What RJ Schinner Co does

RJ Schinner Co., Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned wholesale redistribution business founded in 1951 and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The company operates as the largest independent redistributor of paper, foodservice, and janitorial products in the United States, selling exclusively to wholesale distributor partners across foodservice, lodging, grocery, janitorial supply, and office supply end-markets — never to end-users directly. The company runs 21 distribution locations nationwide with a workforce of over 600 employees, including more than 85 sales professionals organized across regional territories.

The product portfolio combines six proprietary exclusive brands — Empress, Empress Earth, Empress Elite, Performance Plus, Strongman, and Nova — with national-brand products sourced from over 200 supplier partners, including Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Clorox, SC Johnson Professional, Reckitt, Colgate-Palmolive, Sofidel, Cascades PRO, BUNN, and Dart/Solo. Operationally, the company differentiates through an owned-truck delivery fleet that handles 85% of orders, a 24-48 hour shipping window on most orders, and a 98%+ order fill rate. A Southeast Asia sourcing office combined with the August 2025 launch of a 285,000-square-foot mixing center near the Port of Savannah, GA, supports direct import operations and global procurement strategy. Custom print programs and a full-service marketing department provide branded packaging solutions to distributor partners.

Revenue is generated through product resale at quote-based, undisclosed pricing with margins supported by supplier rebate programs from major CPG partners. The company retains private family ownership under CEO Ken Schinner (fourth generation), Chairman Jim Schinner, and CFO Joe Siekierski, with no external institutional investors or parent company. Recognition includes consecutive Deloitte Wisconsin 75 placements (improving from #46 in 2024 to #43 in 2025), three consecutive years on the BizTimes Future 50 list, and 2025 supplier-partner awards from ISG and UniPro Foodservice.

Name

RJ Schinner Co

Legal name

R.J. Schinner Co., Inc.

Website

https://rjschinner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

RJ Schinner is a fourth-generation, family-owned wholesale redistribution company — the largest independent US redistributor of paper, foodservice, and janitorial products — serving foodservice, lodging, grocery, janitorial, and office-supply distributors exclusively across 21 US locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Distribution (Foodservice, Paper, and Janitorial Supplies)

NAICS

Industrial and Personal Service Paper Merchant Wholesalers (424130), Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244), Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469)

SIC

Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonfood Grocery & HBC Wholesale (Paper, Cleaning, Personal Care) (AFAIABAL)

Keywords

• Wholesale redistribution services
• Foodservice distribution supplies
• Janitorial and sanitation distribution
• Paper products redistribution
• Exclusive brand distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution and Redistribution: RJ Schinner operates as the largest independent redistributor of paper, foodservice, and janitorial products in the United States. The company purchases products from manufacturers and distributes them to wholesale distributors, never selling directly to end-users. Revenue is generated through product sales with consistent delivery schedules, low prepaid minimums, and custom print program services.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RJ Schinner is the largest independent redistributor of paper, foodservice, and janitorial products in the United States. The company purchases products from over 200 manufacturer and supplier partners and resells them exclusively to wholesale distributors serving the foodservice, lodging, grocery, janitorial supply, and office supply markets, never selling directly to end-users. Its portfolio combines six proprietary exclusive brands (Empress, Empress Earth, Empress Elite, Performance Plus, Strongman, Nova) with national brand products, supported by 21 distribution locations, a Schinner-owned truck fleet, custom print programs, full-service marketing support, and global sourcing operations.

Product overview

RJ Schinner Co is a wholesale distribution company serving the foodservice, lodging, grocery, janitorial supply, and office supply markets. The company operates as the largest independent redistributor in the United States with 21 locations nationwide. Their product portfolio consists of six exclusive brands (Empress, Empress Earth, Empress Elite, Performance Plus, Strongman, and Nova) complemented by national brand products from over 200 supplier partners. The exclusive brands serve distinct market segments: Empress offers premium paper and foodservice disposables; Empress Earth provides eco-friendly compostable alternatives; Empress Elite delivers premium paper products; Performance Plus covers janitorial and sanitary needs; Strongman specializes in can liners; and Nova offers economical paper and foodservice products. The company sells exclusively to distributor partners, never directly to end-users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empress: Premium paper, food service disposables, and gloves brand offering high-end comfort and food service essentials.
• Empress Earth
• Empress Elite
• Performance Plus
• Strongman
• Nova

Products and services

• Empress Exclusive Brand
• Empress Earth Eco-Friendly Disposables
• Empress Elite Premium Paper
• Performance Plus Janitorial and Sanitary Products
• Strongman Can Liners
• Nova Economy Paper and Foodservice Products
• National Brand Foodservice Redistribution
• National Brand Paper Products Redistribution
• National Brand Janitorial and Sanitation Redistribution
• Custom Print Programs

