What this class covers
ANZSIC class 3609 covers businesses that wholesale specific grocery or food items not classified elsewhere in the grocery wholesaling group. These operations typically specialise in narrow product categories rather than carrying a broad general line of grocery products. The classification also includes businesses that repack groceries such as flour, cereal foods, or dried fruits before wholesaling them.
This category applies to Australian businesses that focus on particular grocery segments. For example, a company exclusively wholesaling organic health foods to retailers would fit here, as would a operation dedicated to supplying Asian specialty ingredients to restaurants and ethnic grocery stores. Other examples include businesses that repack bulk rice or flour into consumer-sized packages for distribution, or operations specialising in wholesale distribution of canned seafood products to the food service industry.
The classification is used by government agencies, researchers, and businesses themselves to categorize and analyze industry data. Australian businesses may encounter this code when registering for an ABN, completing business activity statements, or applying for industry-specific grants or programs.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class typically engage in one or more of the following activities:
- Wholesaling aerated waters, soft drinks, or bottled water
- Distributing biscuits, confectionery, or potato crisps to retailers
- Wholesaling canned foods, preserved fruits, or preserved vegetables
- Supplying cereal foods, milled rice, or polished rice to businesses
- Distributing coffee, tea, or related products wholesale
- Wholesaling condiments, cooking oils, fats, or margarine
- Supplying cordials, fruit juices, or vinegar to businesses
- Distributing dried, condensed, or concentrated milk products
- Wholesaling eggs, egg products, or honey
- Supplying health foods, nutritional products, or specific cultural grocery items
- Distributing roasted, salted, or sugar-coated nuts
- Wholesaling household salt or yeast products
Exclusions and nearby codes
Businesses that wholesale the above grocery products in conjunction with a wide variety of other grocery items are excluded from this class. These operations instead belong in ANZSIC 3601: General Line Grocery Wholesaling.
The distinction between class 3609 and 3601 depends on the breadth of product offering. If a business specialises in a narrow range of grocery items (like only coffee products or only health foods), it typically belongs in 3609. If it carries a comprehensive range of grocery products including multiple categories, it typically belongs in 3601, even if it also carries specialised items.
Other related classifications include ANZSIC 3602 for meat, poultry, and smallgoods wholesaling, and ANZSIC 3603 for dairy produce wholesaling, which cover more specific product categories.
Practical guidance
When registering your business with the Australian Business Register, you'll need to select appropriate business industry codes (BIC) that correspond to your activities. For businesses in this class, the relevant BIC code is typically 36090, which aligns with ANZSIC 3609.
For taxation purposes, note that different grocery items may have different GST treatments. While many basic foods are GST-free, processed foods, confectionery, soft drinks, and other items commonly wholesaled under this classification are generally taxable supplies. Ensure you understand the GST status of your specific products when completing your business activity statements.
Workers' compensation insurance classifications may vary depending on your specific operations within grocery wholesaling. Premiums are typically based on the specific activities and associated risks of your business. Some states may offer industry-specific grants or programs for wholesale businesses, particularly those focusing on export development or regional distribution.
When completing statistical forms or industry surveys, accurate ANZSIC classification helps ensure industry data remains reliable for policy development and market analysis purposes.