Cambro

What Cambro does

Cambro Manufacturing is a privately held US-based foodservice equipment manufacturer founded in 1951 and headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, operating with 501-1,000 employees across a global footprint spanning the US, UK, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Italy, Austria, China, and India (via the Cambro Nilkamal joint venture). The company designs and produces durable plastic and composite foodservice equipment, including food storage containers (Camwear, CamSquares FreshPro), insulated food transport carts (Pro Cart Ultra, Cam GoBox), shelving systems (Camshelving Premium, Elements XTRA, Elevation), meal delivery carts (ProServe), trays (Camtray, Camtread), beverage service items (tumblers, Cambars), and warewashing solutions (Camracks, dish caddies, Cambox bus boxes). Its core technology rests on proprietary material formulations such as Camguard antimicrobial, rust-proof Camshelving composite, and Camwear impact-resistant plastic, supported by NSF-listed components and lifetime warranties on key product lines.

Cambro operates a pure hardware sales model, generating revenue through one-time unit purchases of physical equipment rather than recurring subscriptions. Products are priced individually, ranging from approximately $2.25 for ID clips to $1,710 for tray and silverware carts, with volume and distributor pricing handled offline. The company goes to market through a two-tier distribution model: distributors and manufacturer sales representatives, supported by Find a Distributor and Find a Rep online tools and the Cambro mobile app for field sales enablement. Customer segments span healthcare, schools, convenience stores, and catering, with healthcare and schools flagged as primary verticals given requirements around infection control, durability, and meal delivery efficiency. Distribution is complemented by an inbound digital marketing program including a blog, CambroEats food inspiration site, email newsletter, and presence across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads.

The company's competitive positioning leans on intangible IP (18+ registered trademarks covering Camwear, Camshelving, Camguard, ColdFest, GoBox, Pro Cart Ultra, and others), modular product compatibility that creates switching costs across the kitchen workflow, and a 75-year heritage that supports distributor and end-customer trust. Recent strategic activity centers on expanding the healthcare meal delivery portfolio, launching the Pro Cart Ultra and FreshPro premium lines, deepening geographic reach in Europe and Asia, and operating the Cambro Nilkamal India joint venture, which faces an ongoing Delhi High Court injunction restricting the Stella induction cooktop brand.

Name

Cambro

Legal name

Cambro Manufacturing

Website

https://cambro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cambro Manufacturing is a 75-year-old, US-based private manufacturer of durable plastic and composite foodservice equipment, including storage containers, insulated transport carts, shelving, warewashing racks, and meal delivery systems, sold through distributors to healthcare, school, catering, and commercial foodservice operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Foodservice Equipment

NAICS

Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Food Manufacturing (311), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold Prepared Foods & Meal Components (Sides, Proteins, Family Meals) (CRAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Commercial foodservice equipment
• Insulated food transport
• Commercial kitchen shelving
• Foodservice storage containers
• Warewashing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntington Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Equipment Sales: Cambro generates revenue through the sale of physical foodservice equipment products including storage containers, transport carts, shelving, warewashing solutions, beverage service items, and display equipment. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no recurring revenue model apparent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cambro Manufacturing designs and produces durable commercial foodservice equipment including insulated food transport carts, food storage containers, food pans, beverage service items, trays, modular shelving systems, meal delivery carts, warewashing racks, dish caddies, bus boxes, and handwash stations. Products are sold primarily through distributors and manufacturer sales representatives to commercial kitchens in healthcare, education, c-store, and catering segments. Differentiators include proprietary Camguard antimicrobial technology, rust-proof Camshelving composite material, impact-resistant Camwear plastic, and patented CamLever tower adjustment systems.

