The Restaurant Warehouse

What The Restaurant Warehouse does

The Restaurant Warehouse is a Seattle-based e-commerce marketplace that sells, rents, and finances new and used commercial kitchen and bar equipment directly to restaurant operators across the United States. The company was founded in 2014 by Sean Kearney, a former Amazon employee, with the stated intent to modernize the traditional restaurant equipment supply chain by replacing commissioned in-person sales with transparent online pricing.

The platform is built on Shopify and carries a catalog organized around commercial refrigeration (upright, undercounter, worktop, chest, and ice cream freezers plus matching refrigerators), cooking and prep equipment (sandwich and pizza prep tables, deep fryers, griddles, charbroilers, ovens, blast chillers, mixers), ice machines, beverage equipment, dishwashers, and food truck packages. The dominant brand is Atosa, with Dukers, True Refrigeration, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Manitowoc, Omcan, and KitchenAid as secondary lines. Products carry cETLus, NSF 7, CE, and Energy Star certifications. The company ships from 12 nationwide distribution centers offering 1-3 day delivery with free lift-gate freight on orders over $500, and extends 2-year parts and labor plus 5-year compressor warranties on refrigeration.

The business makes money primarily through one-time equipment sales at listed prices with average discounts around 28% off MSRP, supplemented by recurring rental revenue via the SilverChef Rent-Try-Buy program (weekly payments with a 60% first-year rebate on purchase) and monthly financing originated through QuickSpark. Customers are almost entirely SMB and startup foodservice operators — full-service restaurants, bars, pizza shops, sandwich shops, coffee shops, food trucks, caterers, and ghost kitchens — acquired through a self-serve DTC funnel supported by SEO, content marketing, email, and organic social channels. Marketing positions the offering against traditional dealers who, per the company's claims, charge two to three times wholesale.

Name

The Restaurant Warehouse

Legal name

The Restaurant Warehouse

Website

https://therestaurantwarehouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Restaurant Warehouse is a Seattle-based e-commerce marketplace that sells, rents, and finances new and used commercial kitchen equipment directly to SMB foodservice operators across the United States via a Shopify storefront, shipping from 12 distribution centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Kitchen Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

Keywords

• Commercial kitchen equipment
• Restaurant supply
• Food service equipment
• Commercial refrigeration
• Restaurant equipment financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Direct sale of commercial kitchen equipment including freezers, refrigerators, prep tables, cooking equipment, and ice machines. Products sold at listed prices with options for financing. Revenue generated from one-time equipment purchases.
2. Equipment Rental: Rent-Try-Buy program through SilverChef partnership enables weekly rental payments on commercial equipment. Rentals provide recurring revenue while customers evaluate equipment before potential purchase or return.
3. Equipment Financing: Financing solutions through QuickSpark offering monthly payment options for equipment purchases. Leasing and rent-to-own options provide alternative revenue streams beyond outright purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Restaurant Warehouse is an online retailer (Shopify storefront) that sells, rents, and finances commercial kitchen equipment for restaurants, bars, food trucks, and ghost kitchens across the United States. The catalog spans commercial refrigeration, cooking equipment, prep tables, ice machines, beverage equipment, and dishwashers from brands such as Atosa, Dukers, True Refrigeration, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, and Manitowoc. Orders ship nationwide from 12 distribution centers with 1-3 day delivery and free freight with lift gate on orders over $500.

