Y. Hata & Co.

What Y. Hata & Co. does

Y. Hata & Co., Limited is Hawaii's largest locally owned foodservice distributor and one of the 30 largest in the United States, operating since 1913 across the Hawaiian islands. The company distributes protein, seafood, grocery, beverages, cleaning supplies, and restaurant equipment to restaurants and foodservice operators through three operating divisions: a Broadline Division serving single and multi-location operators with access to 10,000+ products; a Customized Division serving military, education, hospitality, healthcare, and institutional accounts; and ChefZone, a cash-and-carry wholesale club operating from a 45,000 square foot warehouse. Y. Hata maintains a portfolio of 16 exclusive private-label brands unavailable elsewhere in Hawaii, covering categories from center-of-plate proteins and seafood to bakery, Italian, Mexican, dairy, and disposables.

The business runs on a relationship-based, account-manager-driven distribution model with proprietary online ordering at order.yhata.com and a statewide delivery fleet operating out of six facilities across Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. Revenue is generated through transactional markups on B2B product sales across both contract delivery (Broadline and Customized) and walk-in cash-and-carry (ChefZone). The company does not publicly disclose financial results. Operational infrastructure includes rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on all facilities offsetting 22% of electricity costs, and value-added services such as ServSafe Manager Certification training, business profitability analysis, menu development, and marketing support for top customers.

Y. Hata serves a customer mix spanning national chain restaurants (Wendy's, Chili's, The Cheesecake Factory, Panda Express, Raising Cane's), hospitality operators (Hilton, Aulani Resort), government and institutional accounts (Department of Defense, State of Hawaii Department of Education), and a long tail of independent restaurants and food trucks. The company remains family-owned across three generations, with Russell J. Hata serving as Chairman, President, and CEO and Brian Marting as CFO, and has no disclosed external institutional ownership.

Name

Y. Hata & Co.

Legal name

Y. Hata & Co., Limited

Website

https://yhata.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Y. Hata & Co. is Hawaii's largest family-owned foodservice distributor, operating since 1913 across Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. The company distributes 10,000+ products through Broadline, Customized, and ChefZone cash-and-carry divisions to restaurants, hotels, military, schools, and institutional foodservice operators statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Distribution

NAICS

Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447), Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers (42444), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional/Local Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private-Label / Own-Brand Broadline Distributors (AFAIAAAI), Cash-and-Carry / Foodservice Warehouse Clubs (Broadline) (AFAIAAAG), Noncommercial/Institutional Broadline Distributors (K-12, Higher Ed, Healthcare, Government) (AFAIAAAC), Specialty Restaurant Chain Program Broadline Distributors (Contracted/Managed Supply) (AFAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Foodservice distribution
• Broadline distribution
• Cash-and-carry wholesale
• Exclusive foodservice brands
• Restaurant supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Product Distribution: B2B distribution of foodservice products including protein, seafood, grocery, beverages, cleaning supplies, and restaurant equipment to restaurants and foodservice operations across Hawaii. Revenue generated through product markups on transactions with customer partners.
2. ChefZone Cash-and-Carry: Wholesale cash-and-carry division offering over 5,000 restaurant-quality products to smaller foodservice operators and the public, with 45,000 square foot warehouse facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Y. Hata & Co. is Hawaii's largest family-owned foodservice distributor, supplying restaurants and foodservice operators statewide with more than 10,000 products spanning protein, seafood, grocery, beverages, cleaning supplies, and restaurant equipment, complemented by 16 exclusive brands unavailable elsewhere in Hawaii. The company operates a Broadline Division for general restaurant accounts, a Customized Division for military, education, hospitality, and healthcare institutions, and ChefZone, a 45,000 sq ft cash-and-carry wholesale club serving smaller operators.

Product overview

Y. Hata & Co. is Hawaii's largest family-owned foodservice distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. The company operates as a broadline distributor supplemented by 16 exclusive brands (Bountiful Harvest, Brickfire Bakery, Cobblestreet MKT, Fair Meadow, Intros, Katy's Kitchen, Pier Port Seafood, Prairie Creek, ProPak, Riverhill Poultry, Villa Frizzoni, Vista Verde) available exclusively in Hawaii, alongside national brand partnerships. Their service offerings include Broadline Distribution serving restaurants with over 10,000 products, Customized Distribution for military, education, and hospitality sectors, and ChefZone—a cash-and-carry wholesale club. Additional services encompass ServSafe Manager Certification training, Business Review consulting, and Marketing Support. The product portfolio spans protein & seafood, grocery & beverages, patisserie & confections, non-grocery supplies, and restaurant equipment across both exclusive and national brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bountiful Harvest: Frozen potatoes, French fries, and minimally processed produce in canned, frozen, and dried formats.
• Brickfire Bakery
• Cobblestreet MKT
• Fair Meadow
• Intros
• Katy’s Kitchen
• Pier Port Seafood
• Prairie Creek
• ProPak
• Riverhill Poultry
• Villa Frizzoni
• Vista Verde
• Rejuv