Product overview

Cambro is a manufacturer of foodservice equipment and supplies offering a broad portfolio of interconnected product lines designed for commercial kitchens, restaurants, healthcare facilities, schools, catering operations, and hospitality businesses. The product portfolio includes: Insulated Transport equipment (electric and non-electric food transport carts, food pan carriers, Cam GoBox transporters, meal delivery carts) for maintaining food temperature during transport; Food Storage solutions (CamSquares FreshPro, CamRounds containers, food boxes, ColdFest containers); Food Pans (Camwear, High Heat, and Translucent); Beverage Service (tumblers, pitchers, Cambars beverage bars, beverage dispensers); Trays (Camtrays, Camtread non-skid trays, school trays, healthcare trays); Shelving under the Camshelving brand (Premium Series, Elements XTRA Series, Basics Plus, Elevation Wall Shelving, High Density systems); Food and Salad Bars and Vending Carts; Meal Service equipment; and Warewashing solutions including Camracks (glass racks, cup racks, base racks, peg racks), Dish Caddies (Versa, Adjustable, Poker Chip), Dish Carts, Cambox bus boxes, Camdollies, and Service Carts. The products work together as a complete foodservice ecosystem addressing storage, transport, preparation, serving, and cleanup operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camrack: Warewashing racks for glasses, cups, plates, and utensils
• Camwear
• Camtray
• Camtread
• Camshelving
• Camdolly
• Camliter
• Cambar
• ColdFest
• GoBags
• Camkiosk
• Pro Cart Ultra
• FreshPro
• Del Mar
• Huntington
• Cambox
• Versa Organizers
• IceExpress

