supplying a busy market stall or a chain of grocery shops.
How does this compare? Typical UK wholesale plantain prices can fluctuate widely – often £25–£40 per box at local markets depending on season and supplier. By contrast, Plantain Coast’s pricing is stable and volume-driven. You won’t need to chase auctions or last-minute deals; our goal is to be a reliable wholesale plantain supplier UK buyers can plan around. For custom high-volume quotes (for instance, multi-pallet or container-load orders), get in touch for a tailored deal – we’re happy to accommodate and ensure you get the best value.
Reliable 2‑Week Lead Times & Cold Chain Management
Cluster of ripe yellow plantains – delivered at perfect ripeness via a managed cold chain.
Forget uncertain arrival dates – at Plantain Coast we operate on a predictable lead time of about 2 weeks from order to delivery in London. Our supply chain originates in Côte d’Ivoire, where we source and ship fresh plantains via refrigerated containers on a weekly schedule. Transit from West Africa to the UK is ~12–15 days, so we average a 14-day lead time for most orders. This regular rhythm helps you schedule stock with confidence (many London market traders plan on bi-weekly plantain restocks, which we can fulfill consistently).
Crucially, we manage the cold chain end-to-end. From farm pre-cooling to the moment you receive your pallets, the plantains are kept in climate-controlled conditions. Containers are set to ~13 °C with proper humidity and airflow – ideal “tropical cold” to halt unwanted ripening during transit. Data loggers in each container continuously monitor temperature, and our logistics team is alerted to any deviation to protect fruit quality. Upon UK arrival, we transfer pallets directly to our ripening facility or to your specified location using refrigerated trucks, so there’s no break in the cold chain. The result? Fresh, firm plantains that arrive in peak condition, ready to ripen (or already ripened to your specs) without chilling damage or premature yellowing.
Comparing Plantain Coast to Other UK Suppliers
How does Plantain Coast stack up against the usual ways of sourcing plantains in the UK? Let’s consider a few points of comparison:
- Consistency vs. spot-buying: Many London traders wake up early for the wholesale markets (New Spitalfields, Western International, etc.) to grab plantains from importers or secondary wholesalers. Availability and price there can swing week to week. By contrast, Plantain Coast offers a contract-like consistency – you know your supply, price, and delivery schedule in advance. This stability is especially valuable as UK plantain demand grows and supply from traditional lanes (e.g. Ecuador) faces disruptions.
- Self-managed cold chain: Most other suppliers hand off the fruit at the port or market and the cold chain responsibility shifts to you from that point. With Plantain Coast, we take ownership of quality until it’s in your hands. Our integrated logistics means fewer middlemen and less risk of temperature abuse in warehouses. Ultimately, you get fresher plantains with better texture and longer shelf life on arrival.
- Ripeness options: Traditional wholesale sources often sell plantains green (for later ripening) or fully ripe by chance (sometimes even overripe). We actively manage ripeness to your order. Want 100 boxes of ready-to-fry yellow plantains each Friday? We can do that. Prefer green plantains for your customers to ripen at home? We can provide those too – all from the same shipment.
- Technical transparency: We provide a full spec sheet detailing our product and processes (from GlobalG.A.P farm certifications to box burst strength). This level of transparency and professionalism isn’t always available when dealing with ad-hoc brokers. It means you can trust what you’re getting – Class I produce, properly documented and compliant with UK import regulations (phytosanitary certificates, etc.). We even include farm codes and traceability on our cartons, so you know exactly where your plantains came from.
In short, Plantain Coast positions itself not just as another produce seller, but as a supply chain partner. We align with your business needs – offering the reliability of a large importer with the personalized service of a specialist. Many UK suppliers may offer plantains, but few combine end-to-end cold chain control, ripening services, and competitive pricing the way we do.
From Farm to Market – We’ve Got You Covered
Plantain Coast is here to simplify your wholesale plantain sourcing in 2025. We handle the heavy lifting (quite literally – from harvesting and overseas shipping to UK ripening and delivery) so you can focus on your customers. Our pallets are designed for easy handling, our prices reward you for scaling up, and our timing keeps your shelves stocked with minimal gaps.
Interested in securing a steady supply of plantains for your business? We’re happy to discuss your needs, schedule, and any questions you have about importing or wholesale quantities.
Ready to partner with a trusted plantain supplier? Contact Plantain Coast today to get a quote or to learn more about our wholesale programs. With our team managing quality and logistics, you’ll gain peace of mind – and plenty of satisfied customers – knowing your plantain supply is fresh, affordable, and always on time.
FAQs about Wholesale Plantain Supply
Q: How many plantains come in a 22.5 kg wholesale box?
A: Each 22.5 kg box contains roughly 60 to 72 plantains. The exact count per carton varies with fruit size (larger plantains mean fewer per box). We calibrate our packing so that every box hits the target weight. In practice, you’re getting about 60+ pieces of Class I plantains per carton, uniform in quality. This allows you to estimate your per-piece cost easily and plan how many boxes you need for a given sales volume.
Q: Do you offer price breaks for larger orders?
A: Yes. We have a flat per-box price for small orders, but we discount for bulk volumes. Buying by the pallet (or multiple pallets) will reduce the unit price. For example, a single pallet (40 boxes) will have a better rate per box than a 5-box order. For very large quantities (such as full container loads), we can arrange special pricing. Contact us with your required volume, and we’ll provide a competitive quote reflecting those bulk savings.
Q: What is the typical lead time for delivery?
A: Our average lead time is about 2 weeks from your order date. We ship weekly from West Africa, so depending on when you place an order in our cycle, it can be as soon as 10–14 days to delivery in London. We’ll confirm the expected date when you order. Because we manage our own cold chain and clearing, this timeline is very reliable. We advise keeping a small buffer on your first order (a few extra days) to sync with our schedule, but once we’re in rhythm, you can expect a consistent bi-weekly supply if needed.
Q: How are the plantains kept fresh during shipping?
A: We use a fully refrigerated supply chain. Right after harvest, the plantains are pre-cooled and packed into ventilated boxes. They travel in reefer containers set to around 13 °C – a temperature that “pauses” the ripening process. We also control humidity and airflow in the container to prevent any mold or heat buildup. Upon UK arrival, the pallets go from port to a ripening facility or to you in a refrigerated truck. This continuous cold chain means the fruit stays in prime condition: no heat damage, no premature ripening. You receive the plantains either green (if you’ll ripen them later) or we finish the ripening for you under controlled conditions right before delivery.
Q: Are the plantains delivered ripe or green?
A: It’s up to you. By default, we offer ripe plantains on delivery because many clients want ready-to-sell product. We time our ethylene ripening process so that the plantains reach your desired ripeness on the delivery day (for example, fully yellow with black spots if you intend to sell them immediately for frying or baking). However, if you prefer green plantains (unripe) so you can manage ripening or meet specific customer preferences, we can certainly deliver them green. Just let us know your preference when ordering. In both cases, quality is guaranteed – green plantains will be mature, defect-free, and ready for ripening, while yellow plantains will be evenly ripened and not overripe on arrival.
Plantain Coast is committed to being the wholesale plantain supplier UK businesses trust for quality and consistency. If you have any more questions or would like to discuss your wholesale produce needs, don’t hesitate to reach out. Here’s to keeping your plantain stocks plentiful and your customers happy in 2025!