Where to Buy Harina PAN Wholesale in the UK — A Complete Guide for Restaurants and Food Businesses
If you run a Venezuelan restaurant, a Colombian arepa bar, a Latin street food stall, or a catering business anywhere in the UK, Harina PAN is not a nice-to-have — it is the ingredient your menu depends on. This guide covers everything you need to know to source it reliably at wholesale: what it is, how it differs from other corn flours, which pack sizes to order, and how La Casa de Jack supplies it to food businesses across London and nationwide.
What is Harina PAN?
Harina PAN is a pre-cooked white or yellow corn flour made from select maize that has been cooked, dried, and finely milled. It was developed in Venezuela in the 1960s by Empresas Polar and has since become the defining ingredient of Venezuelan and Colombian home and restaurant cooking.
The critical word is pre-cooked. Unlike raw cornmeal, polenta, or standard maize flour, Harina PAN requires no cooking before use. You mix it with warm water and a pinch of salt, and within two minutes you have a workable dough — masa— ready to shape, grill, bake, or fry. That instant hydration is what makes it essential for high-volume kitchens.
It is naturally gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial additives, making it suitable for menus catering to dietary restrictions.
Is Harina PAN the same as masarepa?
Yes. Masarepa is the generic term for pre-cooked cornflour in Latin American cooking. Harina PAN is the brand — and in practice, for Venezuelan and Colombian customers and chefs, it is the only brand that matters. Substituting a generic masarepa often produces a noticeable difference in flavour and texture. If your customers grew up eating arepas made with PAN, they will notice.
White vs yellow Harina PAN — which should you buy?
| White (Blanca) | Yellow (Amarilla) | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Cream/white | Golden yellow |
| Flavour | Mild, neutral | Slightly sweeter, more pronounced corn flavour |
| Best for | Hallacas, bollos, arepas de choclo, tamales | Classic arepas, empanadas de pipián, cachapas |
| Most commonly stocked | Yes — the standard | Yes — strong demand |
Both are available wholesale from La Casa de Jack. Most London restaurants carry both and mix to order depending on the dish.
What dishes is Harina PAN used for?
Harina PAN is the base ingredient for a wide range of Latin American dishes. For UK food businesses, the most common uses are:
Arepas — the Venezuelan and Colombian corn cake, griddled or baked and split for filling. This is the core product for arepa bars, street food stalls, and brunch cafes. A typical service-sized batch uses 1kg of flour.
Empanadas — deep-fried or baked corn pastry cases filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables. The Chatica cheese empanada sold by La Casa de Jack uses Harina PAN dough.
Hallacas — the Venezuelan Christmas dish, a corn dough parcel steamed in banana leaves. Demand spikes sharply in November and December; ensure you have stock before the season.
Bollos and tamales — steamed corn parcels common in Colombian cooking. Growing in popularity on London menus.
Gluten-free bakery — an increasing number of London cafes use Harina PAN for gluten-free pancakes, flatbreads, and pizza bases. At 80% Harina PAN and 20% tapioca starch, the mix produces a good binding for baked goods.
Where to buy Harina PAN wholesale in the UK
There are three main routes for buying Harina PAN in commercial quantities in the UK.
1. La Casa de Jack — specialist Latin American wholesale, London
La Casa de Jack is the UK's largest specialist wholesaler of Latin American and Caribbean food. We stock both white and yellow Harina PAN in 10 × 1kg cases with consistent stock levels year-round, including through the high-demand Christmas period.
What sets us apart for Harina PAN specifically:
- We hold dedicated stock of both white and yellow varieties — not one or the other depending on availability
- Cases are stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse in Leyton, East London (E10 7QU)
- Same-day cash and carry — trade account holders can collect in person, Monday to Friday
- Next-day delivery across London and 2–3 working day pallet delivery nationwide
- Trade accounts available for restaurants, caterers, retailers, and food manufacturers with no minimum spend to open
Order Harina PAN wholesale from La Casa de Jack →
2. General cash and carry (Bestway, Costco)
Large national cash and carries sometimes stock Harina PAN, but availability is inconsistent. They are not specialists and tend to carry only white, in limited quantities. This is a backup option, not a reliable primary supplier for a busy kitchen.
3. Online generalist retailers
Suitable for small orders (1–5 bags) but unit prices are significantly higher than wholesale, and delivery minimums rarely make sense for commercial quantities. Not recommended as a primary sourcing route for food businesses.
Pack sizes and ordering — what to expect
La Casa de Jack sells Harina PAN in the following configurations:
| Format | Contents | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard case | 10 × 1kg bags | Restaurants, arepa bars, small caterers |
| Mixed pallet | Multiple cases, white and yellow | High-volume kitchens, meal prep operations |
| Full pallet | Single variety, full pallet depth | Wholesalers, large catering groups |
For a single restaurant serving arepas daily, one to two cases per week is typical. Street food operators and larger kitchens often move four to eight cases per week during peak periods.
To open a trade account: lacasadejack.com or call us directly. Accounts are approved same day for established food businesses.