Products and services

• Insulated Transport Product Line Comprehensive line of insulated food and beverage transport equipment including electric and non-electric food transport carts, front- and top-loading food pan carriers, insulated beverage transport, Cam GoBox food transporters, GoBags, temperature maintenance tools, meal delivery carts, and international GoBox transporters designed to maintain food temperature during transport for commercial kitchens, healthcare, schools, and caterers.
• Food Storage Product Line Food storage solutions including CamSquares FreshPro square storage containers, round storage containers, food boxes, measuring cups and scoops, mobile ingredient bins, ColdFest containers, and storage labels for commercial kitchen food preservation.
• Food Pans Product Line Food pan offerings including Camwear food pans and lids, high-heat food pans and lids, and translucent food pans and lids for foodservice preparation and storage.
• Beverage Bars Product Line Portable beverage service equipment including Cambars portable beverage bars, ice caddies, and Versa organizers for efficient beverage service in foodservice operations.
• Tumblers and Pitchers Product Line Beverage service items including tumblers, decanters and Camliters, pitchers, and disposable and reusable lids for serving beverages in various foodservice settings.
• Trays Product Line Comprehensive tray solutions including Camtrays, Camtread non-skid trays, school trays, healthcare trays, compartment trays, correctional trays, self-serve trays, and European trays for various foodservice environments.
• Food, Salad and Vending Carts Product Line Mobile food service equipment including vending carts, food and salad bars, mobile transport prep and transport racks, Camkiosk units, equipment carts, service and utility carts, work tables, and Flex Stations.
• Camshelving Storage Systems Camshelving storage solutions including Premium Series for North America and Europe, Elements XTRA Series, Basics Plus Series, High Density Storage System, Elevation Series Wall Shelving, and various Camshelving accessories for commercial kitchen and storage applications.
• Display and Serving Product Line Serving display equipment including serving bowls, ladles, spoons and tongs, deli crocks, shakers and dredges, and market trays and pans for food presentation and service.
• Mobile Transport Product Line Mobile transport equipment including Camshelving GN Food Pan Trolleys, Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack, and Camshelving Ultimate Z-Rack for efficient movement of food pans and sheet pans in commercial kitchens.
• Meal Service Product Line Meal service equipment including plate covers, healthcare meal delivery systems, dinnerware, and healthcare-specific meal service solutions.
• Warewashing Product Line Warewashing solutions including Camracks (glass racks, cup racks, base racks, peg and tray racks, flatware racks), dish caddies (Versa, Adjustable, Poker Chip), dish carts, Camdollies, Cambox bus boxes, and service and utility carts for dish storage, transport and cleaning.
• Handwashing Product Line Hand hygiene equipment including mobile handwash stations, handwash accessories, and Camkiosk hand sink carts for foodservice hygiene compliance.
• Camracks Warewashing Racks Warewashing racks including glass racks, cup racks, base racks, peg and tray racks, and flatware racks for organized dish storage and cleaning in commercial dishwashers.
• Compact Adjustable Dish Caddy S-Series Space-saving dish caddy with adjustable CamLever towers accommodating round dishes 4 5/8 to 12 inches, storing 45-70 dishes per stack with up to 500 lbs. load capacity.
• Camrack Cup Racks Cup racks protecting delicate mugs and cups during washing, transport, and storage with unique tilt feature for water drainage.
• Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack Durable, rust-proof sheet pan rack with heat-resistant rails accepting pans from 350°F ovens, designed for sheet pan transport and holding in commercial kitchens.
• Camrack Base Racks Open racks for pots, pans, and bowls with inside grating for thorough water circulation and quick drying, with closed outer walls to keep contaminants out.
• Camtread Rectangular Trays Non-skid fiberglass trays with thick rubber surface that does not wear away under commercial dishwashing, recommended for caterers and fine dining.
• Regal Cambox Bus boxes made of stain and scratch-resistant ABS plastic, designed for bussing, storing, and transporting cutlery in restaurants and hotels.
• Glass and Cup Keepers Organized storage and wait station solutions for glassware and cups, with Glass Keeper holding 20 glasses each and Cup Keeper for various cup sizes.
• Tray and Silverware Cart Multi-functional cart organizing trays and cutlery with eight clear Camwear food pans included for flatware, napkins, and condiments, featuring a protective vinyl cover.
• KD Large Utility Cart All-purpose utility cart with stain-resistant surface and Camguard antimicrobial handles, holding up to 400 lbs with non-marking casters.
• IceExpress Water Glass Filler Glass filler servicing 25 glasses at a time, designed to reduce banquet setup time and minimize glassware handling and breakage.
• Camrack Peg and Tray Racks Secure racks for washing and drying plates, bowls, trays, and plate covers in commercial dishwashers.
• Dunnage Racks Heavy-duty storage racks keeping products off the floor, constructed of rust-proof material that never dents or corrodes, available in solid and slotted tops.
• Six-Gallon Beverage Dispenser Beverage dispenser for mixing and serving concentrated beverages, ideal for events with standard and metric graduations and bail handle.
• KD Small Service Cart Versatile service cart with Camguard antimicrobial handles, holding up to 300 lbs with quiet, non-marking casters.
• Dish Caddies Efficient storage and transport solutions for dishes, featuring adjustable configurations, durable polyethylene construction, and molded-in handles for easy mobility.
• Dish Carts Multi-level storage carts for efficient transport and storage of plates, trays, and cutlery in front and back-of-house operations, featuring detachable cutlery stations and rust-proof surfaces.
• Camrack Extender ID Clips Identification clips for Camracks to identify contents at a glance for inventory control, made from virtually unbreakable ABS plastic.
• Colorware Tumblers Classic value tumblers designed for lasting service with scratch-resistant texturing, featuring Sani-Rim lip for sanitary drinking surface.
• Huntington Tumblers Camwear tumblers replicating glass beauty without breakage risk, ideal for poolside bar and hotel mixed drink service.
• Newport Tumblers Fluted tumblers offering upscale glass-like appearance with plastic durability, featuring Sani-Rim lip for sanitary drinking.
• Fast Food Trays Durable, budget-friendly trays with textured surface to resist scratches, available in 14 colors with personalization options.
• Camshelving Ultimate Z-Rack A mobile transport rack designed for efficient storage and transport of sheet pans and food pans in commercial kitchens.
• Versa Tabletop Food Bar A tabletop food bar for serving and displaying food items in self-service settings.
• Camshelving High Density Top Rail Storage System A high-density shelving storage system with top rail design for maximizing storage capacity in commercial kitchens.
• FreshPro CamRounds Food Storage Containers Translucent round food storage containers designed to keep food fresh, part of the FreshPro product line.
• Pro Cart Ultra Pan Carriers (Low Profile) Electric-powered pan carriers with low profile design for transporting food pans while maintaining temperature.
• ProServe Stainless Steel Meal Delivery Carts Stainless steel meal delivery carts designed for healthcare and catering meal distribution.
• Tall 16-Tray Meal Delivery Cart Tall meal delivery cart designed to hold 16 trays for efficient meal distribution.
• Camshelving Elevation Wall Shelving Wall-mounted shelving system from the Camshelving Elevation Series for maximizing floor space in commercial kitchens.
• Pro Cart Ultra Pan Carrier 1600 Electric pan carrier model 1600 for maintaining food temperature during transport in foodservice operations.
• Tall 20-Tray Meal Delivery Cart Extended height meal delivery cart designed to hold 20 trays for larger-scale meal distribution operations.
• Camliter Beverage Decanter with Flip Lid Beverage decanter with flip lid design for serving beverages in foodservice settings.
• Service Cart Pro Professional-grade service cart for transporting dishes, supplies, and equipment in commercial kitchens.
• Camshelving Elements XTRA Series Camshelving Elements XTRA Series offering enhanced durability and features for commercial kitchen storage.
• CamSquares FreshPro Square Storage Containers Square food storage containers from the FreshPro line designed for optimal food freshness and storage efficiency.
• Camshelving Universal Storage Rack Versatile storage rack accessory for Camshelving systems for organizing and storing various kitchen items.
• Camshelving GN Food Pan Trolleys Camshelving trolleys designed specifically for GN (Gastronorm) food pan storage and transport.
• Cambro Vending Cart Customizable vending cart for mobile food sales and vending operations.
• Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack for Single Shelf First plastic sheet pan rack designed for single shelf installation on Camshelving Premium and Elements XTRA Series, supporting 40 lbs per rail set (up to 200 lbs per unit).

