Ben E. Keith Foods
Ben E. Keith Foods is a privately held, family-owned broad-line foodservice and premium beverage distributor founded in 1906, operating a Food Division across 20 states and a Beverage Division distributing Anheuser-Busch InBev and craft beverages across 62+ Texas counties for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and on-premise accounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1906
- HeadquartersFort Worth, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ben E. Keith Foods does
Ben E. Keith Foods is a privately held, family-owned broad-line foodservice distributor founded in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas, and currently operated under fifth-generation family leadership (CEO Howard Hallam). The company operates two parallel divisions: a Food Division serving 20 states from 11+ regional facilities across the South, Southwest, and Southeast (including Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Gulf Coast, West Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mid-South, Southeast Alabama, Florida, and Carolina), and a Beverage Division serving 62+ Texas counties through 14 sales and distribution centers as a distributor of Anheuser-Busch InBev products alongside craft and import beer, spirits, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Customer segments span restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, colleges/universities, employee feeding, camps, extended care, daycare, and retail/on-premise beverage accounts.
The product portfolio combines third-party distributed brands (AB InBev flagship labels, General Mills, Land O'Lakes, Frank's RedHot, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, DART, Dixie, Markon produce) with proprietary exclusive brands developed internally (1855 Black Angus beef, 1906 BBQ sauce, Admiral of the Fleet seafood, Bellacibo, Ceylon Tea Gardens, Elite World Imports) and Keith Valley Packing Company / BEKO Franks owned meat processing capacity in Alabama and Dallas. Technology infrastructure includes the Entree System ecommerce platform for customer ordering, invoicing, inventory management, and delivery tracking, plus a Seneca Corporation automated recall notification system that contacts customers via phone and email during product recalls, supporting HACCP, FSMA, GMP, and SOP/Sanitation compliance.
Revenue is generated primarily through transactional product sales and distribution margins across two segments. The Food Division generates revenue by delivering fresh and frozen food products including meat, produce, and specialty foods to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and other foodservice operators across 20 states. The Beverage Division generates revenue by distributing Anheuser-Busch InBev products, craft and import beers, spirits, fine wines, and non-alcoholic beverages through direct sales teams and 14 distribution centers across 62+ Texas counties. Pricing is negotiated B2B and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market model combines direct field sales, the company website's "Become a Customer" intake form, and multi-unit operator access via DMA and Unipro Foodservice buying group relationships.
Ben E. Keith Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ben E. Keith Foods
- Legal name
- Ben E. Keith Company
- Website
- https://benekeith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1906
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Ben E. Keith Foods is a privately held, family-owned broad-line foodservice and premium beverage distributor founded in 1906, operating a Food Division across 20 states and a Beverage Division distributing Anheuser-Busch InBev and craft beverages across 62+ Texas counties for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and on-premise accounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ben E. Keith Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foodservice Distribution
- NAICS
- Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481), Other Food Manufacturing (3119)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National/Multiregional Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Broadline Foodservice Distribution (CRAOABAA), Bar, Restaurant & On-Premise Beverage Supply Wholesale (AFAIAGAI), Bulk Beverage & Keg Distribution (AFAIAGAK), Institutional Foodservice Distribution (Education, Healthcare, Government) (CRAOABAM), Broadline Foodservice (Multi-Category) Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAA)
Keywords
Where Ben E. Keith Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Worth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices19 records
Markets served
Ben E. Keith Foods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Food Distribution: Ben E. Keith Foods operates as a complete broad-line food distributor servicing 20 states, delivering fresh and frozen food products including meat, produce, and specialty foods to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and other food service operations. Revenue is generated through product sales and distribution services.
- Beverage Distribution: The Beverage Division distributes Anheuser-Busch InBev products, craft and import beers, spirits, fine wines, and non-alcoholic beverages across over 62 Texas counties through 14 sales and distribution centers. Revenue comes from distribution and product margins.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ben E. Keith Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ben E. Keith Foods is a broad-line foodservice and beverage distributor operating two divisions. The Food Distribution Division is the 5th largest broad-line foodservice distributor in the U.S., supplying restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and other operators across roughly 20 states with center-of-the-plate, produce, frozen, dry, and dairy categories plus exclusive proprietary brands. The Beverage Distribution Division distributes Anheuser-Busch products, craft beer, wine, and spirits to retailers across more than 62 Texas counties from 14 distribution centers.
Product overview
Ben E. Keith operates as a dual-division food and beverage distributor. The Food Division is a complete broad-line distributor servicing twenty states with operations in twelve regions (Carolina, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Florida, Gulf Coast, Keith Valley Packing Company in DFW and Southeast, Mid-South, New Mexico, Oklahoma, San Antonio, Southeast, and West Texas). The Beverage Division serves over 62 Texas counties as a distributor of Anheuser-Busch InBev products, craft and import beer, spirits, fine wine, and non-alcoholic beverages through 14 sales and distribution centers. The company offers proprietary exclusive food brands including 1855 (premium beef), 1906 (barbecue sauce), Admiral of the Fleet (seafood), Bellacibo (Italian), Ceylon Tea Gardens (tea), and Elite World Imports (global foods), plus Keith Valley Packing Company for meat products. The company has built its portfolio through strategic acquisitions including Florida Food Service (2022) and Orrell's Food Service (2023), and has a distribution partnership with Blake's Beverage Company for cider brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 1855: Exclusive beef brand featuring Black Angus heritage stock raised by family ranchers, delivering premium steak-quality beef.
