Leading International Wholesale Product Distributor with
Bulk Discounts on National Brands & Private Labels

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can buy from Great Lakes Wholesale International?
Why should I buy from Great Lakes Wholesale International?
Is there a minimum order size?
How can I view prices?
I used to be able to see prices and now I cannot. How can I see pricing again?
I forgot my login and password. Can you tell me what they are?
How do I add items to my shopping cart?
Where are the items I added to my shopping cart?
Are there other ways to order?
What happens after I submit my order?
How much will shipping cost?
When will I receive my merchandise?
What is your return policy?


Who can buy from Great Lakes Wholesale International?
If you are a business or non-profit organization and can order at least $750 and are happy purchasing in case quantities, you can buy from Great Lakes Wholesale International. Our customers include independent retailers, charitable organizations and other wholesalers. Several of our customers export our products to destinations around the world.

Why should I buy from Great Lakes Wholesale International?
  • Excellent Value
  • Fast-Selling Consumable Items
  • 5,000+ items
  • Hundreds of new regular and closeout items every month
  • Excellent Fill Rates
  • Fast Delivery
  • Easy Ordering
  • Small case packs allow you to offer greater variety for your inventory dollar
  • Outstanding Customer Service
  • Showroom in Chicago (by appointment)
Great Lakes Wholesale InternationalShowroom With over 25 years of experience, Great Lakes Wholesale International is a leading supplier of grocery, consumables, pet, home care and health & beauty products. A few of our house brands include Health Care, Natural Choice, Baby Soft, Great Lakes Select, and Fresh Seal. We also carry numerous national brands and private labels.

Coordinating orders, shipments, and payments from multiple vendors takes time and can be confusing. What is your time worth? Our broad selection lets you replenish more of your store with a single order.

Great Lakes Wholesale International account executives take pride in providing quality customer service and a friendly, no-haggle sales experience for all of our customers, whether they order by the truckload or the pallet.


Is there a minimum order size?
To order from Great Lakes Wholesale International you must place a minimum order of $750.
Placing larger orders with fewer vendors will usually reduce freight percentage.


How can I view prices?
First, you will need to register your email address on the website.
Great Lakes Wholesale International respects your privacy and will not offer your contact information to unaffiliated companies.
After you register on the website, we will send you a confirmation email. You must click on the confirmation link in the email we send you for pricing to be visible.


I forgot my login and password. Can you tell me what they are?
Reset your password
We are also available 8 am to 5 pm CST Monday through Friday. Please call, email, or fax us and we will help you log into our website.


How do I add items to my shopping cart?
When you find an item you would like to purchase, click on the button.
After you click, you will have the opportunity to increase the number of cases you want to purchase. You can click the up or down arrow buttons or type in the text box to change quantities.

After you add your first item, the dollar value of your order will appear in the upper right hand corner. Click on 'CART' to see what is in your cart and to check out when you are finished.




Where are the items I added to my shopping cart?
If you would like to view the entire contents of your shopping cart, click 'CART' at the top right corner of the page. Each time you add an item or change quantities the shopping cart recalculates your total cases, weight, and dollar total. Once you create a shopping cart, it is saved on the website until you delete or submit it.

Note that our website allows you to have more than one shopping cart at a time. You can use this place orders for different stores or to separate items you want now from items you are likely to want on your next order. To switch between carts, you can either click on 'My Account', 'My Carts' and then click 'Select' next to the cart you want to work on, or click on 'CART' in the upper right hand corner and then select a different 'Cart ID'.


Are there other ways to order?
  1. Online
    Go to www.glwholesale.com, register, and start shopping. Our website provides pictures of each item, easy navigation, monthly specials, and the inventory is updated daily so you know what we have in stock.
  2. Email
    Ask your account executive for the Order Guide in Microsoft Excel, Adobe PDF format, or have us add you to our monthly email. Email completed orders back to your account executive for quick processing.
  3. Fax
    Send in our Quick Order Form (found at the back of your monthly Order Guide) or individual pages from the Order Guide. Be sure to include the cover page so we can identify who the fax is from.
  4. Mail
    Send in our Quick Order Form (found at the back of your monthly Order Guide) or individual pages from the Order Guide.
  5. Showroom/Pick-up
    Shop our showroom Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to view all of our items. Our ability to have the order ready for pick up depends on the time your order is submitted & the size of your order. Talk with your account executive prior to coming in to ensure order will be ready for pickup.
  6. Phone
    Call one of our account executives at (708) 597-6000.
Shopping Cart
What happens after I submit my order?
  • Check Inventory
    After we receive your order, we enter it and check it against current inventory levels. For any item that is out of stock, we look to see if we have a similar item to substitute. We only substitute items that are similar in case pack and price. If you would prefer to not have any substitutes on your order, talk with your account executive.
  • Freight Estimate
    We'll shop for the best freight rate we can find for you. Freight charges are not included in our pricing and we do not mark up freight charges.
  • Payment
    Once you approve your order, payment is required prior to releasing your order to the warehouse.
    • Credit Card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
    • Electronic Funds Transfer
    • Check or Money Order
    • Cash(for pick-ups only)
    • Credit Terms (requires Credit Application; allow 2 weeks for application processing)


How much will shipping cost?
We work with many different freight carriers to find you the best shipping rates. Freight rates are based on the weight and dimensions of your order.


When will I receive my merchandise?
Delivery time to you will depend on your location. The following are estimated transit times (in business days) from our warehouse in Lockport:
Atlanta, GA: 3 days
Buffalo, NY: 3 days
Chicago, IL: 1 day
Cincinnati, OH: 2 days
Des Moines, IA: 1 day
Detroit, MI: 1 day
Indianapolis, IN: 1 day
Louisville, KY: 2 days
Miami, FL: 5 days
Minneapolis, MN: 3 days
Raleigh, NC: 3 days
Springfield, IL: 2 days
St. Louis, MO: 2 days
West of Rockies: 6 days
Please note that the estimated transit times start when your order leaves our warehouse. Once your order is finished and ready to ship, you will receive the tracking information via email, fax, or phone.


If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.