Quantifiable outcome

• Compact Adjustable Dish Caddy S-Series stores 45 to 70 dishes per stack
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carlisle Foodservice Products: Carlisle Foodservice Products is a leading manufacturer of plastic foodservice items including food pans, storage, tableware, and beverage service — a near direct overlap with Cambro's core catalog and material approach (plastic foodservice goods). Both compete head-to-head in Camwear-equivalent food pans, bus boxes, and NSF-listed storage sold through the same foodservice distribution channel.
• The Vollrath Company: Vollrath is a long-established private foodservice equipment manufacturer producing smallwares, cookware, buffet/catering equipment, and food storage. Comparable to Cambro because both serve the same operator base across storage, transport, and serving with broad NSF-listed catalogs and distributor-led GTM.
• Rubbermaid Commercial Products: Rubbermaid Commercial Products manufactures plastic carts, containers, shelving, and food transport used in healthcare, foodservice, and institutional settings — direct portfolio overlap with Cambro's Camshelving, utility carts, and food storage lines. Same end-buyers and channel structure.
• Metro (interMetro Industries): InterMetro Industries is the dominant supplier of commercial shelving, mobile transport carts, and high-density storage to foodservice and healthcare — directly comparable to Cambro's Camshelving Premium and Elements XTRA Series. Both compete on NSF-listed modular storage and have healthcare meal-delivery adjacency.
• Hatco Corporation: Hatco is a private, family-held manufacturer of foodservice equipment including heated/insulated holding, transport, and display — closely comparable to Cambro's Pro Cart Ultra and ColdFest insulated transport lines, with similar family-ownership structure and broad catalog approach.
• Cres Cor / Crescent Metal Products: Cres Cor manufactures mobile insulated food holding and transport cabinets for schools, healthcare, and catering — a direct adjacency to Cambro's Meal Delivery Carts and Pro Cart Ultra product family. Same vertical end-buyers and similar spec-driven sales motion.
• American Metalcraft: American Metalcraft produces a broad foodservice catalog of buffet, display, tabletop, and serving solutions. Comparable to Cambro's Display and Serving, Trays, and Camwear serving lines for restaurants, catering, and hospitality buyers via foodservice distributors.
• Winco / Winco Industries: Winco manufactures and distributes commercial kitchen smallwares, buffet, and tabletop items comparable to Cambro's trays, tumblers, and serving/buffet equipment. Both occupy the broadline mid-tier of foodservice smallwares sold through distributors.

Broad incumbents

• Middleby Corporation: Middleby is the largest publicly-traded commercial foodservice equipment conglomerate (cooking, refrigeration, warewashing, holding, transport). Comparable as a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with Cambro's holding/transport and warewashing categories but with vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Food Equipment: ITW is a diversified industrial conglomerate whose Food Equipment segment (Hobart, Vulcan, Rational) competes with Cambro in commercial kitchen and warewashing equipment. Relevant as a broad incumbent overshadowing Cambro with much greater scale, though Cambro's plastic-stack model is not directly replicated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Cambro1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/iamcambro
• Facebookfacebook.com/CambroMfg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambro-manufacturing
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambromfg
• Pinterestpinterest.com/CambroMfg
• TikToktiktok.com/@cambromfg

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Cambro