Fulton Market

What Fulton Market does

Fulton Market (legally Fulton Troika, LLC, d/b/a Fulton Market Chicago) is a USDA-inspected meat packer and processor founded in 1932 in Chicago's historic Fulton Market District. The company operates as a B2B wholesale food distributor, sourcing fresh proteins and complementary products from major U.S. suppliers (including JBS, Tyson, National Beef, Caviness Beef Packers, Creekstone Farms, Sanderson Farms, Peco Foods, Seaboard Corporation, IBP, and Palo Duro Brand for proteins; Kikkoman, Lee Kum Kee, Jarritos, Golden Bowl, and Baily International Foods for grocery/dry goods) and delivering them to restaurants, hotels, butcher shops, grocery stores, and retailers across Chicago, the tri-state area, Kansas City, and the broader Midwestern Region. The product portfolio spans eight categories: Beef, Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Lamb/Veal/Goat, Deli/Dairy/Eggs, Produce, and Grocery & Dry Goods.

The business is anchored by a USDA-inspected processing facility governed by a documented HACCP management program for food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Distribution is structured as a tiered logistics network offering same-day pickup/delivery in the Kansas City area, next-day delivery to Chicagoland and the tri-state area, and 1-2 day delivery across the Midwestern Region. Customer acquisition combines dedicated field sales and account managers (segmented by retail vs. food service and by protein category — beef, poultry, seafood) with a self-serve online onboarding portal (PayWholesail) and downloadable product catalog. Spanish-language sales support is offered.

Revenue is generated transactionally through quote-based wholesale pricing with no publicly disclosed rates. The operating structure combines (i) direct meat packing and processing capability under USDA inspection, (ii) curated multi-vendor procurement across protein and grocery categories, (iii) tiered regional logistics, and (iv) relationship-based account management aimed at reducing stockouts and out-of-stock events for customers. The company is privately held, family-owned across three generations of the Lustman family (Joseph, Samuel, and James Lustman), and operates in partnership with Whetstone Distribution, which supports distribution scale; no institutional investors, parent company, or funding rounds are disclosed in the source data.

Name

Fulton Market

Legal name

Fulton Troika, LLC

Website

https://fultonmarket-chicago.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Fulton Market (Fulton Troika, LLC) is a Chicago-headquartered, USDA-inspected meat packer and wholesale food distributor founded in 1932, delivering fresh proteins and complementary foods to restaurants, hotels, butcher shops, and grocery stores across the Midwest and Kansas City under continuous Lustman family ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Food Distribution

NAICS

Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (424470), Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers (424440), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Meat Packing Plants (2011)

akta.pro primary industry

Meat, Poultry & Seafood Distribution (CRAOABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Processed & Value-Added Meat & Poultry Wholesale (Deli Meats, Sausages, Smoked) (AFAIADAE), Poultry Wholesale (Whole Birds, Parts) (AFAIADAC)

Keywords

• Wholesale food distribution
• Meat packing
• Fresh protein supply
• Restaurant food service
• USDA inspected processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Food Distribution: B2B wholesale distribution of fresh proteins (beef, pork, poultry, seafood, lamb, veal, goat), produce, deli/dairy/eggs, and grocery/dry goods to restaurants, hotels, butcher shops, grocery stores, and retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fulton Market is a USDA-inspected meat packer and processor that wholesale-distributes fresh proteins (beef, pork, poultry, seafood, lamb, veal, goat) along with produce, deli/dairy/eggs, and grocery/dry goods to restaurants, hotels, butcher shops, grocery stores, and food service operators in the Midwest. The company supports customers with category-specialized buyers, dedicated account managers, and same-day, next-day, and 1-2 day delivery across Kansas City, Chicagoland/tri-state, and the broader Midwestern Region.

