Clark Food Service Equipment

What Clark Food Service Equipment does

Clark Food Service Equipment (CFSE), founded in 1978, is a privately held B2B foodservice equipment contracting firm operating as a specialty channel of Clark Associates, Inc. The company delivers end-to-end commercial kitchen projects for enterprise customers across seven primary verticals: higher education, hospitality, healthcare, senior living, business and industry, restaurant, and entertainment/recreation. Its service model integrates three core offerings, Equipment Contracting, Design Services, and Turnkey Construction, providing a single point of contact from pre-construction through warranty, supported by a dedicated project management team with 50+ years of trade experience and 45+ Certified Food Service Professionals on staff.

The underlying technology stack combines proprietary in-house tools (custom project management software, web-based ordering and tracking platforms, a custom iPad warehouse application) with industry-standard design platforms including Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, BIM 360, Navisworks, Enscape, and Oculus VR for 3D modeling, photo-realistic renderings, and virtual reality design tours. The company draws procurement scale from parent Clark Associates' infrastructure of 18 distribution centers across 8 states and 500,000+ SKUs, positioning CFSE to handle large, complex multi-site projects such as a 128,000+ sq ft Great Wolf Lodge build and historical renovations at Lehigh University and Phillips Exeter Academy.

CFSE generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts with enterprise clients, with pricing determined per project rather than publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is consultative, enterprise field sales executed from three regional offices (Lancaster PA headquarters, Charlotte NC, Bradenton FL), with project managers working directly alongside general contractors, architects, and design consultants. In 2023 the company completed 97 projects across 18 states, and the parent Clark Associates was named the nation's largest foodservice equipment and supplies dealer by FE&S Magazine. CFSE's customer base is heavily weighted toward institutional and enterprise accounts, with no public reporting of revenue concentration or churn metrics.

Name

Clark Food Service Equipment

Legal name

The WEBstaurant Store, LLC

Website

https://clarkfoodserviceequipment.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Clark Food Service Equipment provides equipment contracting, design, and turnkey construction services for commercial food service operations across higher education, healthcare, hospitality, senior living, and entertainment sectors, serving enterprise customers across 18 US states from offices in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Foodservice Equipment Contracting & Design

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Institutional Foodservice Distribution (Education, Healthcare, Government) (CRAOABAM)

Keywords

• Food service equipment
• Commercial kitchen design
• Equipment contracting
• Turnkey construction
• Foodservice distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Contracting: Food service equipment procurement and installation services coordinating projects from pre-construction through completion and warranty. Includes nationwide distribution infrastructure with 18 distribution centers and 500,000+ SKUs.
2. Design Services: Full food service design including architectural, interior design, and food service planning using advanced 3D modeling, VR, and rendering capabilities. Provides dedicated design team with 50+ years of experience.
3. Turnkey Construction: Single-point construction management for complex food service renovation projects from concept to opening. Manages nationwide contractor network with rapid project turnaround using photo-real renderings and virtual reality design functions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clark Food Service Equipment (CFSE) provides three integrated commercial foodservice services: Equipment Contracting (procurement and installation of commercial kitchen equipment from pre-construction through warranty), Design Services (full food service, architectural, and interior design using 3D layouts, photo-realistic renderings, and virtual reality tours), and Turnkey Construction (single-point construction management for complex food service renovation projects from concept to opening). The company serves enterprise clients across higher education, hospitality, healthcare, senior living, business & industry, restaurant, and entertainment sectors through dedicated project sales teams.