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BUNNcoreOthersBUNN is listed as a supplier partner providing foodservice equipment products
• Colgate-PalmolivecoreOthersColgate-Palmolive is listed as a national supplier partner providing consumer products including personal care and cleaning products. Quarterly rebate programs available through RJ Schinner.
• Procter & GamblecoreOthersP&G is listed as a national supplier partner providing professional cleaning and paper products. Quarterly rebate programs available through RJ Schinner.
• ReckittcoreOthersReckitt (Lysol) is listed as a national supplier partner providing cleaning and disinfectant products. Quarterly rebate programs available through RJ Schinner.
• CloroxcoreOthersClorox Pro is listed as a national supplier partner providing professional cleaning products. Quarterly rebate programs available through RJ Schinner.
• DialcoreOthersDial Professional is listed as a supplier partner providing professional hand care and cleaning products. Rebate and promotion programs available through RJ Schinner.
• Cascades PROcoreOthersCascades PRO is listed as a paper supplier partner providing professional hygiene and paper solutions. Cascades ranked #34 globally as one of world's most sustainable corporations.
• SofidelcoreOthersSofidel is listed as a paper supplier partner. Received CDP A- rating in Climate Change and Forests categories for 2025.
• Kimberly-ClarkcoreOthersKimberly-Clark is listed as a national supplier partner providing professional hygiene and paper products.
• SC JohnsoncoreOthersSC Johnson and SC Johnson Professional are listed as supplier partners providing cleaning and facility solutions.
• ISG (Independent Suppliers Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISG is a buying group that RJ Schinner partners with. Awarded ISG Supplier Partner of the Year at ISG Industry Week 2025 in Denver, CO.
• UniPro FoodservicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniPro Foodservice is a major foodservice distribution organization. RJ Schinner received the 2025 UniPro Disposables/Chemicals Award at the 2026 Spring Conference.
• AmerCareRoyalminorOthersAmerCareRoyal is listed as a foodservice supplier partner.
• Dart/SolocoreOthersDart Container Corporation is listed as a foodservice supplier partner providing disposable containers and cups.
• GenpakminorOthersGenpak is listed as a foodservice supplier partner.
• Rubbermaid Commercial ProductscoreOthersRubbermaid Commercial Products is listed as a foodservice and janitorial supplier partner.
• VistarminorOthersVistar awarded Strategic Account Manager Chris Haase with the 2025 Spotlight Award.
• ISSAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerISSA is the Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions. RJ Schinner participates in ISSA Show North America and International Cleaning Week celebrations.
• National Restaurant AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRJ Schinner exhibits at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show annually to connect with industry professionals, distributors, and operators.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Edward Don & Company: Edward Don is one of the largest foodservice equipment and supplies distributors in the U.S., redistributing disposables, smallwares, and janitorial items to foodservice operators and dealers. Comparable in product category (foodservice disposables, janitorial), national branch footprint, and supplier relationships.
• Brady Industries: Brady Industries is an independent redistributor of janitorial, sanitation, foodservice, and paper products serving distributor partners across the Western U.S. Highly comparable redistributor model, supplier base, and customer segments to RJ Schinner.
• Bunzl plc: Bunzl is the largest global redistribution specialist for non-food consumables (foodservice packaging, cleaning, hygiene, safety) selling exclusively to distributors and end-customers. Mirrors RJ Schinner's two-step redistribution model, broad-line janitorial/paper/foodservice disposables portfolio, and exclusive-brand strategy, but at international scale.
• Imperial Dade: Imperial Dade is a leading North American redistributor of foodservice disposables, janitorial supplies, and printing papers to distributor and end-user customers. Directly overlaps RJ Schinner's product mix across paper, foodservice packaging, and jan-san, with comparable exclusive-brand content and multi-branch infrastructure.
• CleanSource Inc. CleanSource is a master redistributor of janitorial, sanitary, and foodservice products serving independent distributor partners across the U.S. Closely aligned with RJ Schinner's jan-san-centered segments, exclusive-brand model, and channel-only (no end-user sales) strategy.

Broad incumbents

• HD Supply Holdings: HD Supply is a large, broad-line industrial and facility maintenance products distributor serving contractors, property managers, and hospitality/foodservice customers. Significant overlap with RJ Schinner on janitorial, sanitation, and disposables, but operates at much larger scale and across broader categories (MRO, infrastructure).
• SpartanNash: SpartanNash is a major U.S. food wholesale and grocery distributor, including its broadline foodservice arm. Overlaps with RJ Schinner on grocery and foodservice category distribution to retail and foodservice operators.
• Gordon Food Service: Gordon Food Service is one of North America's largest family-operated broadline foodservice distributors serving restaurants, schools, and healthcare. While primarily a food distributor, it carries a substantial foodservice disposables and janitorial assortment that competes for distributor and operator wallet share.
• US Foods Holding Corp. US Foods is one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the U.S., distributing foodservice disposables and janitorial items as part of its full assortment to restaurants and operators. Comparable channel overlap with RJ Schinner's distributor partners but at vastly larger broadline scale.

Others

• EIS Group / Edco Supply: EIS is a specialty distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating supplies that reaches distributor partners in janitorial-sanitation and foodservice categories. Relevant ecosystem peer serving adjacent distribution channels rather than competing head-to-head with RJ Schinner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rjschinner
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/RJSchinner
• Facebookfacebook.com/rjschinner
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/r.j.-schinner-co.-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 RJ Schinner Co