This is an optimized unlock route -- not a list of who the suppliers are. Follow this order and you'll unlock delivery (the max relationship perk) faster than random ordering.
The Fastest Unlock Path
| Step | Supplier | Rank Required | Connection Needed | Orders to Friendly | Orders to Loyal | Orders to Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert Hoover | Fresh Start | None (auto-available) | 0 (starts Friendly) | ~3-4 | ~8-10 |
| 2 | Shirley Watts | Hoodlum I | Elizabeth Homley or Kevin Oakley at Friendly | ~4-5 | ~6-8 | ~12-15 |
| 3 | Fungal Phil | Hustler I | Same as Shirley (unlock both at once) | ~4-5 | ~6-8 | ~12-15 |
| 4 | Salvador Moreno | Enforcer I | Higher rank connections | ~5-6 | ~8-10 | ~15-18 |
Source: Cross-referenced from Fandom Wiki Suppliers page, IGN Supplier Location Guide, and Steam Community supplier guide (Steam ID 3650204013).
Step-by-Step Route
Step 1: Albert Hoover (Northtown) -- Available from Start
Albert is the only supplier you can access immediately. No connection needed.
Fastest path to Delivery:
- Place 3 Dead Drop orders of 1-2 OG Kush seeds each ($10 per seed). Delivery takes ~30 min per item.
- Pay the debt immediately at the stash behind Dan's Hardware (alley north of Sauerkraut Supreme Pizza).
- After 3-4 orders, Albert reaches Friendly (already default) and moves to Loyal.
- Continue ordering. After approximately 8-10 total orders, Albert unlocks Delivery (order directly to your location via the Delivery App).
Albert's best products by cost efficiency:
| Product | Cost | Sell Value Per Unit | Profit Margin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OG Kush seed | $10 | ~$30 (raw bud) | 200% | Early game |
| Green Crack seed | $20 | ~$40 | 100% | Mid mix recipes |
| Sour Diesel seed | $35 | ~$55 | 57% | Premium strains |
Step 2: Shirley Watts + Fungal Phil (Unlock Together)
These two share the same unlock condition. This is the most efficient unlock in the game because you get two suppliers for one relationship grind.
Pre-work (before unlocking):
- Find Elizabeth Homley (motel area) or Kevin Oakley (near Westville).
- Sell to them until they reach Friendly status.
- This typically takes 3-4 sales of weed or meth.
- Once Friendly, Shirley Watts and Fungal Phil appear in your contacts.
Shirley Watts Stash: West face of the Warehouse (south of motel, past the bridge). Fungal Phil Stash: Behind the central Gas-Mart in Downtown.
Optimization tip: Alternate Dead Drop orders between Shirley and Fungal Phil. Each order to one builds relationship for that supplier only, but since you unlocked both at the same time, you can build both relationships in parallel. Place 2 orders to Shirley, then 2 to Fungal Phil, repeat.
| Supplier | Key Product | Cost | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirley Watts | Pseudo | $70 per unit | Meth production base ingredient |
| Fungal Phil | Shroom spores | ~$50 | Mushroom production (added in recent update) |
Step 3: Salvador Moreno (Docks) -- Late Game
Salvador unlocks at higher rank (around Enforcer I) and requires connections from your progression.
Stash Location: Behind the church on the east side of the map.
Key product: Coca Plant Seeds ($50-80 per seed) - essential for cocaine production.
Fastest path: Once unlocked, place 5-6 Dead Drop orders of 2 coca seeds each. The seeds are expensive but necessary. Build relationship to Loyal for Meet Up (4 possible locations: under north overpass, under west bridge, west construction site, next to Mayor's house). Max relationship unlocks Delivery.
Salvador's cost efficiency:
| Product | Cost | Sell Value Per Unit | Profit Margin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coca seed | $50-80 | ~$200 (processed cocaine) | 150-300% | Mid-late game profit |
Cost Comparison: Cheapest vs Most Efficient Unlock
| Approach | Total Spent | Time to All Unlocked | Relationship at End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest (buy 1 item per order) | ~$3,000 | ~20 in-game days | All at Loyal |
| Balanced (buy 2-3 items per order) | ~$5,000 | ~12 in-game days | All at Loyal-Delivery |
| Fastest (buy 5 items per order) | ~$8,000 | ~8 in-game days | All at Delivery |
| Speedrun (buy 10 items per order) | ~$12,000 | ~5 in-game days | All at Delivery |
Practical Example
You're at Hoodlum I rank with $2,000 saved. Your goal is to unlock Shirley Watts and Fungal Phil in 3 in-game days.
Day 1: Find Elizabeth Homley. Sell her 3 batches of OG Kush (total ~$90-120 value). She reaches Friendly. Shirley Watts and Fungal Phil appear in contacts.
Day 2: Place Dead Drop orders: 3 Pseudo from Shirley ($210 total), 3 Spores from Fungal Phil ($150 total). Pay debt at both stashes.
Day 3: Repeat Day 2 orders. Both suppliers now at Friendly-Loyal threshold. Proceed to scale up production.
Total cost: $720 in Dead Drop orders + $90-120 in sampling costs = ~$840. Both suppliers unlocked and at Friendly status in 3 days.
Dead Drop vs Meet Up vs Delivery
| Feature | Dead Drop | Meet Up (Loyal) | Delivery (Max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order limit | 10 items | No limit | No limit |
| Delivery time | 30 min per item | Instant (meet in person) | ~15 min per item |
| Builds relationship? | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Relationship building | Emergency bulk orders | Regular production supply |
| Risk | None | Must travel to meet location | None |
The smartest play: build all suppliers to Delivery using cheap Dead Drop orders, then switch to Delivery for your regular supply. This takes about 12-15 Dead Drop orders per supplier (roughly $1,500-2,000 per supplier), but once done, you never have to travel to a stash again. The Delivery App sends supplies directly to your location.
For the full breakdown of which supplier's products make the most profit, see Best Strain By Game Stage.
Related Guides
- NPC Price Index 2026 -- best customers per product
- Best Strain By Game Stage -- which ingredients to order from each supplier
- Product Quality vs Price Guide -- how growing conditions affect value
Community Verification & Resources
Data values may shift with patches. Cross-check against community resources before building your strategy.