Product overview

Clark Food Service Equipment operates as a unified service platform offering three integrated core services: Equipment Contracting (kitchen equipment procurement and installation), Design Services (3D food service design with virtual reality capabilities), and Turnkey Construction (single-point construction management). The company also maintains proprietary internal technology including project management software and online ordering/tracking platforms built in-house. These services work seamlessly together to provide end-to-end solutions for commercial food service operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equipment Contracting Food service equipment procurement and installation services coordinated from pre-construction through completion and warranty. Includes best-in-class equipment options, a nationwide footprint, proprietary online project management system, and dedicated project managers with trade experience for enterprise foodservice customers across 18 states.
• Design Services Full food service design delivered by experienced professionals well-versed in food service, architectural, and interior design. Provides 3D layouts, virtual reality tours, QR codes, full-color and panoramic renderings, web-based project management software, and the ability to create and execute company standards for consistency across multiple locations. Dedicated design team with 50+ years of experience.
• Turnkey Construction Single-point construction management for complex food service renovation projects from concept to opening. Includes photo-real renderings, 3D modeling, virtual reality design functions, quick project turnaround, and a nationwide contractor network. Designed for enterprise customers seeking a stress-free, unified construction experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects completed across 18 states with 97 projects completed in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SkanskacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Lehigh University Clayton University Center project. Clark Food Service Equipment worked with Skanska team in executing the extensive renovation based on design outlined by Ricca Design Studios.
• Ricca Design StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood service design consultant for Lehigh University Clayton University Center project and Phillips Exeter Dining Hall renovation. Provides food service design specifications that CFSE executes.
• Shepley BulfinchminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitect for Lehigh University Clayton University Center project.
• Turner Construction CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Great Wolf Lodge Perryville project. Clark Food Service Equipment received the project lead from Turner Construction and played crucial role in coordinating and installing equipment for the 128,000+ square foot facility.
• FoodStrategycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner for Great Wolf Lodge Perryville project, working with CFSE on equipment coordination and installation.
• Benchmark ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital project, bringing CFSE on to work with Vision Builders Design and Perkins&Will.
• LF DriscollcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor partner for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Central Table Eatery project.
• Clark Service GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company providing installation services for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital project alongside CFSE equipment installation.
• March ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for New York Red Bulls Training Facility project. Brought CFSE into bidding process for value engineering and equipment delivery.
• CK Bosworth ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Henrico Gaming Roseshire Gaming Parlor project. Close collaboration with multiple key subcontractors for sequencing work and resolving challenges.
• Davis ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Reston Row Plaza JW Marriott project. CFSE worked closely with Davis Construction and MEP teams in high-rise environment.
• KBE Building CorporationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Wampanoag Country Club project. CFSE collaborated with KBE Building Corporation and Newman Architects for seamless coordination.
• Newman ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitect for Wampanoag Country Club project, working with CFSE and KBE Building Corporation on design and construction coordination.
• Harvey ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Phillips Exeter Dining Hall renovation project. Multi-phase renovation with CFSE coordinating on design and installation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• WebstaurantStore: Sister company within Clark Associates; the largest online foodservice equipment and supplies retailer in the US. Related through shared ownership and 18 distribution centers but competes in small-order/online channels rather than enterprise contract sales.

Direct peers

• TriMark USA: One of the largest US foodservice equipment and supplies dealers, offering equipment contracting, design, and installation services to restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, and education — a near-direct parallel to CFSE's business model.
• Source Foodservice Equipment: Specialty foodservice equipment distributor focused on design, supply, and installation for restaurants, hospitality, and institutional customers — directly comparable project-based equipment contracting business.
• KaTom Restaurant Supply: Online-led foodservice equipment and smallwares supplier serving restaurants and institutional buyers nationwide — competes on equipment procurement breadth and price, overlapping with CFSE's equipment contracting scope.
• Boelter Companies: Foodservice equipment and supplies distributor providing design, equipment contracting, and project management to restaurants, hospitality, sports venues, and institutional customers — comparable scale and service breadth.
• Singer Equipment Company: Mid-Atlantic-focused foodservice equipment distributor offering equipment supply, design, and installation to restaurants, hospitality, and institutional customers — direct regional competitor to CFSE's core geography.
• Edward Don & Company: Major foodservice equipment distributor serving restaurants, hotels, healthcare, and schools with equipment procurement, design, and project management — closely comparable in customer mix and project-based service model.
• Mission Restaurant Supply: Foodservice equipment and smallwares distributor serving restaurants and hospitality operators with design consultation and equipment procurement — overlaps CFSE's restaurant and hospitality vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Ben E. Keith Foods: Broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, healthcare, hospitality, and schools across the southern and central US — overlapping customer base but focused on consumables rather than equipment contracting.

Regional players

• Bargreen Ellingson: Pacific Northwest foodservice equipment and supplies distributor with design, equipment, and installation services for restaurants, hospitality, and institutional accounts — comparable business model with regional rather than national footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ClarkFoodServiceEquipment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clark-food-service-equipment

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 Clark Food Service Equipment