What Houston's does

Houston's, Inc. is a privately held, Oregon-domiciled B2B redistributor of coffee, restaurant, and bar supplies serving foodservice distributors across 30 U.S. states. The company consolidates products from hundreds of manufacturer partners into a single catalog of more than 5,000 SKUs spanning 14 categories including Specialty Beverage, Syrups, Cocktail Mix, Alternative Milks, Kitchen and Bar Supplies, Glassware, Dining Room, Disposables, Racks and Pumps, and Cleaning Supplies. Branded supplier relationships include Torani (authorized sub-distributor as of March 2026), Big Train, Tiki Breeze, Upouria, and Golden Dipt.

Houston's operates a dual-warehouse distribution network anchored by facilities in Wilsonville, Oregon and Kansas City, Missouri, with revenue generated primarily through product markups on redistribution plus LTL freight fees. Distribution is multi-modal: proprietary captive fleet via wholly owned subsidiary HTrans, third-party freight, will-call pickup, and drop-ship fulfillment to end-customers. The company is sales-led, with Inside Sales handling inbound inquiries and Territory Sales Managers covering four regional territories (Northwest, Midwest/Northeast, South, Southwest). A complementary Houston's Merchandising Service line provides in-store stocking, display design, and reset support, having operated for 35+ years.

The technology stack is a standard e-commerce storefront (Salesforce/Site.com-based) with no disclosed proprietary platform, APIs, AI/ML capabilities, or integration partnerships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is account-based, with order minimums of $1,000 for own-truck delivery, $3,000 for LTL freight, and no minimum for will-call orders. The company is founder/ownership-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors or parent entity.

Name

Houston's

Legal name

Houston's, Inc.

Website

https://houstons-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Houston's is a privately held B2B redistributor of coffee, restaurant, and bar supplies serving foodservice distributors across 30 U.S. states from warehouses in Wilsonville, OR and Kansas City, MO, offering 5,000+ SKUs with proprietary LTL delivery via HTrans and in-store merchandising services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Distribution

NAICS

General Warehousing and Storage (493110), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Foodservice / Restaurant Supply Distribution Centers (TLALAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Distribution Centers (Store Replenishment DCs) (TLALAEAA), Reverse Logistics & Returns Distribution Centers (TLALAEAM)

Keywords

• Foodservice redistribution
• Specialty beverage distribution
• Restaurant supplies wholesale
• Coffee supply distribution
• Bar supply wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Uusimaa

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Redistribution): Houston's generates revenue through the redistribution of specialty food and beverage products to distributors. The company purchases products from manufacturers and resells them to foodservice distributors, acting as an intermediary that simplifies supply chain management. Revenue is generated through product markups on coffee, restaurant, and bar supplies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Houston's is a nationwide B2B redistributor of coffee, restaurant, and bar supplies, consolidating products from hundreds of manufacturers and reselling them to foodservice distributors. The company operates two strategically located distribution centers (Wilsonville, OR and Kansas City, MO) and offers a portfolio of over 5,600 SKUs across 14 product categories, complemented by two service lines: HTrans proprietary LTL freight delivery and Houston's Merchandising Service for in-store support.

Product overview

Houston's is a nationwide redistributor of coffee, restaurant, and bar supplies operating as a B2B e-commerce platform with distribution centers in Wilsonville, Oregon and Kansas City, Missouri. The company offers over 5,600 products across 14 product categories including Specialty Beverage, Syrups, Alternative Milks, Cocktail Mix, Coffee Supplies, Cleaning Supplies, Dining Room, Disposables, Glassware, Kitchen and Bar Supplies, Liquid Smoothies, Racks and Pumps, Sauces, and Specialty Food. The product portfolio is organized around key syrup and beverage brands including Upouria, Big Train, Tiki Breeze, Golden Dipt, and Torani, alongside ancillary categories like cleaning supplies, kitchen equipment, and dining essentials. The core offering consists of the e-commerce ordering platform paired with two complementary service modules: HTrans Delivery Service (proprietary LTL freight fleet) and Houston's Merchandising Service (in-store merchandising support). Products are sourced from hundreds of manufacturer partners and shipped to distributors across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HTrans: Company's own fleet of trucks with dedicated, professional drivers providing fast, flexible, LTL freight delivery across the United States. A wholly owned subsidiary of Houston's.
• Houston's Merchandising Service

Products and services

• HTrans Delivery Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000 units stocked by Houston's merchandisers annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ToraniminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 March 2026Houston's participates in Torani's U.S. Authorized Seller Program for Torani products, effective March 15, 2026. This program protects Torani's products and the integrity of their authorized distribution channels in the United States. Houston's is listed as a Torani Authorized Sub-Distributor and must comply with Torani's authorized seller requirements.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dot Foods: Dot Foods is the largest foodservice redistributor in the US, purchasing from manufacturers and reselling to distributors across broadline and specialty categories. Its business model, customer base (foodservice distributors), and product breadth closely mirror Houston's redistribution model, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• KeHE Distributors: KeHE is a specialty foodservice distributor focused on natural, organic, and specialty products serving distributors and retailers. Its specialty product focus and distributor-to-distributor relationships overlap directly with Houston's specialty beverage and foodservice redistribution business.
• Martin Bros. Distributing: Martin Bros. is a broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, healthcare, and institutional customers in the Midwest. Its foodservice distribution focus and customer overlap make it a relevant comparable for Houston's foodservice redistribution business.
• Gordon Food Service: Gordon Food Service is a broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, schools, and foodservice operators across North America. Its scale and category breadth make it a comparable peer despite Houston's narrower specialty focus.
• Ben E. Keith Foods: Ben E. Keith is a broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, hospitals, schools, and convenience stores across multiple US regions. Its foodservice distribution model and customer segments significantly overlap with Houston's distributor customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Sysco is the largest broadline foodservice distributor in the US, serving restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality customers. While much larger and broader in scope, Sysco competes indirectly with Houston's distributor customers and is a relevant incumbent reference point.
• Performance Food Group: Performance Food Group is a major broadline foodservice distributor in the US serving restaurants, convenience stores, and foodservice operators. It is a relevant broad incumbent comparable for Houston's foodservice redistribution business.
• US Foods: US Foods is one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the US. As a major competitor to Houston's distributor customers, it represents the broad incumbent category against which Houston's redistribution model competes.

Others

• Torani: Torani is a leading manufacturer of flavored syrups, sauces, and beverage mixes—one of Houston's most prominent manufacturer partners. As a key supplier and brand partner, Torani is comparable as the type of upstream manufacturer that drives Houston's distribution volume.
• Monin: Monin is a global manufacturer of premium flavored syrups, sauces, and beverage mixes. As a Houston's partner brand and category leader, Monin represents the manufacturer side of Houston's redistribution supply chain and a peer in the specialty beverage category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/houstons-inc
• Xx.com/houstons_inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/houstonsinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Houston's