Products and services

• Broadline Distribution B2B foodservice distribution serving single and multi-location restaurant and foodservice operators across Hawaii, providing access to more than 10,000 products spanning protein, seafood, grocery, beverage, chemical, cleaning, and restaurant supply, supported by dedicated account managers.
• Customized Distribution Customized foodservice distribution for military bases, public and private schools, national chain restaurants, major hotels, healthcare facilities, and churches, addressing specialized compliance, volume pricing, and procurement requirements.
• ChefZone Cash-and-Carry Wholesale Club Cash-and-carry wholesale club in a 45,000 square foot Honolulu warehouse with more than 5,000 products for smaller restaurant operators, food trucks, caterers, and the public.
• ServSafe Manager Certification Training Nationally recognized food safety and kitchen regulation training and certification course taught by certified instructor Chef Gordon Li; certification is valid for 5 years and is offered to Y. Hata's restaurant partners.
• Business Review Consulting Consultative business review covering profitability analysis, menu and recipe development, portion control, food cost controls, inventory management, and labor cost controls; available to top customers.
• Marketing Support Services Marketing assistance including graphic design, signage, menu design, and social media and email promotion; available to top customers.
• Online Ordering Platform Proprietary online ordering system at order.yhata.com that allows customer partners to place and manage their foodservice orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce cost of goods for restaurant and foodservice operators
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawaii State Department of EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorY. Hata partners with the Hawaii State Department of Education to supply foodservice products to public schools across Hawaii, supporting the USDA National School Lunch Program requirements.
• Dot FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDot Foods partnership expands Y. Hata's distribution capabilities and supply chain access for delivering products to Hawaii's foodservice operators.
• FoodlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership formed during second generation leadership with Foodland grocery chain.
• Kikkoman ShoyuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for soy sauce distribution established during second generation expansion.
• Culinary Institute of the PacificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for the Y. Hata & Co. Advanced Pacific Regional Cuisine Lab at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, supporting future culinarians in Hawaii.
• Hawaii Restaurant AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional industry association partnership supporting Hawaii's restaurant and foodservice community.
• Rebellyous FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for Rebellyous plant-based products including Kickin' Popcorn, Spicy Kickin' Nuggets and Tenders for K-12 schools, restaurants, and foodservice providers in Hawaii.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• US Foods: Top-2 U.S. broadline foodservice distributor with extensive private-label portfolio (similar in concept to Y. Hata's exclusive brands) and competes for enterprise and chain accounts in Hawaii-adjacent markets.
• Gordon Food Service: Family-founded broadline foodservice distributor combining broadline distribution with retail cash-and-carry stores — directly comparable to Y. Hata's Broadline + ChefZone multi-channel model.
• Performance Foodservice: Division of Performance Food Group serving independent restaurants and chain accounts; a national broadline incumbent comparable to Y. Hata's broadline and customized divisions.
• Reinhart Foodservice: Broadline foodservice distributor (now part of US Foods) serving independent restaurants across the Midwest; comparable broadline operating model and customer mix.
• Sysco Corporation: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor with national footprint; Y. Hata competes for national chain and military accounts in Hawaii and shares the same broadline distribution model.

Regional players

• Ben E. Keith Foods: Privately held regional foodservice distributor serving the southern U.S. with both broadline and beverage distribution — comparable in private ownership profile and broadline focus.
• Cheney Brothers: Family-owned regional broadline foodservice distributor in the Southeast U.S. with broad product portfolio across protein, produce, dairy, and equipment — directly comparable private regional broadline peer.
• Shamrock Foods Company: Family-owned regional broadline distributor serving the Southwest U.S.; structurally similar as a multi-generation family-owned broadline operator competing against national incumbents.
• Nicholas & Company: Family-owned Intermountain West broadline foodservice distributor; comparable as a private, multi-generational broadline competitor with custom programs for institutional customers.
• Cash-Wa Distributing: Family-owned regional broadline foodservice distributor serving the central U.S.; comparable as a private, multi-generational broadline competitor with strong customer relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/yhatacolimited
• Facebookfacebook.com/YHataCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yhataco
• Instagraminstagram.com/yhataco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Y. Hata & Co.