The phrase "number of suppliers" refers to the total count of businesses or individuals that provide goods or services to a particular company or industry. Full definition
By contrast, higher global demand for whole dry milk had risen from the export levels of 2007, with a large number of supplies going into cheese production. (dairyreporter.com)
The pharmaceutical sector is particularly vulnerable to those disruptions, given then small number of suppliers for each product. (scientificamerican.com)
There seems to be a million things to worry over before her baby even arrives, and there are an endless number of supplies she needs. (babyblankets.com)