- 1906
- Admiral of the Fleet
- Bellacibo
- Ceylon Tea Gardens
- Elite World Imports
- Keith Valley Packing Company
Products and services
- Food Distribution Division
Quantifiable outcome
- Fifth largest broad-line foodservice distributor in the United States
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ben E. Keith Foods
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ben E. Keith Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
Ben E. Keith Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Blake's Beverage CompanycoreStrategic distribution partnership effective January 2026 where Ben E. Keith Beverages distributes Blake's full portfolio of cider brands including Blake's Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders, and Giddy Up across the state of Texas. Ben E. Keith serves as the exclusive distributor for the brand's products in the region, with the partnership aimed at expanding retail availability and increasing local marketing activation throughout 2026 and beyond.
- Anheuser-Busch InBevcoreBen E. Keith is a proud distributor of Anheuser-Busch InBev products through its beverage division serving Texas. The company distributes Anheuser-Busch brands including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, and otherABI products across its 14 Texas distribution centers serving 62+ counties.
- MarkoncoreMarkon and member companies have been the foodservice industry's premiere source of fresh produce for more than 30 years. Ben E. Keith features Markon as a key partner providing produce供应 to food service customers.
- Distribution Market Advantage (DMA)minorDMA provides multi-unit foodservice operators with access to the best regional distributors in the nation. Ben E. Keith participates as a regional distribution partner for over twenty years.
- Unipro FoodserviceminorUnipro Foodservice connects distributors with quality foodservice products for over 800,000 customers. Ben E. Keith is part of this network enabling access to a broader customer base.
- International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA)minorIFDA supports foodservice distributors who buy, store, sell, and deliver products to consumers. Ben E. Keith aligns with IFDA standards and practices for the foodservice distribution industry.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ben E. Keith Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sysco: The largest broadline foodservice distributor in the United States. Directly comparable as a broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, hotels, healthcare, and education, though Sysco is national in scale and publicly traded.
- US Foods: One of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the U.S. Comparable in customer base (restaurants, healthcare, hospitality) and broadline distribution model, with a national footprint and public-company scale exceeding Ben E. Keith.
- Performance Food Group: Major broadline foodservice distributor operating through Performance Foodservice and Vistar. Comparable broadline distribution model serving restaurants and institutional accounts, with significantly larger scale and a public-company balance sheet.
Direct peers
- Gordon Food Service: Privately held, family-led broadline foodservice distributor with U.S. and Canadian operations. Highly comparable as a private, family-owned broadline distributor in the same competitive set as Ben E. Keith.
- Shamrock Foods Company: Family-owned broadline foodservice distributor with strong Arizona and Southwest presence plus a dairy manufacturing arm. Closely comparable to Ben E. Keith as a private, family-operated broadline distributor with Southwest-centric geographic overlap.
- Reyes Holdings: Privately held distributor of food and beverages including beer (Martin Brower, Reyes Beverage Group), spirits, and foodservice. Directly comparable beverage distribution overlap with Ben E. Keith's Texas-based beer and beverage division.
- Labatt Food Service: Privately held broadline foodservice distributor serving the South Central and Southwest U.S. Comparable customer segments (restaurants, schools, healthcare) and broadline distribution model with overlapping regional presence.
- Cheney Brothers: Large private broadline foodservice distributor serving the Southeast and Caribbean. Comparable as a broadline distributor with overlapping geographies in Florida and the Southeast after Ben E. Keith's Florida Food Service acquisition.
- Admiral Beverage Corporation: Large privately held beverage distributor with a Pepsi-Cola affiliation and multi-state presence in the Western U.S. Comparable in beverage distribution focus, though concentrated in non-alcoholic beverages and Pepsi-aligned brands.
Others
- Mexican Restaurants, Inc. Less directly comparable; included as a representative customer-side counterpart in the restaurant vertical. Customers such as County Line Bar-B-Q, El Pinto, and Bonnell's illustrate the restaurant segment Ben E. Keith serves.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ben E. Keith Foods social profiles
Digital presenceBen E. Keith Foods compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Ben E. Keith Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ben E. Keith Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Ben E. Keith Foods subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Ben E. Keith Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ben E. Keith Foods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A4 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ben E. Keith Foods
What does Ben E. Keith Foods do?
Ben E. Keith Foods is a broad-line foodservice and beverage distributor operating two divisions. The Food Distribution Division is the 5th largest broad-line foodservice distributor in the U.S., supplying restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and other operators across roughly 20 states with center-of-the-plate, produce, frozen, dry, and dairy categories plus exclusive proprietary brands. The Beverage Distribution Division distributes Anheuser-Busch products, craft beer, wine, and spirits to retailers across more than 62 Texas counties from 14 distribution centers.
Is Ben E. Keith Foods a public or private company?
Ben E. Keith Foods is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ben E. Keith Foods founded?
Ben E. Keith Foods was founded in 1906. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Ben E. Keith Foods based?
Ben E. Keith Foods is headquartered in Fort Worth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ben E. Keith Foods make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Food Distribution is the primary driver. The others are beverage Distribution.
Who are Ben E. Keith Foods's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sysco, US Foods and Performance Food Group. Direct peers are Gordon Food Service, Shamrock Foods Company, Reyes Holdings, Labatt Food Service, Cheney Brothers and Admiral Beverage Corporation. Mexican Restaurants, Inc. is listed as an others.
Does Ben E. Keith Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ben E. Keith Foods.
What industry is Ben E. Keith Foods in?
Ben E. Keith Foods's product category is Foodservice Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAAAA, National/Multiregional Broadline Foodservice Distributors, with a secondary code of CRAOABAA, Broadline Foodservice Distribution. Its NAICS code is 42481 and its SIC code is 5140.