d&b grocers

What d&b grocers does

D&B Grocers Wholesale, Inc. is a family-owned wholesale grocery and Direct Store Delivery (DSD) distributor serving independent and regional grocery retailers across Southeastern Michigan. Founded in 1994 by Bobby and Danny Hesano and tracing its commercial lineage to family retail operations dating back to 1927, the company operates two divisions: a Grocery Division that distributes national and specialty CPG brands at competitive wholesale pricing, and a DSD Division that delivers beverages and specialty items directly to store shelves across Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties. Its product portfolio spans approximately ten categories including beverages, baking needs, canned goods, condiments, grains, sweet and salty snacks, household goods, outdoor and automotive supplies, pet products, and international foods, with a named brand portfolio that includes Prime, Faygo, Fiji Water, Ice Mountain, Arizona Beverage, Sparkling Ice, Kraft Heinz, McCormick, Hunts, Maruchan, Crisco, and RAGU. D&B operates three owned warehouse/distribution facilities in Lincoln Park (1994), Livonia (2006), and Westland (2015), with the Westland location at 35400 Central City Pkwy serving as headquarters.

The business model is wholesale distribution with a transaction-based pricing structure accessible only to verified business customers who complete a credit application (up to seven business days for processing). Payment is settled via EFT/Fintech or on delivery; credit cards and cash are not accepted. Revenue is generated through wholesale margin on distributed SKUs and DSD service fees across two primary distribution channels — Direct Store Delivery for beverages and specialty items, and traditional wholesale grocery — supplemented by a vendor partnership program that recruits national and specialty brands into the network. Go-to-market is relationship-driven, combining direct outreach (phone, online contact forms), the corporate website, and referrals through industry affiliations including MIRA, Westland/Livonia and Chaldean American Chambers of Commerce, and 7-11 Alliance/Michigan FOAs.

Customer segments are independent and regional grocery retailers (SMB and mid-market), with vendor/brand partnerships as a horizontal segment served through a dedicated onboarding flow. Supporting infrastructure includes an online ordering portal (orders.dandbgrocers.com), an electronic payment portal (CardPointe-secured), logistics appointment scheduling with a 72-hour reschedule notice requirement, and separate phone lines for customer service and shipping/receiving. The company remains privately held by the Hesano family with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or M&A history.

Name

d&b grocers

Legal name

D&B Grocers Wholesale, Inc.

Website

https://dandbgrocers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

D&B Grocers is a family-owned wholesale grocery and Direct Store Delivery (DSD) distributor serving independent and regional grocery retailers across Southeastern Michigan since 1994. It operates three warehouses in Michigan and distributes national and specialty CPG brands across roughly ten product categories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Grocery Distribution

NAICS

General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers (42441)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash-and-Carry Wholesale Grocers (Business/Trade Customers) (CRAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local/Regional Grocer Enablement & White-label Delivery (CRAFAFAK)

Keywords

• Wholesale grocery distribution
• Direct store delivery
• Grocery supply chain
• Beverage distribution
• Specialty brand distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Westland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Grocery Distribution: D&B Grocers generates revenue by distributing grocery and DSD (Direct Store Delivery) products to independent and regional grocery retailers. They provide access to national and specialty brands at competitive wholesale pricing, with flexible ordering options and reliable delivery services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

D&B Grocers distributes grocery, household, and specialty products to independent and regional grocery retailers across Southeastern Michigan through two main channels: the Grocery Division (wholesale distribution of national and specialty brands at competitive wholesale pricing) and the DSD Division (Direct Store Delivery of beverages and specialty items ensuring fresher products, optimized inventory management, and seamless restocking). The company also operates a Vendor Partnership Program enabling brands to reach independent and regional retailers through D&B's distribution network.