Product overview

Fulton Market is a wholesale food distribution company offering a comprehensive portfolio of fresh proteins and food products. The company operates as a USDA-inspected meat packer and processor, providing eight core product categories: Beef, Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Lamb/Veal/Goat, Deli/Dairy/Eggs, Produce, and Grocery/Dry Goods. Products range from premium fresh beef cuts to specialty proteins, deli items, and dry goods. The company delivers custom programs and tailored services including same-day delivery in the Kansas City area, next-day delivery to Chicagoland and tri-state areas, and 1-2 day delivery to the Midwestern region. Founded in 1932, Fulton Market serves restaurants, hotels, butcher shops, grocery stores, and food service providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beef Products Premium fresh beef cuts including front quarter (brisket, chuck, rib), hind quarter (shank, plate, flank, loin, round), and other cuts (grinds, offals, patties), sourced from vendor partners including Caviness Beef Packers, Palo Duro Brand, JBS, National Beef, IBP, and Creekstone Farms. Sold wholesale to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and butcher shops.
• Pork Products Fresh pork cuts including blade, shoulder, side, leg, and variety meats, with special orders available for whole pigs. Sold wholesale to food service and retail buyers.
• Poultry Products Poultry available in fresh, frozen, bulk, CVP, and tray pack formats, including whole birds, breast, wings, and drumsticks, sourced from vendors such as Sanderson Farms, Tyson, Peco Foods, and Seaboard. Sold wholesale to restaurants, hotels, and retailers.
• Seafood Products Fresh and frozen seafood including shrimp, crab, whole fish, cut fish, and other shellfish, supplied wholesale to restaurants and food service operators.
• Lamb, Veal & Goat Products Specialty protein cuts including lamb (6-way cut, ground, cubes, stew, rack, bones), veal (head, eye of round, strip loin, cutlets, loin or rib chop, offal), and goat (bone-in or boneless legs, special order whole head). Sold wholesale to butcher shops, restaurants, and specialty food buyers.
• Deli, Dairy & Eggs Deli meats (turkey breasts, oven roasted turkey and chicken, cooked and smoked hams, pastrami, bologna, roast beef, franks, breakfast meats, sausages), cheese varieties, dairy products (sour cream, lard, margarine, mayonnaise), and eggs, distributed wholesale to grocery stores and food service operators.
• Produce Fresh produce including peppers, greens, other fruits and vegetables, frozen items, and herbs, distributed wholesale to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and food service operators.
• Grocery & Dry Goods Dry goods and grocery items including beverages, cooking oils, seasonings, sauces, beans, rice, dry peppers, other grocery items, and non-food items supplied through partners such as Kikkoman, Golden Bowl, Jarritos, Baily International Foods, and Lee Kum Kee, distributed wholesale to grocery stores and food service operators.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whetstone DistributioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership where Fulton Market Chicago operates in partnership with Whetstone Distribution, standing as one of the fastest-growing direct receivers of fresh proteins and produce. This partnership has expanded the company's distribution capabilities and market presence.
• Caviness Beef PackerscoreOthersCore vendor partner supplying beef products to Fulton Market's wholesale distribution operations.
• JBScoreOthersMajor beef supplier and core vendor partner for Fulton Market's protein distribution.
• National BeefcoreOthersCore beef vendor partner supplying protein products to Fulton Market's wholesale operations.
• IBP (Iowa Beef Packers)coreOthersBeef supplier and core vendor partner for protein distribution.
• Creekstone FarmscoreOthersPremium beef supplier and core vendor partner.
• TysoncoreOthersMajor poultry and protein supplier, core vendor partner for Fulton Market.
• Sanderson FarmscoreOthersPoultry supplier and core vendor partner.
• Peco FoodscoreOthersPoultry supplier and core vendor partner for protein distribution.
• Seaboard CorporationcoreOthersProtein supplier and core vendor partner.
• Palo Duro BrandcoreOthersBeef brand supplier and core vendor partner.
• KikkomanminorOthersAsian sauces and specialty products supplier vendor partner.
• Lee Kum KeeminorOthersAsian sauces and specialty products supplier vendor partner.
• JarritosminorOthersBeverage supplier vendor partner for grocery and dry goods distribution.
• Golden BowlminorOthersSpecialty food products supplier vendor partner.
• Baily International FoodsminorOthersInternational foods supplier vendor partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Halperns' Steak & Seafood: Halperns' is a direct protein distributor specializing in premium beef, seafood, and other proteins to restaurants, hotels, and retailers across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Comparable to Fulton Market as a category-specialized protein wholesaler with strong foodservice focus.
• Newport Meat Company: Newport Meat is a specialty protein distributor (now part of Sysco) serving restaurants, hotels, and food service operators in the Western U.S. Direct competitor to Fulton in the premium fresh protein distribution category with overlapping customer base of upscale restaurants and hotels.
• Buckhead Beef Company: Buckhead Beef (acquired by Sysco) is one of the largest dedicated protein distributors in the U.S., serving fine-dining restaurants, hotels, and country clubs. Comparable to Fulton as a category-specialized fresh protein wholesaler targeting premium foodservice accounts.
• Quirch Foods: Quirch Foods is a protein and specialty foods distributor serving the foodservice, retail, and ethnic markets across the U.S. Direct peer to Fulton Market given its protein-focused product mix and B2B distribution model targeting restaurants and grocers.
• Lipari Foods: Lipari Foods is a regional specialty foods and protein distributor serving the Midwest, including deli, dairy, meat, and dry goods. Comparable to Fulton as a Midwest-anchored broad-line B2B food distributor with overlapping customer types and product categories.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Sysco is the largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America, serving restaurants, hotels, healthcare, and education with full-line food and beverage products including fresh proteins. Comparable to Fulton as a competitor in the Midwest protein distribution space, though Fulton specializes rather than broadlines.
• US Foods: US Foods is one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the U.S., serving restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality customers with a full assortment including fresh proteins. Comparable to Fulton as a competitor in Midwest protein distribution with much greater scale and broader product portfolio.
• Performance Food Group: Performance Food Group operates broadline foodservice distribution (Vistar/Vail) and foodservice-to-consumer distribution across the U.S. Comparable to Fulton as a broadline competitor in the protein distribution space, with national scale versus Fulton's regional focus.
• Gordon Food Service: Gordon Food Service is a broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, schools, and other foodservice operators across the Midwest and broader U.S. Comparable to Fulton as a regional broadline competitor with strong Midwest presence, though GFS offers much broader assortment.

Emerging players

• Platinum Packing: Platinum Packing is a protein processor and distributor focused on ground beef, patties, and value-added proteins. Comparable to Fulton as a meat processing/distribution business serving B2B customers in the protein category, though more specialized in ground beef and patties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fultonmarketschicago34
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fulton-market-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fulton Market