Martin Bros
Martin Bros. Distributing is an employee-owned Midwest foodservice distributor delivering food and non-food products to restaurants, schools, healthcare, and hospitality operators across six states from its Cedar Falls, Iowa headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1940
- HeadquartersCedar Falls, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Martin Bros does
Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc. is an employee-owned regional foodservice distributor headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, founded in 1940. The company distributes food and non-food products across six Midwest states—Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri, and Minnesota—serving operator segments including restaurants, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, senior living and healthcare facilities, convenience retail, and hospitality venues. Multiple UniPro, IFDA, and industry distributor-of-the-year awards and an 85-plus-year operating history support its regional brand position.
The core business is physical product distribution of national, exclusive, and specialty food brands as well as non-food supplies (equipment, janitorial, packaging). Distribution is supported by a B2B online ordering platform with native iOS and Android mobile applications, automation/robotics solutions for kitchen efficiency, and a portfolio of consulting, continuing-education, and Dish! content resources. Membership in the UniPro Foodservice cooperative provides national purchasing power and access to exclusive brand lines. A 2019 partnership with DMA (Demand Management Associates) extends the company into multi-unit operator solutions.
Revenue is generated through transactional product markups on food and non-food distribution, supplemented by ancillary services and content monetization. Pricing is quote-based on B2B contracts and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led via direct account representatives and segment specialists. The company is privately held with no parent, no institutional investor, and no disclosed funding rounds; ownership rests with employees. Recent strategic activity has centered on capacity expansion—a $16 million expansion began in 2015, and a new facility expansion broke ground in August 2024 with a ribbon cutting in November 2025 marking the company's 85th year.
Martin Bros firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Martin Bros
- Legal name
- Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc.
- Website
- https://martinbros.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1940
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Martin Bros. Distributing is an employee-owned Midwest foodservice distributor delivering food and non-food products to restaurants, schools, healthcare, and hospitality operators across six states from its Cedar Falls, Iowa headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Martin Bros industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foodservice Distribution
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private-Label / Own-Brand Broadline Distributors (AFAIAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Value/Discount Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAK)
Keywords
Where Martin Bros is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cedar Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Martin Bros business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Foodservice Product Distribution: Distribution of food products including national and exclusive brands, specialty, local and unique items to foodservice operators. Revenue generated through product markups and cooperative purchasing power.
- Non-Food Products & Services: Distribution of non-food products including packaging, equipment, janitorial supplies, and medical supplies to support foodservice operators beyond the plate.
- Professional Services: Consulting expertise with specialists, continuing education tools and resources, and professional development support for customers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Martin Bros product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Martin Bros. is a Midwest regional broad-line foodservice distributor that supplies food and non-food products to foodservice operators across six states. Its core offering combines physical product distribution (national, exclusive, specialty, and local brands) with a B2B online ordering platform, mobile applications, automation/robotics solutions, consulting expertise, and continuing education resources for operators in restaurants, senior living, healthcare, K-12, college, convenience/retail, and hospitality segments.
Product overview
Martin Bros. Distributing is a Midwest food service distributor offering a portfolio of interrelated products and services organized around a core online ordering platform. The flagship digital product is the Online Ordering system, a B2B e-commerce platform through which customers access the full product catalog. Supporting the ordering platform are Automation/Robotics solutions for operational efficiency, a full Product Categories catalog featuring National and Exclusive brand partnerships enabled by Cooperative Purchasing Power, and Non-Food Products & Services for supplies beyond the plate. Advisory service lines include Consulting Expertise with specialist advisors and Continuing Education resources for team development. Content and inspiration are delivered through the Dish! Resources platform, which includes the Dish! Blog, a newsletter, recipes, and webinars & events. The company also offers a mobile application for iOS and Android. The offering is structured as a single integrated distribution business rather than a modular software platform, with digital tools serving as enablers for the core physical product distribution business.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Foodservice Product Distribution Broad-line distribution of food products including national and exclusive brands, specialty, local, and unique items to foodservice operators across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri, and Minnesota. Revenue generated through product markups and cooperative purchasing power.
- Non-Food Products & Services Distribution of non-food products including packaging, equipment, janitorial supplies, and medical supplies to support foodservice operators beyond the plate.
- Online Ordering Platform Business-to-business e-commerce platform enabling foodservice customers to place orders, track shipments, view invoices, and manage their accounts digitally.
- Mobile Application (iOS/Android) Native iOS and Android applications enabling foodservice customers to place orders and track deliveries from mobile devices.
- Automation/Robotics Solutions Innovative automation tools and robotic solutions designed to enhance front-of-house and back-of-house operational efficiencies for foodservice operators.
- Consulting Expertise Professional advisory services staffed by specialists covering all aspects of food service operations, including menu development, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
- Continuing Education Educational tools, resources, and training programs designed to support both business development and professional team growth for foodservice customers.
- Dish! Resources Content hub providing foodservice trends, industry insights, and news including the Dish! Magazine publication, blog, recipes, newsletter, and webinars.
Companies that use Martin Bros
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Martin Bros technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Martin Bros partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- DMA (Demand Management Associates)coreMartin Bros. partnered with DMA to provide added solutions for multi-unit operators. This partnership enhances the company's ability to serve larger, multi-location foodservice operations with comprehensive solutions.
- UniPro FoodservicecoreMartin Bros. is a member of UniPro Foodservice, one of the largest foodservice distribution cooperatives. This membership provides access to national purchasing power and brand partnerships that benefit customers.
- National Brand PartnerscorePartnerships with national brand manufacturers providing access to thousands of products including specialty, local and unique items for foodservice operators.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Martin Bros competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Martin Bros social profiles
Digital presenceMartin Bros compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Martin Bros financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Martin Bros leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Martin Bros funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Martin Bros M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Martin Bros
What does Martin Bros do?
Martin Bros. is a Midwest regional broad-line foodservice distributor that supplies food and non-food products to foodservice operators across six states. Its core offering combines physical product distribution (national, exclusive, specialty, and local brands) with a B2B online ordering platform, mobile applications, automation/robotics solutions, consulting expertise, and continuing education resources for operators in restaurants, senior living, healthcare, K-12, college, convenience/retail, and hospitality segments.
Is Martin Bros a public or private company?
Martin Bros is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Martin Bros founded?
Martin Bros was founded in 1940. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Martin Bros based?
Martin Bros is headquartered in Cedar Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does Martin Bros make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foodservice Product Distribution is the primary driver. The others are non-Food Products & Services and professional Services.
Does Martin Bros have an API?
No public API is recorded for Martin Bros.
What industry is Martin Bros in?
Martin Bros's product category is Foodservice Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAAAI, Private-Label / Own-Brand Broadline Distributors, with a secondary code of AFAIAAAK, Value/Discount Broadline Foodservice Distributors. Its SIC code is 5141.