Philly’s Best Steak Company

What Philly’s Best Steak Company does

Philly's Best Steak Company is a privately held, family-owned B2B protein processor founded in 1995 by brothers-in-law Ody Akranis and Stathis Rafailidis in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, and now led in its second generation by Zafeiris Akranis (President) alongside siblings Georgia and Niko. The company hand-trims, slices, portions, packages, and distributes premium beef and chicken products — Ribeye, Sirloin, Loin Tail, Puck, and Chicken — plus ISWA Halal-certified beef, chicken, and lamb, to foodservice operators nationwide. Operations occupy more than 100,000 square feet across four buildings in the Yeadon Industrial Park, with a fifth 60,000-square-foot facility (a $25–35 million investment) coming online in January 2026 to double production capacity.

The company monetizes through B2B quote-based pricing negotiated with restaurant operators and foodservice distributors, with no publicly disclosed price list and a sample-request lead flow on its website. Its go-to-market combines a direct enterprise field sales function — recently reinforced by SVP of Sales Steven Folenius — with channel distribution through the major U.S. foodservice distributors: Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, Restaurant Depot (100+ stores of 163), The Chef's Store, and Costco, plus consumer-direct availability via Instacart at select Restaurant Depot locations. Geographic reach extends across nearly all 50 U.S. states with international sales into Canada and the Middle East.

The company's strategic posture is offensive: a flagship marketing partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies and Aramark Sports + Entertainment at Citizens Bank Park, a national protein supply agreement with Big Dave's Cheesesteaks franchise integrated with a Halal program, a 2025 brand refresh, and capacity expansion targeted at making the cheesesteak a category as ubiquitous as the cheeseburger. The technology stack is craft-based — hand-trimming, portion-controlled packaging, whole-muscle integrity — rather than AI- or software-driven, with competitive advantage rooted in brand heritage, distributor relationships, and operator-facing quality consistency.

Name

Philly’s Best Steak Company

Legal name

Philly's Best Steak Company, Inc.

Website

https://phillysbeststeak.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Philly's Best Steak Company is a family-owned B2B protein processor that hand-trims, portions, and distributes premium beef, chicken, and Halal-certified cheesesteak meats to restaurant operators and foodservice distributors nationwide across nearly all 50 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Meat Products

NAICS

Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Meat Packing Plants (2011)

akta.pro primary industry

Formed & Restructured Meats (Nuggets, Patties, Logs, Portion-Control) (AFANAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bulk Meat & Seafood Wholesale-to-Consumer (CRAHAMAI)

Keywords

• Cheesesteak meat supplier
• Foodservice meat products
• Hand-trimmed beef cuts
• Halal certified proteins
• Portion-controlled steaks

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansdowne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foodservice distribution to restaurants: B2B revenue from supplying premium beef and chicken steak products to restaurant operators, cheesesteak shops, and foodservice distributors nationwide. Products include ribeye, sirloin, loin tail, puck (pre-formed), and chicken.
2. Wholesale distribution: Revenue from wholesale distributors including Restaurant Depot (100+ stores), Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service, and The Chef's Store who resell Philly's Best products to independent food operators

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Philly's Best Steak Company produces, hand-trims, portions, and packages premium beef and chicken steak products (ribeye, sirloin, loin tail, pre-formed puck, and chicken) for restaurant operators and cheesesteak shops nationwide. The company also offers ISWA Halal-certified beef, chicken, and lamb variants, supplying foodservice distributors and direct restaurant accounts across all 50 states.

Product overview

Philly's Best Steak Company is a food products company that supplies premium beef and chicken sandwich steaks to restaurants and foodservice operators nationwide. The product portfolio centers on authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak proteins, including Ribeye (premium cut with rich marbling), Sirloin (versatile everyday choice), Loin Tail (rare Italian Market favorite), Puck (pre-formed short order steak), and Chicken (100% breast meat alternative). The company also offers Halal-certified protein options. All products are hand-trimmed, preservative-free, and designed for foodservice operations ranging from high-volume quick-service kitchens to premium steakhouses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ribeye

