13 Top Food Distributors and Suppliers in the USA

Food distributors are a crucial step in the supply chain of the $1.5 trillion U.S. food industry. We have identified 13 of the top independent companies that help produce, manufacture, and supply food and food-related products to the United States.

Our ratings are based on their:

• Availability

• Revenue

• Reliability

• Distribution centers

• Employees

• Truck fleet

• Other factors 

We look at the top distributors and why they deserve recognition. We also explore some of their founding stories and notable accomplishments.

Key Takeaways:

• Sysco is the top food distributor with customers worldwide.

• Performance Foodservice became one of the largest food distributors after they acquired Reinhart Foodservices.

• One of the most recent notable acquisitions is the 2020 transition of Maine Paper and Food Service to Lineage Logistics.

Top Food Distributors and Suppliers in the USA

Below are the top 13 food service distributors and suppliers in the USA. Each distributor has its own unique story and qualities. 

Sysco is one of the most notable leaders in food distribution – topping nearly every list of U.S. distributors. They began in 1969 and grew from $115 million to $60.1 billion in annual sales. Today, Sysco services 90 countries globally over various industries including restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational facilities. In their 2021 report, they said they had over 650,000 customer locations. In the U.S. alone, Sysco has 172 facilities.

U.S. Foods is one of the oldest distributors still prominent today, dating back over 150 years. They remain near the top of supply lists due to the quality of food they offer combined with their competitive prices. In their 2020 report, they estimated that they have a total of 300,000 customers nationwide. Their clients include restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, country clubs, government organizations, and educational facilities. They offer both food and non-food items from over 6,000 different suppliers.

Performance Foodservice takes pride in the relationships they maintain with each customer. In addition to food, they also deliver culinary equipment and non-food supplies. They provide over 100,000 products to more than 125,000 customers – making them another leader in the distribution and supplies industry. Their products include their exclusive brands combined with nationally known and trusted global brands.

In 2019, Performance Food Group Co. acquired Reinhart Foodservices, L.L.C. – another leading food distributor in the U.S. Because of this acquisition, they have an approximately $30 billion annual net revenue. This significant transaction moved Performance to one of the top distributors in the U.S., with headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.

McLane Company Inc. is a supply chain service leader in the U.S. known for its vast variety of nationwide customers – including convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores, and chain restaurants. Their headquarters are in Temple, Texas, but they operate nationally. They offer McLane Grocery and McLane Foodservice and boast over 80 distribution centers servicing nearly 110,000 locations. In addition, with their large fleet of trucks, they deliver over 50,000 consumer products to customers around the U.S.

Gordon Food Service has a 120-year rich history of delivering food nationwide. Some customers include schools, universities, healthcare facilities, hotels, stadiums, and restaurants. They have over 170 Gordon Food Service Store locations where customers can receive quality supplies between deliveries. Their headquarters are in Wyoming, Michigan.

In 1922, Shamrock Foods was founded as a family-owned business that grew to a national foodservice distributor. Their customers include restaurants, healthcare facilities, educational facilities, casinos and entertainment, lodging, and retail. They are one of the top ten distributors in the nation, operating in thirteen Western U.S. states.

Lineage Logistics is a global food supplier and distributor that handles and transports food through over 400 facilities. In May 2020, they acquired Maines Paper and Food Service, a large food supplies company named one of America’s top 300 largest private companies. Lineage is most notably known for their innovative food storage methods.

Ben E. Keith Company has been operating since 1906 and is based out of Fort Worth, Texas. They are a private company with over 5,000 associates. They deliver fine food to over 15 states, plus they offer premium beverage distribution to over 62 Texas counties.

Buffalo Rock began in 1901 and is now the largest, single-family-owned Pepsi bottler in the United States, second-largest Dr. Pepper bottler, and largest Sunkist and Canada Dry bottler. They have ten divisions with about 2,100 partners. They use 14 distribution centers to reach 15,000 retail customers and service a population base of over 6.5 million. Most of their manufacturing takes place in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Martin-Brower Company began in 1956 by delivering restaurant supplies to McDonald’s. They grew along with the restaurant and added more customers to their distribution list, making them the largest distribution partner to multi-unit restaurants worldwide. In 1972, they expanded to offering all supplies, from food to paper products. Now they serve restaurants all over the country through their 28 distribution centers.

Dot Transportation operates a large fleet of over 1,300 trucks. They have more than 2,000 workers and 12 distribution centers that deliver to all fifty states and worldwide in over 35 countries. Dot Transportation is a subsidiary of Dot Foods.

Golden State Foods is one of the largest suppliers servicing over 125,000 restaurants. Their company began growing in the 1950s when they became the primary beef patty supplier for McDonald’s. Now they work with large restaurant franchises around the world. They have over 50 locations on five continents where they serve more than 40 different countries. It is now a $5 billion company with over 6,000 associates.

KeHE Distributors brings natural and organic specialty foods to restaurants and retailers around the country. They are one of the top wholesale food distributors with 16 distribution centers and over 5,500 employees. They are also a leading organic food distributor in North America.

Know Your Food Distributors

Understanding the leaders in food distribution helps you make the most knowledgeable choices in who supplies and distributes your inventory. Stay on top of the latest food distribution trends and most significant players in the food industry through our news and updates. In addition, we provide insights and industry-specific information on every stage of the supply chain and how it might affect your business.

Contact us for more information on our food events – where you can network with distributors, retailers, and wholesalers from around the world.