Pacific Food Importers

What Pacific Food Importers does

Pacific Food Importers is a wholesale distributor of authentic Mediterranean and Italian specialty foods, operating since 1971 from a 26,000 sq ft temperature-controlled warehouse in Kent, Washington. The company serves over 500 commercial food businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest — including Italian restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, fine dining establishments, tech campus dining programs, specialty grocers, and fast casual operators — with a portfolio of 4,000+ SKUs across eight product categories: Italian and artisan cheeses, premium olive oils, authentic Italian pasta, San Marzano tomatoes and pizza sauces, pizza and baking flours, Italian cured meats and charcuterie, specialty chocolates and desserts, and beverages and specialty syrups. Featured producers include Caputo, De Cecco, BelGioioso, Galbani, Partanna, Strianese, Stanislaus, Levoni, Creminelli, King Arthur, and Guittard, among roughly 30 named direct supplier relationships.

The business operates a direct importer model, sourcing from family-owned producers across Italy, Greece, and the Mediterranean — relationships many of which were established in the 1970s and 1980s and persist into the present. The go-to-market is relationship-driven B2B sales: a free 20-minute consultation, expert product selection, sampling, and weekly scheduled deliveries with temperature-controlled transport. Distribution channels include direct wholesale delivery across Western Washington and the Portland metro area, will-call pickup at the Kent warehouse, and a retail storefront operating as "Big John's PFI" in Seattle serving walk-in consumers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The company is a privately held, family-owned business founded by John "Big John" Croce, the son of Italian immigrants, and is currently operated by second-generation family members Holly Cochran (Operations), Margo Flones (Customer Relations), and Mike Croce (Product Development). It has 11-50 employees, no external institutional investors, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no patents or proprietary technology platform beyond standard inventory management systems. Underlying technology is a temperature-controlled warehouse with multiple climate zones supporting cold-chain storage for fresh dairy, cured meats, and specialty items.

Name

Pacific Food Importers

Legal name

Pacific Food Importers, Inc.

Website

https://pacificfoodimporters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Food Importers is a family-owned wholesale distributor of authentic Mediterranean and Italian specialty foods, serving 500+ restaurants, pizzerias, and bakeries across the Pacific Northwest with 4,000+ SKUs sourced through direct importer relationships established since 1971.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Food Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic & International Foods Distribution (CRAOABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Imported Foods Wholesale (AFAIAIAH), Ethnic & International Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty food distribution
• Mediterranean foods wholesale
• Italian food importer
• Restaurant supply distributor
• Artisan cheese importer

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Food Distribution: Wholesale distribution of specialty Mediterranean food products to commercial food businesses including restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, and caterers. Products sold include Italian cheeses, olive oils, pasta, tomatoes, flours, cured meats, chocolates, desserts, and beverages. Revenue generated through product sales at wholesale pricing, with direct delivery service to customers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pacific Food Importers is a wholesale specialty food distributor and direct importer of 4,000+ authentic Italian and Mediterranean products, serving restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, and commercial kitchens in the Pacific Northwest. Products span Italian and artisan cheeses, premium olive oils, authentic Italian pasta, San Marzano tomatoes and pizza sauce, pizza and baking flours, Italian cured meats and charcuterie, specialty chocolates and desserts, and beverages and specialty syrups. Orders are fulfilled via weekly scheduled temperature-controlled direct delivery from the company's 26,000 sq ft Kent, Washington warehouse, with will-call pickup and a retail storefront as supplementary channels.

