Specialty Food Distribution

Name

Specialty Food Distribution

Legal name

Specialty Food Distribution Co., LLC

Website

https://specialtyfooddistribution.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Food Distribution

NAICS

Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Gourmet Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Gourmet Foods Distribution (CRAOABAF), Frozen Foods Wholesale (Packaged & Private Label) (AFAIAHAA)

Keywords

• Wholesale food distribution
• Specialty grocery products
• Retail distribution services
• Private label development
• Import export food

Headquarters

HQ city

Sparta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Food Distribution: SFDC generates revenue through the distribution and sale of specialty food products to retail customers including corporate chains, small chains, and independent stores. Revenue is earned through product markups on transactions, with the company serving as a middleman between manufacturers/vendors and retail outlets. The company offers flexible delivery options including truckloads direct, LTL shipments, and mixed pallets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Specialty Food Distribution is a Wisconsin-based wholesale food distributor serving the "special market" retail segment. It supplies specialty grocery products across more than 40 categories (bakery, beverages, candy, cheese, condiments, cookies, crackers, frozen items, produce, spices, etc.) to corporate chains, small chains, and independent stores. Revenue is generated through product markups on transactions, complemented by flexible logistics (truckload, LTL, mixed pallets, cross-dock, UPS), import/export services, new product development, and custom reporting.

Product overview

Specialty Food Distribution Co., LLC is a Wisconsin-based wholesale food distributor serving special market retailers with a comprehensive product catalog and distribution services. The core offering is the Grocery Order Guide catalog featuring over 40 product categories (Bakery, Beverages, Candy, Cheese, Condiments, Cookies, Crackers, Frozen items, Produce, Spices, and more). This catalog operates alongside logistics and distribution services including LTL, truckload, cross-docking, and overseas container handling. The company also offers import/export services for private label products, new product development (having worked with Aldi, Moo & Oink, Simon Home Foods, and Roundy's), inventory control, and custom reporting. Specialty items include Lincoln County Reserve Maple Syrup and Parade Dips.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lincoln County Reserve: Maple syrup product line featured by the company
• Parade Dips

Named customers7 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AldiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFDC has worked with Aldi for over 20 years on new product development, helping bring private label products from concept to market. The company assisted Aldi in developing new products from start to finish using their network of manufacturers.
• Roundy'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFDC has collaborated with Roundy's on new product development for over 20 years, utilizing their extensive manufacturer network to bring products from concept through to efficient warehousing and distribution.
• Moo & OinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFDC worked with Moo & Oink on new product development, leveraging their proven experience to bring new food product ideas to life from concept through distribution.
• Simon Home FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFDC partnered with Simon Home Foods on new product development, utilizing their manufacturing relationships and distribution expertise to bring new products to market over a 20+ year period.
• GulfoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSFDC attends the Gulfood trade show (Dubai) to promote their export capabilities and connect with international buyers for private labeled products.
• AnugaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSFDC attends the Anuga trade show (Germany) as part of their export marketing strategy for private branded products.
• SialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSFDC attends the Sial trade show (France) to connect with international markets and promote their private label export capabilities.
• PLMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSFDC attends the PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association) trade show in Amsterdam to showcase their private label development and export services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• KeHE Distributors: One of the largest specialty food and natural product distributors in North America, serving independent retailers, chain stores, and e-commerce customers. Highly comparable to SFDC in product mix (specialty/natural/specialty grocery) and customer base (independents and chains).
• Lipari Foods: Regional specialty and ethnic food distributor based in the Midwest with broad product catalog across bakery, beverages, dairy, deli, frozen, grocery, and specialty categories. Closely comparable in assortment breadth, regional Midwest focus, and independent/small-chain customer base.
• Dot Foods: Largest foodservice redistributor in North America, headquartered in Illinois, distributing a wide assortment of specialty and mainstream grocery products to distributors and operators. Comparable as a broad-assortment, multi-category wholesale partner serving independent and regional retailers.
• Haddon House Food Products: Specialty food distributor (now part of UNFI) historically focused on natural, organic, and specialty products supplied to independent retailers and chain stores. Closely mirrors SFDC's model of broad specialty assortment with strong independent-retailer orientation.

Broad incumbents

• United Natural Foods (UNFI): Largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of natural, organic, and specialty foods in North America. Comparable product categories and customer base (independents, chains, co-ops) but operates at materially larger scale with national distribution centers.
• Core-Mark International: Large wholesale distributor of consumer goods including food products, serving convenience stores and retail chains across North America. Comparable in distribution infrastructure and B2B wholesale model, though more diversified into non-food categories.
• Performance Food Group: Major foodservice and specialty distribution company operating through Performance Foodservice, Vistar, and Core-Mark. Comparable as a multi-channel wholesale platform with specialty and broadline capabilities serving retailers and foodservice operators.
• Tree of Life (now part of UNFI): Specialty and natural foods distributor (legacy brand) historically serving independent retailers, chain accounts, and foodservice operators with natural/specialty assortment. Comparable specialty-foods focus and independent-retailer customer base, now operating under UNFI.

Regional players

• SpartanNash: Michigan-based food distributor and retailer serving independent grocery customers across the Midwest. Overlaps directly with SFDC's geography (Midwest) and customer segments (independent grocery), and competes in similar product categories including specialty foods.
• MDI (Metropolitan Distributors Inc.): Midwest-based specialty food and beverage distributor serving independent retailers and foodservice operators with a broad assortment of specialty, natural, and ethnic products. Comparable assortment strategy and independent-retailer focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialty-foods-distribution

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Specialty Food Distribution