BUYER BRIEF · MOROCCAN SOURCING
The anatomy of
a usable RFQ.
A producer cannot assess “best price for sardines” until the product, pack and delivery scope are clear. A useful brief says what is confirmed and what still needs a decision.
Start with the product and destination. Refine as information becomes available.
01. Product before price.
Identify the product category and the precise item. For canned seafood, distinguish species, net weight, drained weight, fill medium and can format. For table olives, record variety, calibre, preparation and pack. These are different commercial products even when their broad category is the same.
02. Pack is part of the offer.
Record retail or bulk format, labels, private-label artwork responsibility, carton configuration and loading preference. A quote that omits packaging may look cheaper while covering less.
03. Delivery has a boundary.
State quantity or an honest range, destination country or port, shipment window and requested trade term with its named place. If quantity is unknown, mark it as open rather than creating a false precision.
04. Documents need a purpose.
Ask which product specifications, quality records, origin documents or certifications are available for the destination. Requirements vary by product and market, so confirm the current scope with the relevant parties.
“125 g canned sardines in olive oil for Spain, private label, two containers. Drained weight, sleeve, cans per carton and loading are still open.” This is clearer than a broad price request because the missing decisions are visible.
05. Submit when the unknowns are visible.
A first RFQ does not need every answer. It does need enough context for a disciplined follow-up. Atlas’s builder records what is known and leaves the rest unconfirmed.
Build a seafood RFQ