National Distribution Alliance (NDA)

What National Distribution Alliance (NDA) does

National Distribution Alliance (NDA) is a not-for-profit coordinating organization operating as a Strategic Business Unit of UniPro Foodservice. Founded in 1985 (originally as The Multi-Unit Group) with six founding distributors, NDA has grown to a network of 17 multi-generational, locally owned and operated broadline foodservice distributors providing national US distribution coverage to chain operator customers. The aggregate sales volume across the network exceeds $8.5 billion, with additional reach to 400+ affiliate distributors via UniPro Foodservice relationships. NDA serves national and regional chain operators across restaurants, healthcare, quick serve, education, and deli/retail segments, with a stated focus on delivering national coverage alongside local service and on-site decision-making.

The organization's core technology platform is NDA Data Connect, a centralized data management portal providing 24/7 access to inventory tracking, customizable and scheduled reporting, drop size reporting, order guide reporting, product details databases, and daily sales data updates. The platform supports invoice-level point-of-sale integration, contract management with supplier pricing agreements, monthly price verification audits, and LTO and menu change execution. A complementary sub-brand, Great Menus Start Here, provides culinary inspiration, on-trend recipes, and menu management tools for operator customers.

NDA's business model is structured as a not-for-profit supported by membership dues from its 17 regional distributor members; there is no cost to the operator customer. The organization employs a dedicated Business Development Team for enterprise field sales with a consultative, contract-negotiation-led motion, and a Customer Experience Team that serves as the liaison between distributors and customers. Marketing relies on direct outreach, industry events (notably the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Management Conferences), and association memberships (IFDA, IFMA). Governance is exercised by a Board of Directors composed of principals from member companies, with current President Marc Percival (appointed April 2022) leading the 12-person corporate staff headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Name

National Distribution Alliance (NDA)

Legal name

National Distribution Alliance

Website

https://ndaunipro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Distribution Alliance is a not-for-profit network coordinating 17 multi-generational regional broadline foodservice distributors to deliver national US distribution coverage with local service to chain operators across restaurants, healthcare, QSR, education, and deli/retail segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Distribution

NAICS

Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Multiregional Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Broadline Foodservice Distribution (CRAOABAA), Regional/Local Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Foodservice distribution network
• Broadline distribution services
• Chain operator distribution
• Contract compliance management
• Centralized data reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NDA is a not-for-profit organization supported by its Members (the 17 regional distributors). There is no cost to the Operator Customer.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Distribution Alliance is a not-for-profit network of 17 multi-generational, locally owned and operated broadline foodservice distributors that provides national distribution coverage with regional personalized service to chain operators. The organization offers centralized data management through its NDA Data Connect platform, contract compliance management, price verification audits, and dedicated customer support to operators across restaurants, healthcare, quick serve, education, and deli/retail segments.

Product overview

National Distribution Alliance (NDA) operates as a network platform of 17 multi-generational, locally owned and operated broadline foodservice distributors serving national and regional chain operators. The core product offering is the NDA Data Connect portal, a centralized data management platform providing consolidated reporting, inventory tracking, and daily sales data. This platform is complemented by the Data Management Platform which offers invoice-level point of sale details, contract management, and price verification. An additional sub-brand, Great Menus Start Here, provides culinary inspiration and menu management tools. The portfolio works together to deliver national distribution coverage with regional personalized service through a network of foodservice distributors serving restaurants, healthcare, quick serve, education, and deli/retail segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NDA Data Connect A centralized data management portal providing 24/7 access to inventory tracking, customizable reporting, scheduled reporting, drop size reporting, order guide reporting, product details database, and daily sales data with invoice-level point of sale details, contract management, and price verification for foodservice distribution operations. Built for national and regional chain operators in the foodservice industry.
• Great Menus Start Here A culinary inspiration platform providing industry knowledge, on-trend recipes, menu management tools, and resources to increase profit potential and improve competitive positioning for foodservice operators. Available to National Distribution Alliance operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• $8.5B+ in collective sales volume across 17 member distributors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• UniPro FoodservicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Distribution Alliance is a Strategic Business Unit of UniPro Foodservice. This relationship provides access to various UniPro Foodservice programs, supplier relationships, and the ability to tap into over 400 affiliate distributors across the US for extended program participation.
• National Restaurant AssociationstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerNDA serves as a Supply Chain Management Sponsor, supporting and participating in the biannual Supply Chain Management Conferences. These industry-leading conferences bring Operators, Suppliers, and Distributors face-to-face to address issues, strategies, food safety, and cost management in the restaurant industry.
• International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA)minorOthersIFDA provides invaluable information pertaining to industry programs and government legislation. Industry executives serve on IFDA committees playing important roles in developing education and addressing industry priorities.
• International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA)minorOthersIFMA provides resources and partners that help Members uncover strategic insights, information and data that drive market success, mission-critical issues affecting the foodservice business, and key industry opportunities and challenges.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• DOT Foods: Largest foodservice redistributor in the U.S., supplying broadline and system distributors including many of the same independents in NDA's member roster. Comparable as an alternative aggregation model serving the same downstream distributor base with logistics and supply-chain scale benefits.

Broad incumbents

• Gordon Food Service: Largest privately held broadline foodservice distributor in North America with national and regional distribution centers serving chain operators, restaurants, and institutions — a comparable integrated broadline competitor to the NDA federation.
• Sysco: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor and the dominant national competitor to the federated distributor model NDA represents. Sysco competes directly for multi-unit chain accounts via its SYGMA subsidiary and offers national coverage that mirrors NDA's value proposition at greater scale.
• UniPro Foodservice: NDA's parent organization and Strategic Business Unit host. UniPro is a cooperative GPO-style organization serving independent broadline foodservice distributors, providing supplier programs, technology, and affiliate access — directly comparable as a federation-support entity for the same distributor customer base.
• US Foods: Second-largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor with national footprint, dedicated multi-unit chain capabilities (Stock Yards), and growing technology investment. Directly comparable as a national-scale competitor for the chain operator segment NDA serves.
• Performance Food Group: Major U.S. broadline foodservice distributor (Vistar, Performance Foodservice) competing for national chain accounts with broad product assortment and integrated supply chain capabilities comparable in scale and target customer to NDA's network.

Regional players

• Shamrock Foods: Privately held broadline foodservice distributor with strong regional concentration in the Western U.S. serving chain operators. Comparable as a multi-generational, family/founder-controlled broadline distributor — the type of operator NDA's network aggregates.
• Ben E. Keith Foods: Privately held broadline foodservice distributor serving multi-unit chain customers across the South-Central U.S. A direct comparable as a regionally anchored, broadline distributor serving the same chain-operator customer profile that NDA centralizes.
• Reinhart Foodservice: Broadline foodservice distributor serving chain operators across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions — comparable as another multi-unit-focused broadline distributor of the type that constitutes the NDA network.

Others

• International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA): Industry trade association of which NDA is a member. IFDA represents foodservice distributors in advocacy, education, and government affairs — structurally analogous as a membership organization serving the same distributor constituency, though non-commercial.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-distribution-alliance-nda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 National Distribution Alliance (NDA)