Quantifiable outcome

• Double production capacity with new 60,000 sq ft facility in 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• PHL Food and Shops / Philadelphia Department of AviationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Partnership for Guinness World Record attempt - longest line of cheesesteaks at Philadelphia International Airport. PHL Food and Shops (Marketplace PHL) coordinated the event. Over 900 pounds of Philly's Best chopped beef contributed to 1,291 cheesesteaks, verified by Guinness World Records.
• Amoroso's Baking Co.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Partnership in world record cheesesteak event. Amoroso's provided over 1,000 rolls for the Guinness World Record attempt for longest line of cheesesteaks.
• Big Dave's CheesesteakscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Philly's Best Steak Company established as official national protein supplier for Big Dave's Cheesesteaks franchise. The partnership integrates a Halal-certified protein program into Big Dave's supply chain to boost operational efficiency and eliminate menu variability. Big Dave's selected Philly's Best for commitment to transparent sourcing and high-quality standards to maintain authentic Philly cheesesteak experience during national expansion.
• Steven Folenius (Senior Vice President of Sales)coreOthers · 26 August 2025Industry veteran with over three decades of experience in sales, retail, and foodservice. Previously held leadership positions at CTI Foods, AdvancePierre, and JTM Foods Group supporting brands like Cracker Barrel, CKE Restaurants, Burger King, Wawa, and Walmart. Hired to expand national sales strategy and grow footprint nationwide.
• Philadelphia PhilliesflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Philly's Best named Preferred Philly Steak of the Philadelphia Phillies. Products served at Aramark-operated concessions throughout Citizens Bank Park during Phillies home games. Partnership brings authentic Philly product to one of the most passionate fanbases in sports and serves as national credibility badge for the brand.
• Aramark Sports + EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Aramark operates concessions at Citizens Bank Park and selected Philly's Best as the preferred steak supplier. General Manager Kevin Tedesco stated commitment to partnering with companies that share commitment to culinary excellence. Aramark serves 150+ award-winning food and beverage programs in professional and collegiate stadiums.
• Restaurant DepotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Philly's Best products available in 100+ Restaurant Depot stores nationwide (out of 163 total locations). Expanded from East Coast and Midwest rollout in 2025. Restaurant Depot offers an expanded product line including additional beef, chicken, and Halal options. Partnership enables broader access for independent food operators nationwide.
• ISWA (Islamic Services of America) Halal CertificationminorOthersHalal certification body that certifies Philly's Best beef, chicken, and lamb products to ISWA Halal standards. Certification enables company to supply Halal-certified products for restaurants serving diverse protein options and supports partnership with Big Dave's Cheesesteaks.
• Chickie's & Pete'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Guinness World Record cheesesteak event, lending kitchen equipment, preparation space, and volunteers for the event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JTM Foods Group: Foodservice-focused prepared protein manufacturer with overlapping product positioning in pre-cooked portioned proteins; comparable because it served as Steven Folenius's prior employer and competes for the same foodservice operator slots.
• CTI Foods: Major foodservice protein solutions manufacturer serving top QSR and convenience brands; directly comparable in channel, customer base, and product format (pre-cooked portioned proteins).
• AdvancePierre Foods: Manufacturer of value-added prepared protein products for foodservice and retail; another prior employer of Philly's Best's SVP of Sales and a direct competitor for foodservice protein programs.
• Brakebush Brothers: Foodservice poultry and portioned protein processor serving national chains; comparable as a focused private-label and branded portioned-protein supplier competing in similar foodservice channels.
• Dietz & Watson: Premium prepared and deli-meat manufacturer with foodservice and retail reach; comparable as a premium, brand-positioned processor competing for restaurant quality-driven operators.
• Steak-Umm: National consumer and foodservice cheesesteak-style thinly sliced beef brand; directly comparable in product format and category though more retail-oriented than foodservice-deep.

Regional players

• Hatfield Quality Meats: Premium Pennsylvania-based processed pork and beef producer; comparable as a regional premium protein processor, though Pork-focused and not active in cheesesteak specialty cuts.

Broad incumbents

• Tyson Foods: Largest U.S. protein manufacturer with extensive foodservice division; comparable as the dominant incumbent whose prepared-proteins portfolio could overlap into the cheesesteak specialist niche.
• JBS USA: One of the largest U.S. meat processors with broad foodservice distribution; comparable as a broad incumbent whose Pilgrim's and prepared-foods units could compete for restaurant protein contracts.
• Perdue Farms: Large poultry and prepared-protein player with significant foodservice business; comparable in channel and customer overlap, particularly for Philly's Best's chicken cheesesteak line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/phillysbeststeak
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phillysbeststeak
• Instagraminstagram.com/phillysbeststeak
• Xx.com/phillysbeststk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Philly’s Best Steak Company