Kitchen Equipment & Supply Co.

What Kitchen Equipment & Supply Co. does

Kitchen Equipment & Supply Co. (KESCO) is a privately held, founder-owned commercial foodservice equipment distributor and service provider headquartered in Pensacola, Florida. Founded in 1978 in Lafayette, Louisiana by Don and Linda Theriot and relocated to Pensacola in 1986, the company operates five showroom/warehouse locations along the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and South Florida (Pensacola, Ft. Walton/Mary Esther, Panama City Beach, Mobile, and Bradenton), aggregating more than 58,000 square feet of facility space and employing approximately 45 full-time staff.

KESCO distributes a multi-brand portfolio of commercial kitchen equipment organized into seven categories: refrigeration, cooking equipment (griddles, char broilers, fryers, ranges, convection ovens), ventilation and hood systems, smallwares, bar supplies and glassware, sanitation/warewash equipment, and custom stainless steel and millwork (chef's tables, worktables, booths, bars, cashier stands). Carried brands include PITCO, Randell, Robot Coupe, Rubbermaid, San Jamar, Southbend, and Spill-Stop, alongside NSF-certified products for institutional buyers. The company is differentiated less by proprietary technology than by a regional, multi-location physical presence with in-house service infrastructure.

The business model combines one-time equipment sales with ongoing professional services and parts/repair revenue. Pricing is entirely quote-based with no publicly disclosed list prices; delivery, installation, equipment startup, and staff training are bundled into project quotes. KESCO sells through a hybrid channel of direct showroom sales, field sales for full-kitchen design-build projects (working with general contractors on engineering, design documentation, and project management), inside sales by phone/email, and a LeaseQ partnership that offers equipment financing to lower capital barriers for SMB customers. The company derives competitive position from geographic density in the Gulf Coast market, factory-trained multi-brand service technicians, in-stock parts inventory, and the ability to serve as a single-source provider from concept to ongoing maintenance for institutional (schools, hospitals, military), hospitality (hotels, resorts), and commercial foodservice (restaurants, bars, fine dining) buyers.

Name

Kitchen Equipment & Supply Co.

Legal name

Kitchen Equipment and Supply Company

Website

https://kescoflorida.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kitchen Equipment & Supply Co. (KESCO) is a privately held, founder-owned commercial foodservice equipment distributor and service provider operating five showroom/warehouse locations across the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and South Florida. It sells, designs, installs, and services multi-brand commercial kitchen equipment for restaurants, bars, schools, hospitals, military, hotels, and churches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Foodservice Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Preparation Equipment & Smallwares Wholesale (AFAIALAK)

Keywords

• Commercial kitchen equipment
• Foodservice supplies distribution
• Kitchen design services
• Commercial refrigeration equipment
• Foodservice installation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bradenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: KESCO sells commercial kitchen equipment including refrigeration, cooking equipment (griddles, char broilers, fryers, ranges, convection ovens), ventilation systems, bar supplies, and sanitation equipment. Sales are primarily one-time transactions for physical equipment.
2. Parts and Service: KESCO provides in-house warranty service, repairs, and maintenance for equipment they sell. They stock replacement parts in their warehouses. Service revenue comes from repair labor and parts replacement.
3. Custom Fabrication: KESCO offers custom stainless steel and millwork fabrication including chef's tables, dish tables, worktables, booths, bars, serving counters, and cashier stands built to customer specifications.
4. Design and Consulting Services: KESCO provides professional facility design services including full connection drawings, project evaluations, finish schedules, space planning, conceptual design, and value engineering to help customers optimize their investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KESCO distributes commercial kitchen equipment and foodservice supplies — refrigeration, cooking equipment, ventilation systems, bar supplies, smallwares, and warewash equipment — through five showroom locations across the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and South Florida. The company also offers professional kitchen design, custom stainless steel fabrication, equipment installation, and factory-authorized parts and repair services. Its model combines product distribution with end-to-end project services spanning concept, design, procurement, installation, and after-sale support.