Product overview

D&B Grocers is a wholesale grocery and Direct Store Delivery (DSD) distribution company serving the Midwest U.S. retail food industry since 1994. The company operates two core divisions: the Grocery Division for wholesale distribution of national and specialty brands at competitive pricing, and the DSD Division for direct-to-store delivery ensuring fresher products and optimized inventory. Their product portfolio spans multiple categories including beverages, baking needs, canned goods, condiments, grains, snacks, household items, outdoor/automotive products, and pet supplies. They serve retailers across Southeastern Michigan including Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties, with warehouse locations in Westland, Livonia, and Lincoln Park, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DSD Division (Direct Store Delivery) Direct Store Delivery service for beverages and specialty brands ensuring fresher products, optimized inventory management, and seamless restocking directly to retail stores across Southeastern Michigan (Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties).
• Grocery Division Wholesale grocery distribution connecting retailers with national and specialty brands at competitive wholesale pricing, with reliable delivery and flexible ordering options.
• Logistics & Delivery Services Logistics appointment scheduling and delivery services operated from 35400 Central City Pkwy, Westland, MI 48185, with a 72-hour reschedule notice requirement for delivery appointments.
• Vendor Partnership Program Program for brands to expand presence through strategic distribution, dedicated support, and targeted retail partnerships, providing access to D&B's network of independent and regional grocery retailers across the Midwest.
• New Customer Credit Application Credit application process for new wholesale customers to access competitive wholesale pricing, reliable delivery, and seamless ordering, with up to seven business days processing time.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• MIRAminorOthersAffiliated organization providing industry representation and networking opportunities for D&B Grocers.
• Westland/Livonia Chamber of CommerceminorOthersLocal chamber of commerce membership providing networking and business development opportunities in the Westland and Livonia area.
• Chaldean American Chamber of CommerceminorOthersAffiliated organization supporting the Chaldean American business community, relevant given the Hesano family's heritage.
• 7-11 Alliance FOAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 7-11 Alliance FOA (Family Operating Agreement) for retail alliance coordination and support.
• 7-11 Michigan FOAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership with 7-11 Michigan Family Operating Agreement for retail distribution and alliance coordination.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Largest US broadline foodservice distributor with grocery product lines serving retail-adjacent customers. Comparable to D&B as the dominant wholesale distributor in its category, though at vastly larger scale and foodservice-skewed.
• Gordon Food Service: Michigan-based broadline foodservice distributor with retail grocery wholesale operations. Comparable as a much larger incumbent wholesaler operating in overlapping Midwest geography and serving adjacent retail customers.
• McLane Company: Large-scale grocery and foodservice distributor serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants nationwide. Comparable to D&B in DSD and broadline grocery distribution but at significantly greater scale.
• Imperial Dade: Large foodservice and grocery distributor with broad product portfolio including beverages, snacks, household, and specialty items. Comparable to D&B in product mix and B2B distribution model.

Direct peers

• KeHE Distributors: Specialty and natural food distributor serving independent retailers, chains, and foodservice operators with broad geographic coverage. Comparable to D&B's Grocery Division in distributing national and specialty brands to independent grocers.
• SpartanNash: Michigan-headquartered grocery wholesaler and retailer serving independent grocers across the Midwest. Directly comparable to D&B as both serve independent retailers with broad-line grocery distribution and DSD capabilities in overlapping geographies.
• Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG): Member-owned cooperative wholesaler distributing groceries and DSD products to independent retailers across the Midwest and South. Directly comparable to D&B in business model, customer base, and broad-line grocery mix.
• Bozzuto's: Independent grocery wholesaler serving retailers across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with broad-line grocery and DSD. Comparable to D&B in independent-retailer focus, family ownership heritage, and broad-line distribution model.

Emerging players

• Core-Mark International: Distributor specializing in convenience store products including beverages, snacks, and grocery items via DSD. Comparable to D&B's DSD Division in route-based delivery to small-format retailers, though focused on c-store channel.

Regional players

• H.T. Hackney & Co. Regional grocery and convenience store wholesaler primarily serving the Southeast US with DSD capabilities. Comparable to D&B as a regional broad-line distributor with DSD focus on independent and small-format retailers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/d-b-grocers-wholesale-and-distributor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 d&b grocers