Product overview

The Restaurant Warehouse operates an online e-commerce marketplace (built on Shopify) for buying, renting, and financing commercial kitchen and bar equipment, with direct nationwide shipping. The portfolio is organized around core equipment categories led by commercial refrigeration (freezers, refrigerators, undercounter freezers, worktop freezers, chest freezers, ice cream freezers) and cooking/processing equipment (sandwich prep tables, pizza prep tables, deep fryers, griddles, charbroilers, ovens, ice machines, dishwashers, mixers). The business complements its product sales with two service modules: restaurant equipment financing (lease-to-own and installment loans via QuickSpark and SilverChef) and a dedicated equipment rental program (Rent-Try-Buy via SilverChef) targeting startups, seasonal operations, and growing restaurants. The company also carries specialty equipment for food trucks and bar refrigeration. Primary brands include Atosa, Dukers, True Refrigeration, Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, Scotsman, Omcan, and KitchenAid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Freezers Commercial upright reach-in freezers in one-, two-, and three-door configurations (27–82 inch widths) with stainless steel construction, digital temperature control, bottom- or top-mount compressors, and R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant. Brands: Atosa, Dukers, True Refrigeration. Sold online to restaurants, bars, and foodservice operators across the U.S.
• Commercial Refrigerators Commercial upright reach-in refrigerators in one-, two-, and three-door formats with stainless steel interiors and exteriors, Dixell digital temperature controllers, interior LED lighting, and Energy Star-rated models using R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant. Sold online to restaurants, bars, and foodservice operators.
• Undercounter Freezers Compact undercounter freezers (24–60 inch widths) designed to fit under standard countertops, with stainless steel construction, adjustable shelving, casters, and front-breathing designs. Includes Atosa AUF series and MGF series in drawer and door configurations.
• Worktop Freezers Commercial worktop freezers combining frozen storage with a durable stainless steel prep surface on top, for prep lines and cooking stations where space is limited. Available in 27–60 inch widths with optional backsplash and drawer configurations.
• Chest Freezers Commercial chest freezers for high-capacity bulk frozen storage, in solid-lid and curved sliding lid models from Dukers and Atosa, ranging from 7 to 24 cubic feet. Designed for back-of-house use, bulk ingredient storage, and ice cream display.
• Ice Cream Freezers Glass-top ice cream display freezers with curved lids for customer-facing merchandising, plus Omcan ice cream dipping cabinets in multiple sizes for retail and restaurant use.
• Sandwich Prep Tables Refrigerated sandwich prep tables with stainless steel worktops and refrigerated base storage, in 27–72 inch widths. Designed for sandwich shops and quick-service restaurants to keep ingredients organized and at safe temperatures during food prep.
• Pizza Prep Tables Refrigerated pizza prep tables with deep pans for pizza toppings, in 44–93 inch widths. Stainless steel construction, casters, epoxy shelves, and automatic evaporation with side-mount Embraco compressors.
• Deep Fryers Commercial deep fryers in 40, 50, and 75 pound capacities, in natural gas and propane configurations. Brands include Atosa, with options for countertop and floor-model setups for restaurants, sports bars, and food trucks.
• Ice Machines Commercial ice machines ranging from 140 lb undercounter units to 460 lb air-cooled ice makers, including nugget ice machines and hotel ice makers. Available for purchase or rent through Hoshizaki, Scotsman, and Manitowoc rental programs.
• Commercial Griddles Commercial flat-top griddles and charbroilers in natural gas, propane, thermostatic, and electric configurations. Brands include Atosa CookRite with BTU and plate-thickness options for restaurants and foodservice operations.
• Commercial Ovens Commercial ovens including convection ovens, combi ovens, electric convection ovens, ranges, pizza ovens, microwaves, salamander broilers, wok ranges, and stock pot stoves for restaurants and foodservice kitchens.
• Dishwashers Commercial dishwashers including undercounter glasswashers, undercounter dishwashers, and high-temperature dishwashers designed for restaurants and foodservice operations.
• Beverage Equipment Beverage dispensing and cooling equipment including back bar coolers, bottle coolers, draft beer coolers, glass frosters, juice dispensers, and slush machines for bar and restaurant use.
• Food Truck Equipment Specialized mobile food service equipment for food trucks and concession operations, including compact refrigeration, cooking equipment, and food holding units designed for mobile kitchen layouts.
• Blast Chillers Commercial blast chillers for rapid food cooling in restaurant and foodservice settings, designed to meet food safety standards by quickly lowering food temperatures.
• Commercial Mixers

Quantifiable outcome

• Free shipping on orders over $500
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AtosacoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary equipment supplier providing commercial refrigeration including freezers, refrigerators, undercounter units, prep tables, and cooking equipment. Atosa USA is the dominant brand in The Restaurant Warehouse's product catalog.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CKitchen / Central Restaurant Products: Multi-channel restaurant equipment and supplies distributor. Directly comparable in catalog breadth across refrigeration, cooking, and prep, and in serving independent restaurant and foodservice customers.
• Chef's Deal: Online and showroom-based restaurant equipment retailer offering new and used commercial kitchen equipment with installation services. Comparable in serving startup and SMB restaurants with flexible acquisition options.
• Mission Restaurant Supply: Restaurant equipment and smallwares supplier combining showrooms with a strong online catalog. Overlaps with The Restaurant Warehouse on refrigeration, cooking, and prep equipment sold to restaurants and foodservice operators.
• Restaurant Depot: Cash-and-carry warehouse club for restaurant operators, part of Jetro/RBD. Comparable in serving foodservice SMBs with broad equipment, supplies, and food offerings at wholesale-style pricing, though via a membership physical-warehouse model rather than pure e-commerce.
• WebstaurantStore: The largest online foodservice equipment and supplies retailer in the US, operated by Clark Associates. Directly comparable in e-commerce-led model, breadth of commercial kitchen catalog, and nationwide shipping to restaurants and foodservice operators.
• Katom Restaurant Supply: Online and direct restaurant equipment supplier with a comparable product breadth across refrigeration, cooking, and prep equipment. Targets similar SMB restaurant and chain customers with nationwide shipping.
• Tundra Restaurant Supply: E-commerce-first restaurant equipment and supplies retailer. Competes head-to-head with The Restaurant Warehouse in the online channel, offering similar categories of commercial kitchen equipment to restaurants and bars.

Broad incumbents

• Boelter Companies: Large commercial foodservice equipment and supplies distributor serving restaurants, hospitality, and institutional buyers. Overlaps with The Restaurant Warehouse's product categories but operates through a traditional B2B sales motion rather than direct e-commerce.
• Edward Don & Company: One of the largest US foodservice equipment distributors, serving chains and large independents. Comparable in product categories (refrigeration, cooking, warewashing) but primarily operates through a traditional distributor sales model rather than SMB e-commerce.
• Amazon Business: General B2B procurement platform from Amazon. Competes with The Restaurant Warehouse as a default online procurement channel for restaurants and small businesses buying commercial kitchen equipment, even if not specialized in foodservice.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sandwichprep
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@restaurantwarehouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/therestaurantwarehouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/therestaurantwarehouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_restaurant_warehouse

Compliance4 records

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 The Restaurant Warehouse