DJ Payne
DJ Payne Corp is a privately held manufacturer's representative and distributor founded in 1975 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, selling foodservice packaging, janitorial supplies, and green products to national and single-location restaurants, distributors, and factory representatives across the US and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersElk Grove Village, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DJ Payne does
DJ Payne Corp is a privately held manufacturer's representative and distributor founded in 1975 by Steve Berliant and headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The company sells and distributes foodservice packaging, janitorial/sanitation supplies, and green/eco-friendly products to national restaurant chains, single-location restaurants, distributors, and factory representative principals across the US and Canada.
Its product portfolio spans foam containers, cups, plates, trays, cutlery, straws, gloves, paper and plastic bags, food trays and boxes, catering supplies, and apparel/safety items, plus a dedicated line of biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable alternatives. Underlying capabilities include 130,000 sq ft of warehouse space in the Chicago area (28-foot clear ceilings, racked and bulk storage) used both for distribution and public warehousing, an in-house art department for custom printed packaging design, and a physical showroom that produces sample shipments within 24 hours.
DJ Payne earns revenue through product distribution and sales across multiple categories and through managed warehousing and distribution services performed for represented manufacturer lines. Go-to-market is executed via field sales executives working with distributor partners and end-use customers, supported by the IPEX national packaging network for US/Canada reach. Pricing is handled through contract pricing, rebates, growth incentives, free goods, and sales contests negotiated with customers; no published price list is disclosed. The firm is founder-owned with no institutional investors or parent company evidenced.
DJ Payne firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DJ Payne
- Legal name
- DJ Payne Corp
- Website
- https://djpayne.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DJ Payne Corp is a privately held manufacturer's representative and distributor founded in 1975 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, selling foodservice packaging, janitorial supplies, and green products to national and single-location restaurants, distributors, and factory representatives across the US and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where DJ Payne is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elk Grove Village
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DJ Payne business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Product Distribution and Sales: DJ Payne generates revenue through distributing food service packaging, janitorial/sanitary supplies, and green products to restaurant chains, single-location restaurants, and distributors. Revenue comes from product sales across multiple categories including foam containers, paper products, plastic items, bags, gloves, and custom printed packaging.
- Warehousing and Distribution Services: Public warehousing services where DJ Payne performs as distribution center for several lines they represent. Provides customized distribution programs offering flexible, timely, innovative, and cost-advantaged solutions with lower operating costs for distributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom promotional programs available with contract pricing, rebates, and growth incentives |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
DJ Payne product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DJ Payne Corp is a manufacturer's representative and distributor for the restaurant and hospitality industry, supplying food service packaging (cups, containers, cutlery, straws, bags, gloves), janitorial and sanitation products, and green/eco-friendly alternatives. The offering is supplemented by in-house custom printing, contracted warehousing, and customer promotional support programs.
Product overview
DJ Payne Corp is a manufacturer's representative and distributor serving the restaurant and hospitality industry. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of food service packaging products including custom paper bags, foam containers (Skyline Brand), cups, plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, straws, gloves, bags, and boxes. Their product line spans multiple material types: plastic (PET, PP, PS, OPS), paper (coated and non-coated), aluminum, and injection molded items. Beyond food service products, they provide janitorial and sanitation (JAN/SAN) supplies including cleaning equipment, hand soaps, and ware washing systems, along with an extensive green/eco-friendly product line featuring biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable options. Services include warehousing and distribution (130,000 sq ft facility), custom printing/art services for branded packaging, and promotional support programs including contract pricing, rebates, and sales incentives. The company operates as an integrated partner for restaurant operations, helping customers solve supply needs through product selection and brand enhancement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Food service packaging supplies Distribution of disposable cups, containers, cutlery, straws, bags, and gloves to restaurant and hospitality operators.
- Janitorial and sanitation supplies Distribution of janitorial and sanitation products to restaurant, hospitality, and food service accounts.
- Green and eco-friendly product alternatives Eco-friendly product line offering sustainable alternatives to traditional food service disposables for operators seeking greener options.
- Custom printed packaging and art services In-house art and printing services that produce custom-branded packaging and promotional items for restaurant and hospitality customers.
- Warehousing and distribution services Contracted warehousing and direct distribution support for manufacturer principals and customers in the food service channel.
- Promotional support programs Customer promotional programs that bundle product supply with marketing and rebate support for restaurant and hospitality accounts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products delivered safely, efficiently, and on time
Companies that use DJ Payne
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DJ Payne technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
DJ Payne partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IPEXcoreIPEX is a unified national team of influential sales and marketing professionals, formerly known as the Paper and Plastic Representatives Management Council (PPRMC). DJ Payne participates in this 20-year-old partnership covering US and Canada with local market expertise and international connections. IPEX offers collaborative partnerships with innovative go-to-market solutions and competitive commission rates.
