Innovative Foodservice Group

Name

Innovative Foodservice Group

Legal name

Innovative Foodservice Group

Website

https://the-ifg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foodservice Packaging & Takeout Containers Wholesale (AFAIALAE)

Keywords

• Foodservice equipment distribution
• Commercial kitchen design
• Restaurant equipment supply
• Foodservice design build
• Commercial kitchen renovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Direct sales of commercial foodservice equipment including refrigeration, cooking equipment, fryers, ranges, and smallwares through retail showrooms and distribution centers.
2. Equipment Protection Plans: Extended warranty programs offered through SafeWare covering commercial appliances including ice machines, refrigeration, fryers, ranges, charbroilers, griddles, and steamers. Monthly payment plans ranging from $4.85 to $13.50 per month.
3. Equipment Financing: Financing partnerships with Credit Key and FS Foodservice Solutions providing equipment loans and credit lines for purchases from $500 to $1.5 million. Revenue generated through financing arrangements with partners.
4. Design-Build Services: Integrated design-build services including restaurant design, equipment planning, installation, and renovation services provided through IFDT (IFG Design Team) and Food Service Renovations business units.
5. Smallwares Fulfillment: Sale and fulfillment of foodservice smallwares and supplies including tabletop, buffet, and kitchen essentials through showrooms and daily delivery services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Innovative Foodservice Group is a multi-unit commercial foodservice equipment distributor and design-build service provider. It distributes commercial kitchen equipment, smallwares, and supplies through 13+ business units and 8 retail showrooms across the Southeast US, while delivering integrated design, renovation, and installation services for restaurants, hotels, universities, and entertainment venues. It also offers equipment financing, protection plans, and dishwasher rental programs.

Product overview

Innovative Foodservice Group operates as a full-service foodservice operation partner offering a portfolio of services including Design Build, Restaurant Renovations, Equipment Sourcing, Smallwares Fulfilment, Showrooms & Local Delivery, Equipment Financing, Dishwasher Rental, and Protection Plans (extended warranty). The company also maintains an e-commerce platform (IFG Direct) and training resources (IFG University). The portfolio is organized around 12 distinct business units across multiple U.S. regions: Beltram Foodservice (Tampa, FL), Beltram of the Carolinas (Greenville, SC), B&J Food Equipment (St. Louis, MO; Kansas City, KS), IFDT Design Team, Intedge Manufacturing (Woodruff, SC), JES, Louis Wohl & Sons (Tampa, FL), E.H. Thompson (Jacksonville, FL), Food Service Renovations (Morrow, GA), Big A Distributors (Morrow, GA), and Foodservice & Restaurant Supply (FRS) with locations in Asheville NC, Charleston SC, Columbia SC, and Florence SC. Services are delivered through a network of retail showrooms, distribution centers, and a dedicated design team, with financing provided through partnerships with Credit Key and FS Foodservice Solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFG University: Training and educational resources for customers
• IFG Protection Plans
• IFG Equipment Financing

Products and services

• Design Build Services Integrated design-build service that brings restaurant design, equipment planning, and installation under one roof for foodservice operators, streamlining communication and accelerating project timelines.
• Restaurant Renovations Licensed General Contractor services for foodservice renovation, upgrading operating kitchens and dining spaces efficiently while minimizing downtime.
• Equipment Sourcing Expert specification and procurement of commercial foodservice equipment from leading brands, leveraging manufacturer relationships for competitive pricing and on-time delivery.
• Smallwares Fulfillment Sale and fulfillment of foodservice smallwares and supplies including tabletop, buffet, and kitchen essentials through showrooms and daily delivery services.
• Showrooms and Local Delivery Eight company-owned retail showrooms across Florida, the Carolinas, Missouri, and Kansas providing hands-on product access and fast daily delivery for foodservice operators.
• Equipment Financing Equipment financing for purchases from $500 to $1.5 million, provided through partnerships with Credit Key and FS Foodservice Solutions, including finance-to-own, deferred payments, and revolving credit options.
• Dishwasher Rental Dishwasher rental program reducing upfront capital costs with fully serviced equipment, predictable monthly expenses, and minimal downtime for foodservice operators.
• Equipment Protection Plans Extended warranty programs through SafeWare offering 1-3 year protection covering parts, labor, no deductible, mechanical and electrical failure, and day-one food spoilage credit on commercial foodservice equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• $700,000 in project savings achieved through value engineering on NASCAR racetrack infield redesign
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SafeWarecoreOthersExtended warranty and protection plan provider offering 1-3 year coverage for commercial foodservice equipment. Plans include parts, labor, no deductible, day one food spoilage credit, and no limit on covered repairs. All plans backed by AM Best A-rated insurer.
• Branded Equipment ManufacturerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrong manufacturer relationships for equipment procurement including leading foodservice equipment brands. Enables competitive pricing, right solutions specification, and on-time delivery for every project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Middleby Corporation: Global manufacturer of commercial kitchen equipment across cooking, refrigeration, and beverage. Upstream incumbent in the same product categories IFG distributes; comparable in end customers but operates as manufacturer rather than distributor.
• Restaurant Depot: Cash-and-carry foodservice supply warehouse club serving restaurant operators with equipment, supplies, and food. Comparable in serving independent restaurants and small operators, though focused on cash-and-carry rather than design-build and project sales.
• US Foods: Major broadline foodservice distributor with equipment and supplies offerings serving independent restaurants and chains. Overlapping customer segments; not a direct competitor on design-build but competes for operator wallet share.
• Sysco Corporation: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor with equipment and supplies offerings serving restaurants and institutions. Comparable customer base, though Sysco's core is food distribution rather than equipment design-build.

Direct peers

• The Wasserstrom Company: Foodservice equipment, smallwares, and supplies distributor with design-build capabilities serving chain restaurants and hospitality operators. Directly comparable to IFG's equipment-and-design business model.
• Boelter Companies: Regional foodservice equipment and supplies distributor serving restaurants, hospitality, and institutions across the Midwest. Comparable business model, customer mix, and equipment-procurement-plus-design value proposition.
• Mission Restaurant Supply: Restaurant equipment and supplies distributor with showrooms and online ordering serving independent restaurants and chains. Comparable in product breadth, target customer, and B2B distribution motion.
• TriMark: One of the largest U.S. distributors of commercial foodservice equipment, supplies, and design-build services. Directly comparable to IFG across equipment distribution, design, and project delivery to restaurants, hospitality, and institutional customers.
• Edward Don & Company: Major national foodservice equipment and supplies distributor with design services and broad equipment portfolio. Closely comparable to IFG in equipment sourcing, project specification, and B2B sales motion to operators.

Emerging players

• Tundra Restaurant Supply: E-commerce-led foodservice equipment and supplies retailer (WebstaurantStore) targeting SMB operators with rapid shipping. Comparable product catalog and customer base; competes on price and convenience rather than design-build services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovative-foodservice-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Innovative Foodservice Group