A supplier's response time to a first enquiry is one of the most honest signals available before you have committed to anything. It costs a supplier nothing to be quick when they want your business — if they are slow now, that rarely improves once you are a paying customer.
Quick Answer
One business day is a reasonable standard for a wholesale food supplier to respond to a quote request in the UAE. A response that is vague, generic, or takes several days is a fair early signal of what ongoing communication will be like.
A Simple Way to Test It
Send the same specific enquiry — product, pack size, quantity — to two or three suppliers on the same day. Compare not just speed, but whether the reply actually answers your specific question or just says "thank you for your interest."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reasonable response time for a wholesale quote request?
Within one business day is a fair standard for a serious supplier.
Does a slow first response predict future service quality?
It is a reasonable early signal, since a supplier has the most incentive to respond quickly before you are a committed customer.
How can I compare suppliers on responsiveness?
Send the same specific enquiry to a few suppliers on the same day and compare both speed and the quality of the answer.