foreach category echo results - php

Question

i'm attempting to list my suppliers in order, with showing the items that I need to order under the supplier. But the script originally provided to me lists the supplier each time.
This is what i've got:
$dataSQL = "SELECT * FROM inventory WHERE product_active='Y' ORDER BY product_supplier, product_category, product_code ASC";
$data = mysql_query($dataSQL) or die(mysql_error());
$rows = mysql_num_rows($data);
while($result = mysql_fetch_array( $data )) {
$category=$result['product_category'];
$id=$result['id'];
$item1=$result['product_name'];
$code1=$result['product_code'];
$code2=$result['product_suppliercode'];
$soh=$result['product_soh'];
$reorder=$result['product_reorder'];
$supplier=$result['product_supplier'];
$order=$result['product_reorder']-$result['product_soh'];
// output row from database
if($soh<$reorder) {
echo "
<tr><td>$supplier</td><td>SOH $soh | Order $order</td></tr>
<tr><td>$item1</td><td>$code1</td></tr>
";
}
}
However, if there is more than 1 product low on stock from 1 supplier, i only want to list the supplier once, not every time.
This is the current result:
Low & Out of Stock Report
Biz Supplies SOH 3 | Order 1
White Thermal Travel Mug 0000000001030
Office Works SOH 14 | Order 1
Frixion Stamp Coffee Cup (Orange) 4902505508073
Office Works SOH 0 | Order 1
Frixion Stamp Apple 4902505508103
PHE (Paper Handling Equipment) SOH | Order 1
20mm 100pk Plastic Binding Comb
(box)
0000000004115
(sorry, not sure how to display here in table format). The end result would be that it would show the supplier name once, then on the next row show the item, code, soh & reorder

Answer 1

You can select DISTINCT product_supplier.
So your query will become:
SELECT DISTINCT ON product_supplier *
FROM inventory
WHERE product_active='Y'
ORDER BY product_supplier, product_category, product_code ASC
Alternatively, you can use a GROUP BY on the column that you want to eliminate duplicates:
SELECT *
FROM inventory
WHERE product_active='Y'
GROYP BY product_supplier
ORDER BY product_supplier, product_category, product_code ASC