Forbes Hever & Wallace

What Forbes Hever & Wallace does

Forbes Hever & Wallace, Inc. (FH&W) is a privately held manufacturer's representative firm founded in 1986 that specializes in representing foodservice equipment and supply manufacturers across Texas and Oklahoma. The company is headquartered at 800 Freeport Parkway, Suite 300, Coppell, Texas, and operates with a team of approximately 16 professionals organized by sales territory — North Texas (Dallas), Houston, Austin/Central Texas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma. FH&W acts as an outsourced field sales force, connecting roughly 27–29 manufacturer brands of commercial kitchen equipment, refrigeration, holding solutions, food prep tools, dishwashing systems, tabletop goods, and ice machines with restaurant supply dealers and end-user operators. It is family-owned (Hever family — Jim Hever as President, Leslie Hever as Accounting Manager), with no venture capital backing, no parent company, and no public funding history.

FH&W generates revenue through sales commissions earned by facilitating transactions between its manufacturer principals and foodservice dealers/operators. The company does not manufacture, purchase, or take title to inventory; it is a pure sales intermediation business. Its go-to-market is relationship-based field selling supported by inside sales, a Mobile Culinary Lab (test kitchen on wheels), a Coppell-based test kitchen, an annual Expo event in Coppell, NAFEM trade show participation, and an unusually robust content engine including the "Foodservice for Thought" podcast (launched 2019, the first by any manufacturer's rep group) and a YouTube channel hosting five educational video series. End-customer segments span K-12 education, healthcare, restaurants and hospitality, and higher education dining.

The line card has expanded steadily through manufacturer additions — Antunes in 2016, Cres Cor in 2018, Howard McCray/Orion by Clabo, Edlund (Ali Group) and Ice-O-Matic (Ali Group) in 2024, and Botrista and Savannah Industrial Solutions in 2026. The company's primary structural risks are its narrow two-state geographic footprint, the concentration of commission flow across a limited number of manufacturer principals, the limited scalability of rep commission economics, and the absence of any proprietary technology or recurring-revenue model.

Name

Forbes Hever & Wallace

Legal name

Forbes Hever & Wallace, Inc.

Website

https://fhwreps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forbes Hever & Wallace is a privately held manufacturer's representative firm founded in 1986 that sells commercial foodservice equipment and supplies on behalf of approximately 27–29 manufacturer brands across Texas and Oklahoma, earning commissions through dealer and operator relationships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Coppell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer Representative Commissions: FH&W earns commissions from manufacturers for representing their brands and facilitating sales to dealers and end-user customers across Texas and Oklahoma. As a rep group, they do not purchase or resell products directly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forbes Hever & Wallace is a manufacturer's representative firm that sells commercial foodservice equipment and supplies on behalf of approximately 27-29 manufacturer brands across Texas and Oklahoma. The company connects manufacturers with restaurant supply dealers and end-user operators through territory-based field sales, inside sales support, equipment specification guidance, and live product demonstrations in its test kitchen and Mobile Culinary Lab. Revenue is earned via commissions from the manufacturers it represents, not from direct product resale.

Product overview

Forbes Hever & Wallace is a manufacturer representative company that has been representing foodservice and supply manufacturers in Texas and Oklahoma since 1986. The company offers a portfolio of commercial foodservice equipment from approximately 29 manufacturer brands, covering cooking equipment (Amana, American Range, XpressChef, Wood Stone), refrigeration and holding (Howard McCray, Flexeserve, Thermalrite, CRESCOR), food prep and storage (Univex, Fermod, TableCraft), dishwashing (Jackson), tabletop and serving (Mikasa Hospitality, Server, Epicurean), temperature monitoring (Cooper-Atkins), ice machines (Ice-O-Matic), and specialized equipment like Botrista's AI-driven beverage dispensers. The company operates as a manufacturer's rep group, connecting foodservice operators with equipment suppliers rather than manufacturing products directly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered new, core and minor.