- Mass Distributors WarehousecoreFounded by Steve Berliant in 1979, Mass Distributors Warehouse introduced a groundbreaking sales concept that helped customers grow their factory lines by enabling them to buy quantities needed for direct sale. Unlike competitive warehouses, Steve did not view his warehouse as losing business when distributors wanted to buy direct from factories.
- AJM PackagingminorManufacturing partner in the food service packaging industry
- Box ItminorManufacturing partner in packaging
- ArvcominorManufacturing partner
- DancominorDanco Packaging Products - manufacturing partner
- Fischer PaperminorPaper products manufacturing partner
- Form PlasticsminorPlastics manufacturing partner
- Handy WacksminorManufacturing partner
- InteplastminorManufacturing partner
- Graphic PackagingminorManufacturing partner also known as Novacart USA
- Kari OutminorManufacturing partner
- Malish BrushminorBrush and cleaning products manufacturing partner
- MeikemminorManufacturing partner
- National Guest CheckminorManufacturing partner for guest checks and related products
- Pack N WoodminorPackaging products manufacturing partner
- AirpackminorPackaging manufacturing partner
- Pratt IndustriesminorPaper and packaging manufacturing partner
- Revolution BagsminorBag products manufacturing partner
- SabertminorFood service packaging manufacturing partner
- VerterraminorSustainable packaging manufacturing partner
- Western PlasticsminorPlastics manufacturing partner
- Wisconsin GreenminorGreen/sustainable products manufacturing partner
- WizKidminorManufacturing partner
- Morton SaltminorSalt products partner
- Rochester Midland CorpminorJanitorial and sanitary products manufacturing partner
- RofsonminorManufacturing partner
- Family HospitalityminorHospitality industry partner
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DJ Payne competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- US Foods: Major foodservice distributor with broad non-food category offerings including packaging and janitorial supplies. Operates in overlapping end-customer segments (national restaurant chains) and competes for vendor master list inclusion.
- Sysco: Largest US foodservice distributor, distributing not only food but also packaging, equipment, and janitorial supplies to restaurant customers. Represents a competitive threat via bundled procurement but not a direct product-line competitor in disposables.
- Bunzl: Global distribution and outsourcing company with a substantial North American foodservice and janitorial supplies segment. Overlaps with DJ Payne in distributing packaging, cleaning, and safety products to foodservice operators, but as part of a much larger diversified portfolio.
- Imperial Dade: One of the largest distributors of foodservice packaging and janitorial supplies in North America. Comparable product breadth (paper, plastic, foam, green products, cleaning) and customer base (national restaurant chains), but at much larger scale and with national distribution infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Brady Industries: Specialty distributor of janitorial, sanitation, and foodservice packaging products serving restaurant and hospitality customers. Closely comparable in product mix (especially janitorial/sanitation) and customer segment, though operating at greater geographic scale across the western US.
- Edward Don & Company: Wholesale distributor of foodservice equipment, supplies, and tabletop products to restaurants, hotels, and institutions. Comparable manufacturer-rep distribution model with deep relationships across national chain accounts.
- TriMark: Distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies including smallwares, disposables, and tabletop. A direct peer in the manufacturer's rep distribution model; one of DJ Payne's named partners/award-issuers.
- Mass Distributors Warehouse: Founded by the same owner (Steve Berliant) in 1979 with the same warehouse/distribution model for foodservice packaging and janitorial products. Operates as a closely-related entity with overlapping product lines and customer base in the Chicago region.
Others
- Sabert Corporation: Manufacturer of food packaging solutions — a manufacturing partner of DJ Payne. Comparable because they operate in the same product categories (food containers, catering trays, sustainable packaging) and share the same end-customer base, though Sabert is a supplier rather than competitor.
Emerging players
- DayMark Safety Systems: Provider of food safety and packaging products (labels, date-coding systems, takeout packaging) for foodservice operators. Comparable in serving restaurant customers with branded packaging and safety items.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DJ Payne social profiles
Digital presenceDJ Payne financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DJ Payne leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
DJ Payne funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DJ Payne 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 DJ Payne
What does DJ Payne do?
DJ Payne Corp is a manufacturer's representative and distributor for the restaurant and hospitality industry, supplying food service packaging (cups, containers, cutlery, straws, bags, gloves), janitorial and sanitation products, and green/eco-friendly alternatives. The offering is supplemented by in-house custom printing, contracted warehousing, and customer promotional support programs.
Is DJ Payne a public or private company?
DJ Payne is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DJ Payne founded?
DJ Payne was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DJ Payne based?
DJ Payne is headquartered in Elk Grove Village, United States, in the North America region.
How does DJ Payne make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Distribution and Sales are the primary driver. The others are warehousing and Distribution Services.
Who are DJ Payne's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are US Foods, Sysco, Bunzl and Imperial Dade. Direct peers are Brady Industries, Edward Don & Company, TriMark and Mass Distributors Warehouse. Sabert Corporation is listed as an others. DayMark Safety Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does DJ Payne have an API?
No public API is recorded for DJ Payne.