A client wants to develop an on-line business but can afford little
overhead. The on-line business must therefore provide genuine
"added-value". I need to know what are novel and creative ways of
using the internet to develop a small  business(business supplies food
products to shops in bulk)and how to implement a site to do so.

Hi kaka,
I must say that your client is doing an exciting thing by jumping into
an exciting world of Internet by starting the online business.
Internet is full of resources which can help in promoting small
on-line business. The success will depend on how much promotion has
been done, how much site is catchy to users and various factors. I'm
quoting some of these resources for your help.

Check out these links:

http://www.marketingsurvivalkit.com/
http://www.wilsonweb.com/webmarket/promote.htm
http://www.getcreativeshow.com/Craft_Sew_Business/Business_Seminars/craftbusiness5.htm
http://questy.com/zen/webmast3.htm

This link talks about "Secrets of Online Business Success"
http://www.bizmove.com/small-business/online-business.htm

Here is an article which will give you many links to other resources
about promoting small business.
http://www.boconline.com/

This site gives some real life lessons for small business.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/YourBusiness/smallbusinessbuilder020320.html

You can check this site about how to implement your site for better
promotion:
http://www.selfpromotion.com/

Also check out this one.
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/computers/int/kids/qas/0,9578,121_157414,00.html

Search terms used :
shops for bulk order of food supplies
://www.google.com/search?q=shops+for+bulk+order+of+food+supplies&hl=en

how to promote small business online
://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+promote+small+business+online&hl=en

how to promote websites
://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+promote+websites&hl=en

Hope this will help you in giving a good start for your client's
business.
All the best in this venture.

Regards
netcrazy