Fare Foods
Fare Foods is a family-owned U.S. distributor that supplies concession food products, equipment, paper goods, and custom-printed items to mobile concessionaires at fairs, festivals, and major events across 44 states from warehouses in Illinois and Florida.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersDu Quoin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM type—
- OfferingServices
What Fare Foods does
Fare Foods Corp. is a privately held, family-owned distributor of concession supplies to the mobile concessions industry in the United States. Founded in 1958 as Porter Foods in Du Quoin, Illinois, the company was rebranded to Fare Foods in the 1990s after Ron Porter identified an underserved niche in supplying mobile concessionaires at fairs and festivals. Today the company distributes six core product categories — Meats, Produce, Dry Goods, Paper Products, Custom Printed Items, and Equipment — directly to concession operators at event venues including county fairs, state fairs, NASCAR events, the Kentucky Derby, and the Indy 500.
The business operates a two-warehouse distribution network anchored in Du Quoin, IL and Tampa, FL, supported by a fleet of nearly 25 vehicles that delivers to 44 U.S. states on a weekly cadence (Sunday order, Monday ship, Tuesday-Friday delivery). The underlying "technology" is fundamentally logistics and route execution rather than software — a field-sales model uses Outside Sales Representatives with company vehicles to solicit and process orders, while over-the-road drivers complete on-site deliveries at fairgrounds and event venues. A Custom Prints Service extends the offering into branded cups, plates, funnel cake bags, and deli paper via supplier partnerships with Berk, Whirley, and WNA, adding a higher-margin service layer on top of commodity distribution.
Revenue is generated through product sales and delivery services, with quote-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct field representatives, supplemented by a website catalog (PDF download), Facebook/Instagram presence, a weekly email newsletter, and travel to trade shows and individual fairs for customer acquisition. The customer base consists of individual mobile concessionaires and small family operations rather than enterprise accounts. Fare Foods reports it has grown into an "eight-figure business" with over 40 full and part-time employees, remains under family ownership, and has no disclosed venture or institutional capital, parent company, or subsidiary structure.
Fare Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fare Foods
- Legal name
- Fare Foods Corp.
- Website
- https://farefoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fare Foods is a family-owned U.S. distributor that supplies concession food products, equipment, paper goods, and custom-printed items to mobile concessionaires at fairs, festivals, and major events across 44 states from warehouses in Illinois and Florida.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fare Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foodservice Distribution
- NAICS
- Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447), Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers (42444), Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers (424440)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAD), Shelf-Stable Packaged Foods Wholesale (Canned, Dry, Snacks) (AFAIABAB), Frozen Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale (AFAIAHAF)
Keywords
Where Fare Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Du Quoin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Fare Foods business model
Business model- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Concession Supplies Distribution: Distribution of food products and equipment to the mobile concessions industry including Meats, Produce, Dry Goods, Paper Products, Custom Printed Items, and Equipment. Revenue generated through product sales and delivery services to concessionaires.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fare Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fare Foods is the nation's leading distributor of concession supplies, food products, and equipment to the mobile concessions industry. The company sources and delivers a portfolio that includes Meats, Produce, Dry Goods, Paper Products, Custom Printed Items, and Equipment directly to concession operators at fairgrounds, festivals, and outdoor event venues across 44 U.S. states, using a fleet of nearly 25 vehicles and warehouses in Illinois and Florida.
Product overview
Fare Foods is a national distributor of concession supplies to the mobile concessions industry, operating as a single unified distribution service rather than a software platform. The company's product portfolio consists of six core product categories—Meats, Produce, Dry Goods, Paper Products, Custom Printed Items, and Equipment—all distributed through a logistics network delivering to 44 states. The offering includes a downloadable Full Catalog as the primary product reference, plus a Custom Prints Service that enables customers to personalize cups, plates, funnel cake bags, and deli paper with their own branding through Berk, Whirley, and WNA product partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full Catalog (Concession Supplies Distribution) A bundled distribution service covering meats, produce, dry goods, paper products, custom printed items, and equipment delivered directly to mobile concessionaires at fairgrounds and event venues across 44 states. Customers access the full product catalog via a downloadable PDF and submit orders through field sales representatives or direct contact.
- Custom Printed Items A service offering fully customized Berk, Whirley, and WNA branded disposable products with custom printing for concessionaire business or event branding purposes. Custom print requests are submitted via a dedicated contact form on the website.
Companies that use Fare Foods
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fare Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Fare Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Berk Enterprises, Inc.minorSupplier partner for custom printed concession products including cups, plates, and paper goods.
- Fanestil MeatsminorMeat supplier providing quality meat products for concession distribution.
- Mr. G's Quality Cut MeatminorQuality cut meat supplier for concession products.
- BrakebushminorChicken and poultry products supplier for concession distribution.
- Rio SyrupsminorSyrup and beverage supplier for concession products.