Product overview

KESCO (Kitchen Equipment and Supply Company) is a commercial kitchen equipment and foodservice supplies distributor serving the Florida Panhandle, Alabama and beyond since 1986. The company operates as a product portfolio and service provider rather than a unified software platform. Their product offering consists of seven core equipment categories: Refrigeration Equipment (under-counters, reach-ins, walk-in coolers), Cooking Equipment (griddles, char broilers, fryers, ranges, convection ovens), Ventilation Systems, Smallwares (pots, pans, food storage, utensils), Bar Supplies and Glassware, Sanitation Equipment (warewash equipment), and Custom Stainless Steel and Millwork. They distribute multiple branded product lines including PITCO, Randell, Robot Coupe, Rubbermaid, San Jamar, Southbend, and Spill-Stop. Beyond product sales, KESCO provides complementary services including facility design and layout, space planning, project management, equipment procurement, professional installation, and factory-authorized repair and warranty service. Their business model combines product distribution with installation and after-sale support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Commercial refrigeration equipment including under-counters, reach-ins, and custom-designed walk-in coolers for prep and storage to maintain proper temperatures for perishables. Targeted at commercial kitchens in restaurants, bars, and institutions.
• Commercial Cooking Equipment Professional cooking equipment including griddles, char broilers/grills, fryers, ranges, and convection ovens distributed under brands such as PITCO, Southbend, and others. Targeted at professional chefs and foodservice operators.
• Commercial Ventilation Systems Ventilation equipment including hoods and fans to maintain proper air circulation and comfort in busy commercial kitchens. Targeted at commercial foodservice operators.
• Smallwares and Kitchen Essentials Kitchen essentials including pots, pans, food storage containers, steam table pans, ladles, turners, and stock pots from brands such as Rubbermaid. Targeted at restaurants, bars, and home kitchen enthusiasts.
• Bar Supplies and Beverage Equipment Barware and beverage service equipment including draft beer equipment, chillers, frozen drink machines, speedrails, glasswashers, and specialty mixologist supplies from brands such as San Jamar and Spill-Stop. Targeted at bars, taverns, and restaurants.
• Sanitation and Warewash Equipment Warewash equipment and supplies for cleaning china, glassware, flatware, pots, and pans to maintain sanitary facilities. Targeted at commercial kitchens and foodservice operators with strict sanitation requirements.
• Custom Stainless Steel and Millwork Fabrication Custom-designed stainless steel work tables, storage solutions, chef's tables, dish tables, and millwork including booths, bars, serving counters, and cashier stands built to customer specifications. Targeted at restaurants, hotels, and bars needing tailored kitchen and front-of-house fixtures.
• Kitchen Design and Consulting Services Professional facility design services including full connection drawings, project evaluations, finish schedules, space planning, conceptual design, and value engineering to optimize customer investment. Targeted at operators planning new kitchens, renovations, or full commercial builds.
• Parts and Repair Service In-house warranty service, repairs, and maintenance for equipment KESCO sells, performed by factory-trained and authorized technicians. Replacement parts are stocked in warehouses across all locations to minimize downtime. Targeted at customers who purchased equipment from KESCO.
• Equipment Delivery and Installation Services Delivery, placement, installation, and equipment start-up services coordinated with general contractors and construction personnel for larger projects. Targeted at commercial kitchen build-outs and renovations.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Buying GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKESCO participates in a national buying group partnership for equipment procurement. This allows them to leverage collective purchasing power to obtain competitive pricing from manufacturers, benefiting their customers through better pricing on equipment.
• NSF InternationalminorOthersNSF International is a not-for-profit organization that tests and certifies products to ensure they meet public health standards. KESCO carries an extensive line of NSF approved products, meaning the equipment they sell meets NSF standards for safety and sanitation in foodservice environments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Restaurant Depot: Cash-and-carry warehouse club supplying foodservice operators with equipment, smallwares, and supplies. Competes with KESCO's parts, smallwares, and replacement-equipment business for SMB restaurant customers.
• Edward Don & Company: The largest distributor of foodservice equipment, supplies, and furniture in the United States. Directly overlaps with KESCO's equipment distribution, design consulting, and parts/service offering at a national scale.
• TriMark Corporation: One of the largest foodservice equipment, supplies, and design distributors in North America. Comparable as a full-service commercial kitchen equipment distributor offering design, procurement, installation, and after-sale service across multiple segments — the national-scale counterpart to KESCO's regional model.
• Clark Foodservice Equipment / Clark Associates: Parent entity of WebstaurantStore and a major foodservice equipment distributor serving restaurants, schools, healthcare, and government. Compares to KESCO on equipment distribution and institutional customer mix, but at dramatically larger scale.
• WebstaurantStore: The largest online restaurant supply store, operated by Clark Associates. Direct competitor to KESCO's smallwares, equipment, and replacement-parts business with a digital-first, national-reach model that pressures regional showroom distributors.

Direct peers

• Boelter Companies: Regional commercial foodservice equipment and supplies distributor serving the Midwest with design, procurement, and installation services. Closely mirrors KESCO's full-service model — design through after-sale support — at a comparable regional scale.
• KaTom Restaurant Supply: Restaurant equipment and supplies distributor serving independent restaurants and foodservice operators nationwide. Overlaps with KESCO on smallwares and equipment distribution to independent and chain restaurant customers.
• The Restaurant Store: Mid-Atlantic-focused foodservice equipment and supplies retailer with showroom, design, and procurement services. Comparable to KESCO as a regional multi-location equipment distributor serving independent restaurants and institutions.

Regional players

• Mission Restaurant Supply: Family-owned commercial restaurant equipment and supplies distributor based in the Southwest with both showroom locations and online ordering. Comparable to KESCO as a family-founded regional equipment distributor with mixed physical/digital channels.
• Ace Mart Restaurant Supply: Family-owned commercial restaurant equipment and supply retailer headquartered in Texas with multiple showroom locations. Direct functional parallel to KESCO — family-owned regional foodservice equipment distributor with showrooms and smallwares/equipment mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kescoflorida.kitchen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kitchen Equipment & Supply Co.