• Savannah Industrial SolutionsnewStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026New manufacturer partner added in June 2026. Produces condiment pumps, food dispensers, serving equipment, food warmers, and servers.
• BotristanewStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026New manufacturer partner added in June 2026. AI-driven automated beverage dispenser for foodservice operations.
• Ice-O-MaticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Ice-O-Matic joined FH&W in 2024 as part of the Ali Group. Leading manufacturer of advanced commercial ice-making solutions including cubers, flakers, and pearl ice machines, plus storage bins and dispensers.
• Cres CorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Cres Cor joined FH&W in 2018. Manufacturer of hot and cold holding solutions, carving stations, racks, dollies, and the Hot Cube3. Their product line includes proofers, hot cabinets, cook & hold ovens, and roasting ovens.
• AntunescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016Antunes joined FH&W's manufacturer portfolio in 2016. Antunes is a custom solutions provider of countertop cooking equipment and water filtration, celebrating 60 years in business. They help restaurant chains identify and solve operational problems.
• Howard McCraycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of commercial refrigeration products specializing in product display cases and merchandisers. Howard McCray has been building cases and merchandisers since 1890.
• JacksoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-line supplier of high-quality commercial dishmachines including flight-type machines, conveyors, door-types, glasswashers, and undercounters.
• TableCraftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents TableCraft products including buffet, catering, serving and kitchenwares, bar ware, pourers, beverage dispensers, cutting boards, platters, and serving bowls.
• AmanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents Amana commercial microwaves, high-speed ovens, combination microwave/convection ovens, and steamer microwaves. FH&W has been representing Amana since 1986.
• BlendteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial blender manufacturer represented by FH&W for foodservice operations.
• UnivexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents Univex slicers, mixers, dough sheeters, divider rounders, and food prep equipment.
• Wood StonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of stone hearth ovens, rotisseries, charbroilers and specialty cooking equipment.
• VictorinoxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Army knives, commercial Victorinox cutlery, protective gloves, and specialty commercial knives.
• FlexeservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHot holding and heated merchandiser manufacturer for foodservice operations.
• ServercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCondiment pumps, food dispensers, serving equipment, food warmers, cold food servers, and topping stations.
• American RangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooking equipment manufacturer including ranges, convection ovens, charbroilers, fryers, and specialty cooking equipment.
• Mikasa HospitalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDinnerware, drinkware, flatware, and buffet solutions for hospitality operations.
• XpressChefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-speed ovens ensuring consistent, repeatable results for commercial foodservice operations.
• Cooper-AtkinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital thermometers, HACCP management tools, and wireless temperature monitoring for food safety.
• EpicureancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaper composite cutting boards, kitchen utensils, and cooking tools for professional chefs.
• FermodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModular shelving manufacturer for foodservice storage applications.
• ThermalritecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk-in refrigerators, freezers, and coolers for foodservice operations.
• ElomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial combi ovens, multi-function cooking systems, and smart kitchen technology for professional foodservice.
• EquipexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCountertop cooking, holding, and food display equipment.
• CellucapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilter paper, powder, hairnets, scrubbers, chef hats, protective clothing, disposable gloves and aprons.
• Versa GardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom designed food shields for foodservice operations.
• ONE GasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted FH&W Mini Expo event in Tulsa, Oklahoma with ONE Gas at their facility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wasserstrom: Long-established foodservice equipment, supplies, and design company serving restaurants, schools, and healthcare operators. Comparable to FH&W as a multi-line foodservice equipment distributor with similar end-customer verticals.
• Singer Equipment Company: Foodservice equipment and supplies distributor representing multiple manufacturer brands to restaurants, schools, and hospitality operators. Directly comparable to FH&W's role as a multi-brand equipment distributor with similar customer segments.
• Boelter Companies: Foodservice equipment, supplies, and design distributor serving operators across multiple U.S. regions. Comparable to FH&W as a multi-brand commercial kitchen equipment and supplies distributor serving restaurants, hospitality, and institutional customers.
• Clark Foodservice Equipment: Independent foodservice equipment and supplies distributor serving restaurants and institutions across the U.S. Comparable to FH&W as a multi-line equipment distributor serving dealer and operator customers.
• Ace Mart Restaurant Supply: Restaurant equipment and supply retailer/distributor operating stores across Texas and beyond. Notable because FH&W's newly hired Houston rep previously served as a Regional Manager at Ace Mart, indicating direct dealer overlap in the same Texas geography.

Broad incumbents

• Edward Don & Company: Largest independent foodservice equipment, supplies, and design distributor in the U.S. Comparable to FH&W as a distribution intermediary between manufacturers and operators, though broader in scope, geography, and product breadth.
• TriMark USA: One of the largest foodservice equipment and supply distributors in North America, acquired by Centerbridge. Comparable to FH&W as a multi-brand foodservice equipment distributor, but with national footprint and design-build capabilities.
• Restaurant Depot: Cash-and-carry foodservice equipment and supplies retailer with hundreds of locations nationwide. Comparable to FH&W in serving the same foodservice operator customer base, but via a different (self-service retail) channel.

Emerging players

• Tundra Restaurant Equipment: Online-first foodservice equipment and supplies retailer serving operators across the U.S. Comparable to FH&W in product categories covered, but competes via a digital, no-field-rep model that contrasts with FH&W's relationship-based sales motion.

Others

• Hub International Foodservice: Insurance and risk services provider with a dedicated foodservice practice serving distributors, manufacturers, and operators. Comparable to FH&W only thematically as a B2B services firm supporting the foodservice equipment value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHZ2PC5kNTeruaH_JF1jCyA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FHWInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fhwinc

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 Forbes Hever & Wallace