- Swan ElminorSupplier of concession products and supplies.
- Alpha BakingminorBaking products supplier for concession distribution.
- FontaniniminorItalian-style concession food products supplier.
- TasteMaker and ReedFood TechnologyminorFood technology and taste products supplier.
- Heinkel'sminorMeat and packing products supplier.
- WNAminorDisposable food service products supplier for custom prints.
- RJ SchinnerminorFood service products distributor.
- Victor Products Co.minorConcession equipment and products supplier.
- Texas TwistminorSpecialty concession food products supplier.
- Sugardale Food ServiceminorFood service products distributor.
- Whirley DrinkWorksminorCustom printed drinkware supplier for concession products.
- Leon's Texas CuisineminorSpecialty food products supplier.
- AtoZ MeatsminorMeat products supplier for concession distribution.
- LambWestonminorFrozen foods and potato products supplier for concession distribution.
- Perfect StixminorSkewers and concession accessories supplier.
- Purnell's Old FolksminorMeat products supplier for concession distribution.
- Gold Medal Products Co.minorConcession equipment and popcorn products supplier.
- BungeminorEdible oils supplier for concession distribution.
- Dawn Food Products Inc.minorBakery and food products supplier for concession distribution.
- Nathan's FamousminorHot dogs and specialty meat products supplier.
- Cusumano and SonsminorFood products supplier for concession distribution.
- TetiminorBakery products supplier for concession distribution.
- Ole Mexican FoodsminorMexican food products supplier for concession distribution.
- Corfu Foods, Inc.minorFood products supplier for concession distribution.
- Coco BongosminorSpecialty food products supplier for concession distribution.
- Gehl FoodsminorFood products supplier for concession distribution.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Fare Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Reinhart Foodservice: Broadline foodservice distributor owned by Reyes Holdings; supplies restaurants, schools and event venues — relevant broader incumbent in foodservice distribution with overlapping customer categories.
- Gordon Food Service: Broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, schools and event operators in the U.S. and Canada — comparable distribution scale and model, though broader in assortment.
- Performance Food Group: Large foodservice distributor with Vistar division serving concession and vending channels — direct overlap with the mobile concession end market that Fare Foods serves.
- US Foods Holding Corp. Major broadline foodservice distributor supplying restaurants, hospitality and event operators — relevant comparable for any concessionaire whose needs scale beyond specialty concession supply.
- Sysco Corporation: Largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America supplying restaurants and event venues; competes with Fare Foods for any concessionaire or event operator whose volume scales to broadline requirements.
Direct peers
- Paragon International: Manufacturer and supplier of concession equipment and popcorn supplies serving fairs, theaters and stadiums — overlapping channel and customer base in mobile concession equipment and supplies.
- Great Western Products: Wholesale distributor of concession supplies and equipment serving fairs, festivals and carnivals — directly comparable niche distributor with similar customer profile to Fare Foods.
- Gold Medal Products Co. Direct competitor and existing Fare Foods supplier partner; manufactures concession equipment and popcorn/foodservice supplies sold to fairs, carnivals and stadiums — overlapping assortment and customer base in mobile concessions.
- C. Cretors & Company: Historic concession equipment manufacturer (popcorn poppers, carts) serving fairs, stadiums and entertainment venues — directly comparable in concession equipment and supplies.
- Berk Enterprises, Inc. Supplier partner that manufactures custom-printed foodservice disposables (cups, plates) and also supplies concessionaires directly — overlapping product range and customer base in mobile concession paper goods.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fare Foods social profiles
Digital presenceFare Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fare Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fare Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fare Foods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fare Foods
What does Fare Foods do?
Fare Foods is the nation's leading distributor of concession supplies, food products, and equipment to the mobile concessions industry. The company sources and delivers a portfolio that includes Meats, Produce, Dry Goods, Paper Products, Custom Printed Items, and Equipment directly to concession operators at fairgrounds, festivals, and outdoor event venues across 44 U.S. states, using a fleet of nearly 25 vehicles and warehouses in Illinois and Florida.
Is Fare Foods a public or private company?
Fare Foods is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Fare Foods founded?
Fare Foods was founded in 1958. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fare Foods based?
Fare Foods is headquartered in Du Quoin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fare Foods make money?
One revenue line is on record: concession Supplies Distribution.
Who are Fare Foods's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Reinhart Foodservice, Gordon Food Service, Performance Food Group, US Foods Holding Corp. and Sysco Corporation. Direct peers are Paragon International, Great Western Products, Gold Medal Products Co., C. Cretors & Company and Berk Enterprises, Inc..
Does Fare Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fare Foods.
What industry is Fare Foods in?
Fare Foods's product category is Foodservice Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAIAG, Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering, with a secondary code of CRAOAAAD, Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale Distribution. Its NAICS code is 42447 and its SIC code is 5140.