Nicholas and Company

What Nicholas and Company does

Nicholas and Company is a family-owned broadline foodservice distributor founded in 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and now led by fourth-generation CEO Nicole Mouskondis. The company supplies approximately 14,000+ SKUs across produce, center-of-plate proteins, frozen foods, canned and dry goods, beverages, non-foods, and flowers to independently owned restaurants, national chain restaurants, and institutional customers in healthcare, government, and education across six Mountain West states (Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and SW Arizona). Distribution is executed through a fleet of more than 100 temperature-controlled trucks and trailers out of three regional distribution centers — Salt Lake City (HQ, 13M cu ft), Las Vegas (7.1M cu ft, opened 2014), and Reno (acquired via C&M Food Distributing) — with eight warehouse temperature zones plus ripening rooms to maintain product integrity.

The company's customer-facing technology is the proprietary Nicco Online platform, available via web portal and native iOS/Android apps, which integrates ordering with lightning-fast and typo-tolerant search, customized order guides, real-time delivery tracking (Where's My Truck), a Recipe Builder with dietary/allergen and cost analysis, an Inventory Manager with PAR levels and barcode-scanning count, an accounting and payments module, and a recommendation engine that surfaces cost-effective alternatives and substitutions for out-of-stock items. The company also operates a portfolio of 20+ exclusive private-label brands (Wasatch Gourmet, Markon First Crop, Ridgeline Coffee Roasters, Prairie Creek, Riverhill Poultry, Pierport Seafood, Bountiful Harvest, Brickfire Bakery, IMPACT, Vista Verde, etc.), partnerships with Markon Produce, Dining Alliance, and DMA for national purchasing leverage, and an inbound sales motion driven by District Sales Representatives covering nine-plus sub-territories.

Revenue is generated on a transaction/take-rate basis through broadline product distribution and temperature-controlled delivery services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; prospective customers apply through a "Become a Customer Partner" intake form and receive territory-, volume-, and segment-specific quotes. GTM is hybrid: enterprise field sales via DSRs and account management, combined with a self-serve digital channel through Nicco Online and mobile apps for SMB and repeat-order customers. The company is privately held, has no disclosed outside investors, and emphasizes its independence and family-ownership positioning against national broadliners such as Sysco and US Foods.

Name

Nicholas and Company

Legal name

Nicholas and Company

Website

https://nicholasandco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Nicholas and Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned broadline foodservice distributor founded in 1939 that supplies 14,000+ SKUs of produce, proteins, frozen, dry, and beverage products to independently owned restaurants, chain restaurants, and healthcare, government, and education institutions across the six-state Mountain West region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Distribution

NAICS

Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers (42442), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Temperature-Controlled Foodservice/Institutional Supply Wholesale (AFAIAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Beverage Frozen Storage (Meat, Seafood, Dairy, Produce, Bakery) (TLALACAA), Frozen Foods Distribution (CRAOABAI)

Keywords

• Broadline foodservice distribution
• Restaurant supply services
• Temperature-controlled delivery
• Foodservice procurement
• Produce and protein distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Product Distribution: Nicholas and Company generates revenue through the distribution and sale of broadline foodservice products including produce, center of plate proteins, frozen foods, canned and dry goods, beverages, non-foods, and specialty items to restaurants, healthcare facilities, government institutions, and educational organizations across the Mountain West.
2. Transportation and Delivery Services: Revenue is generated through logistics and delivery services, utilizing a fleet of over 100 temperature-controlled trucks and trailers to deliver products across six statewide territories with state-of-the-art fleet capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nicholas and Company is a family-owned broadline foodservice distributor that supplies restaurants, healthcare facilities, government institutions, and educational organizations with produce, center-of-plate proteins, frozen foods, canned and dry goods, beverages, non-foods, and specialty items. The company operates 16.7 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled warehouse space across six statewide territories in the Mountain West and delivers via a fleet of over 100 climate-controlled trucks, supported by its proprietary Nicco Online ordering platform with real-time tracking and inventory management tools.

Product overview

Nicholas and Company is a family-owned broadline foodservice distributor serving the Mountain West since 1939. The company offers a unified product portfolio centered on physical food distribution across categories (produce, center of plate, frozen, canned/dry goods, beverages, non-foods, flowers) combined with Nicco Online, a digital platform-as-a-module architecture. Nicco Online serves as the customer-facing hub integrating ordering, Recipe Builder, Inventory Manager, and Accounting modules, while the physical distribution business encompasses exclusive brands (Wasatch Gourmet, Markon First Crop, and 20+ other exclusive labels) and national partnerships. The platform is accessible via web portal and mobile apps (iOS/Android), enabling customers to place orders, track deliveries in real-time, manage inventory with barcode scanning, build recipes with cost analysis, and process payments—all within a single integrated experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wasatch Gourmet: Exclusive flour and gourmet product offerings by Nicholas and Company
• Nicco Online
• C&M Food Distributing
• Bountiful Harvest
• Brickfire Bakery
• Cobblestreet MKT
• Fair Meadow
• IMPACT Responsibly Sourced Goods
• Intros
• Katy’s Kitchen
• Markon First Crop
• Pierport Seafood
• Prairie Creek
• Rejuv
• Ridgeline Coffee Roasters
• Riverhill Poultry
• The Everbrands Family
• The Pro Series
• Trescerro
• Villa Frizzoni
• Vista Verde