Harina PAN vs other corn flours — a quick comparison
A common source of confusion for new buyers. Not all corn flours behave the same way.
| Product | Pre-cooked? | Suitable for arepas? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harina PAN | Yes | Yes — ideal | The benchmark |
| Generic masarepa | Usually yes | Yes, with variation | Quality varies by brand |
| Polenta / cornmeal | No | No | Completely different product |
| Maizena (cornstarch) | No | No | Thickening agent only |
| Bob's Red Mill masa harina | No — nixtamalised | Mexican tortillas only | Different process, different flavour |
Substituting polenta or masa harina for Harina PAN will not produce an arepa. The pre-cooking process is what gives Harina PAN dough its instant workability.
How to make arepas at commercial scale
For kitchens scaling up from home recipes to service quantities:
Base ratio: 1kg Harina PAN : 1.2 litres warm water : 10g salt
Mix the salt into the water first, then add the flour gradually while mixing. In a commercial mixer, use the dough hook at low speed. Do not add flour to dry flour — always wet-to-dry to prevent pockets.
Rest the dough for five minutes after mixing. This hydration step is critical: it allows the pre-cooked corn to fully absorb the water and produces a dough that doesn't crack when shaped or grilled.
Yield per 1kg bag: approximately 12–14 standard arepas (100g each, pre-cooking weight)
Prep in advance: Shaped, uncooked arepas can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. This makes them ideal for mise en place in a busy kitchen. They can also be par-cooked and finished to order.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Over-kneading: corn dough does not need gluten development. Work it until smooth and stop.
- Using cold water: warm water (around 40°C) activates the flour faster and produces a more consistent dough.
- Not resting the dough: skipping the rest produces a dough that cracks. Five minutes is always worth it.
- Buying the wrong variety: white and yellow are not identical. Know which your recipe requires before ordering.
Storing Harina PAN in a commercial kitchen
Harina PAN has a shelf life of 12–18 months from production when stored correctly. In a commercial setting:
- Store off the floor on shelving or pallets to allow air circulation
- Keep in a dry area, away from steam, dishwashers, or any source of humidity
- Target temperature: 10°C–21°C. Avoid areas with direct sunlight or significant temperature swings
- Once opened, transfer unused flour to a sealed food-grade container immediately
- Use FIFO (first in, first out) rotation — new deliveries go behind existing stock
- Inspect every delivery on arrival. Reject any bags showing dampness, pest damage, or unsealed seams
Pest control is essential in any dry goods store. Clean up spills immediately — even small amounts of flour attract insects and rodents. Keep the storage area clean between deliveries.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Harina PAN wholesale in the UK?
La Casa de Jack is the UK's primary specialist wholesale supplier of Harina PAN. We stock both white and yellow varieties in 24 × 1kg cases from our Leyton, East London warehouse, with cash and carry available and next-day delivery across London.
What is the wholesale price of Harina PAN in the UK?
Wholesale case pricing starts from approximately £1.50–£2.00 per 1kg bag when bought in cases of 24 from a specialist wholesaler. Contact La Casa de Jack for current trade pricing and pallet rates.
Is Harina PAN gluten-free?
Yes. Harina PAN is made from 100% pre-cooked maize and contains no wheat, barley, or rye. It is suitable for menus serving customers with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, provided it is handled in a kitchen with appropriate cross-contamination controls.
What is the difference between white and yellow Harina PAN?
White Harina PAN has a mild, neutral flavour and cream colour, best for hallacas and tamales. Yellow has a slightly sweeter, more pronounced corn flavour and golden colour, preferred for classic arepas and empanadas. Both are available from La Casa de Jack.
Is Harina PAN the same as masa harina?
No. Masa harina (such as Maseca) is a Mexican product made from nixtamalised corn — corn that has been treated with lime (calcium hydroxide). It has a different flavour and is used for tortillas and tamales in Mexican cooking. Harina PAN is pre-cooked corn flour used for Venezuelan and Colombian arepas. They are not interchangeable.
Can I set up a trade account with La Casa de Jack?
Yes. Trade accounts are available for restaurants, caterers, food manufacturers, and retailers. There is no minimum spend to open an account. Visit lacasadejack.com or contact us directly.
Do you deliver Harina PAN outside London?
Yes. We deliver nationwide by pallet. Standard lead time is 2–3 working days outside London. Next-day delivery is available across London for orders placed before midday.
Related products at La Casa de Jack
If you stock Harina PAN, your customers likely also need:
- Chatica cheese empanadas (70 × 100g) — ready-made, kitchen-ready
- Whole corn flour collection — full range of masa and corn flours
- Venezuelan food collection — complete range for Venezuelan cuisine
- Colombian food collection — ingredients for Colombian menus
- Chatica mora blackberry pulp — popular filling/topping for sweet arepas
La Casa de Jack is the UK's largest Latin American food wholesaler, supplying restaurants, caterers, retailers, and food manufacturers from our warehouse in Leyton, East London (E10 7QU). Trade accounts welcome. Browse the full wholesale range →