Product overview

Pacific Food Importers is a specialty food importer and distributor serving the Pacific Northwest since 1971. The company operates as a single unified distribution service offering over 4,000 authentic Mediterranean specialty products to restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, and commercial kitchens. The product portfolio spans eight core categories: Italian & Artisan Cheeses (featuring BelGioioso, Galbani, Lioni, Beemster), Premium Olive Oils (Partanna, Colavita, Sagra, Cinquina), Authentic Italian Pasta (De Cecco, Paolo Petrilli, Armanino, Maestri Pastai), San Marzano Tomatoes & Pizza Sauce (Strianese, Stanislaus, Pomi, Cento), Pizza & Baking Flours (Caputo, 5 Stagioni, King Arthur), Italian Cured Meats & Charcuterie (Levoni, Creminelli), Specialty Chocolates & Desserts (Guittard, Omnom, Bindi, Fiasconaro), and Beverages & Specialty Syrups (Monin, Lurisia, Sagra).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Italian & Artisan Cheeses
• Premium Olive Oils
• Authentic Italian Pasta
• San Marzano Tomatoes & Pizza Sauce
• Pizza & Baking Flours
• Italian Cured Meats & Charcuterie
• Specialty Chocolates & Desserts
• Beverages & Specialty Syrups
• Big John's PFI Retail Storefront
• Weekly Direct Delivery & Will-Call Pickup Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 500 Pacific Northwest food businesses with specialty ingredients and expertise
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• De CeccocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer relationship with family-owned Italian pasta producers. Products include premium dried pasta from durum wheat using traditional bronze-die methods, artisan specialty shapes, and fresh filled pasta including ravioli and gnocchi.
• BelGioiosocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer relationship with Italian cheese producers including fresh mozzarella, burrata, and ricotta, as well as aged Italian cheeses.
• CaputocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of authentic Neapolitan 00 flour for wood-fired pizza, the gold standard for proper extensibility and flavor development. Multiple formulations available for different fermentation times, oven types, and regional pizza styles.
• StrianesecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of DOP-certified San Marzano tomatoes from Campania's volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius, known for low acidity, sweet flavor, and thick flesh for authentic Neapolitan pizza and pasta sauces.
• PartannacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Sicilian extra virgin olive oil from centuries-old groves, prioritizing traditional cold-pressed craftsmanship and sustainable harvesting.
• StanislauscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of professional pizza sauce formulations and San Marzano tomato products trusted by top pizzerias throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• LevonicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of traditional Italian salami with authentic curing methods, natural casings, and time-honored spice blends.
• CreminellicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of artisan Italian cured meats including prosciutto and pancetta from historic salumerie.
• King ArthurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of premium American baking flours for artisan breads, pastries, and specialty baked goods with consistent quality and performance.
• GuittardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of premium European chocolate for professional baking and pastry applications including single-origin couverture, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips.
• GalbanicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Italian cheese products including fresh mozzarella and premium Italian-style cheeses.
• LionicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Italian cheese products.
• ColavitacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of premium Italian olive oils from Tuscan and Puglian regional selections and Greek oils from Kalamata.
• 5 StagionicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Neapolitan 00 pizza flour formulations.
• Paolo PetrillicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of artisan Italian pasta products including specialty dried pasta.
• Maestri PastaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of artisan Italian pasta including premium dried pasta.
• ArmaninocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of fresh-frozen filled pasta including ravioli, gnocchi, and tortellini.
• BindicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of authentic Italian desserts including tiramisu.
• FiasconarocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of authentic Italian panettone and festive desserts.
• CentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of San Marzano tomatoes and tomato products.
• PomicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Italian tomato products including strained tomatoes and passatas.
• LurisiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Italian sparkling water naturally carbonated from sources in the Italian Alps.
• MonincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of premium beverage syrups for coffee programs, cocktails, and specialty beverages.
• OmnomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Icelandic bean-to-bar chocolate for specialty retail.
• BeemstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Dutch premium cheese.
• CinquinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of premium olive oil.
• RolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Italian specialty food products.
• CampagnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of Italian food products.
• SagracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect importer of premium olive oil and specialty oils.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DPI Specialty Foods: Specialty foodservice distributor with a curated portfolio of imported and premium products serving restaurants and pizzerias. Highly analogous in product mix (Italian specialties, charcuterie, cheeses) and customer profile.
• Chef's Warehouse: Specialty foodservice distributor focused on high-end independent restaurants, offering imported and artisan ingredients with a relationship-driven sales model. Closely mirrors PFI's model of curating authentic, premium SKUs for chef-driven customers.
• KeHE Distributors: Specialty and natural foods distributor supplying imported, ethnic, and artisan products to retail and foodservice channels. Comparable in curating authentic imported SKUs and serving a fragmented independent customer base.
• Vistar: Specialty foodservice distributor (a Performance Food Group company) serving independent restaurants, pizzerias, and hospitality with curated, premium imported products. Closely comparable niche within the foodservice channel.

Regional players

• Shamrock Foods Company: Regional broadline foodservice distributor serving the Western U.S. with a growing specialty portfolio. Comparable in regional foodservice depth but covers broader categories than PFI's Mediterranean specialty focus.
• Gordon Food Service: Family-owned broadline foodservice distributor with strong regional presence and an expanding specialty segment. Competes with PFI for restaurant and institutional accounts within overlapping geographies.

Broad incumbents

• US Foods: Second-largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor with a growing specialty and Italian Heritage product line. Competes with PFI for the same restaurant and pizzeria accounts via broader assortment and credit terms.
• Performance Food Group: Major broadline foodservice distributor with a Vistar specialty division that targets the same independent restaurant, theater, and hospitality customers as PFI. Provides scale, credit, and category breadth that PFI lacks.
• Sysco Corporation: Largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America, serving the same pizzerias, restaurants, and institutional kitchens PFI targets. Increasingly expanding specialty/imported Italian SKUs that compete with PFI's curated portfolio.

Others

• Dot Foods: Largest foodservice redistributor in North America, supplying a wide catalog of imported and specialty SKUs to regional distributors. Functions as a potential upstream supply partner or indirect competitor to PFI's direct-import model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PFI_Wholesale
• Facebookfacebook.com/PacificFoodImportersInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-food-distributors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Pacific Food Importers