Products and services

• Broadline Foodservice Distribution
• Food Transportation and Delivery
• Nicco Online
• Exclusive Brands Portfolio

Quantifiable outcome

• Maintains 8 temperature zones plus ripening room for optimal product freshness
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• C&M Food Distributing (Forte Family)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Acquisition/partnership expanding Nicholas and Company's presence in Northern Nevada. C&M Food Distributing, founded by the Forte family, has a history rooted in family ideals and devotion to employees and customers. This partnership enabled growth throughout and beyond Northern Nevada.
• Markon ProducecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas and Company is a proud distributor of Markon Produce and offers a knowledgeable Produce Specialist team. Markon is first in food safety, first in innovation, and first in sustainable supply chain and packaging solutions. The partnership provides access to Markon's First Crop brand and extensive produce offerings with field-to-plate traceability.
• Dining AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership that helps drastically lower restaurant costs while increasing quality and service. Through this partnership, customers gain access to national purchasing power and group buying programs.
• DMA (Direct Marketing Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering access to one national network for customers to customize and specifically meet their needs and serve long-term expansion plans across multiple locations.
• Heber Valley Artisan Cheese (Kohler Creamery)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership supporting valued partners in their community involvement. Nicholas and Company spreads awareness of Heber Valley Artisan Cheese events including cheese tasting, mozzarella making classes, and dairy farm tours.
• Salt Lake Brewing Co. (Squatters/Wasatch)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual partnership for the #GuiltFreeDessert campaign in March. Nicholas and Company donates dessert products, with the company raising $31,824 for six local non-profit organizations in 2025.
• American Culinary Federation Chefs Las VegasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership supporting the Las Vegas culinary community through event participation and sponsorship.
• Chefs for KidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting the Las Vegas community and South Point Casino partner through table reservation and sponsorship dollars for the 31st Annual Dinner & Auction.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shamrock Foods Company: Family-owned broadline foodservice distributor based in Arizona with a strong Mountain West and Southwest footprint. Most directly comparable to Nicholas and Company due to similar family ownership structure, regional concentration in the same geographies, broadline product range including produce, dairy, frozen, and grocery, and dedicated foodservice (not retail) focus.
• Gordon Food Service: Privately-held, family-controlled broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants and institutions across the Midwest, Southeast, and parts of the West. Closely comparable to Nicholas and Company on independent family ownership, broadline product mix, and dedicated DSR field-sales model.
• Ben E. Keith Foods: Privately-held broadline foodservice distributor serving Texas, Oklahoma, and surrounding states with produce, frozen, dairy, and grocery categories. Comparable to Nicholas and Company on privately-held regional broadline model, multi-category coverage, and dedicated foodservice-only focus.
• Cheney Brothers: Privately-held broadline foodservice distributor serving the Southeast US (Florida, Georgia, Carolinas, and beyond). Comparable to Nicholas and Company on privately-held regional broadline model, multi-temperature distribution infrastructure, and broadline product breadth including produce, proteins, frozen, and grocery.
• Reinhart Foodservice: Privately-held broadline foodservice distributor serving the Midwest and select other regions, now operating under the Reyes Holdings umbrella alongside Martin Bros and other regional broadliners. Comparable to Nicholas and Company on regional broadline model, multi-category coverage, and dedicated foodservice operator focus.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco Corporation: Largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America, serving restaurants, healthcare, and education nationwide. Operates local distribution centers throughout the Mountain West that directly compete with Nicholas and Company for chain and institutional accounts, while also setting industry benchmarks on digital ordering platforms and private-label depth.
• US Foods: Second-largest US broadline foodservice distributor with national scale and Mountain West distribution centers. Competes head-to-head with Nicholas and Company on chain and institutional business, leveraging private-label brands (e.g., Stock Yards), digital platforms, and procurement scale that smaller regional independents struggle to match.
• Performance Food Group: Public broadline foodservice distributor with Vistar and Performance Foodservice divisions, operating nationwide including Mountain West markets. Competes with Nicholas and Company on chain and institutional accounts with materially larger purchasing and digital platform scale.

Others

• Markon Cooperative: Produce procurement cooperative of which Nicholas and Company is a member through its Markon First Crop exclusive brand. Comparable as a strategic supply partner and ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, enabling Nicholas and Company to access national produce sourcing and food safety standards.

Regional players

• Dot Foods: Largest foodservice redistributor in the US, headquartered in Illinois with extensive nationwide reach. Operates as a redistribution partner to Nicholas and Company and similar broadliners rather than as a direct end-customer competitor, but its redistribution model influences pricing dynamics and product breadth across the foodservice supply chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nicholasandco
• Facebookfacebook.com/nicholasandcompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nicholasandcompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/nicholasandco/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Nicholas and Company