In this article, learn about:
The leaders in distribution
The specific areas in which these distributors operate
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Distributors are integral to the supply chain industry, getting products from the supplier or manufacturer to the retailer, and eventually into the customers’ hands. There are many different distributors, each specializing in different products.
This article categorizes and lists the leaders in distribution based on the following categories:
Grocery and foodservice distributors
Convenience distributors
General institutional distributors
Medical and pharmaceutical distributors
E-commerce distributors
This article does not include retailers and/or suppliers who distribute their own products, such as Coca-Cola or Walmart.
Grocery and Foodservice Distributors
Distributor | Primary Focus | Other Distribution Areas |
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) | Grocery stores |
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Ben E. Keith | Restaurant foodservice |
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Grocery, restaurant foodservice | Schools, hospitals | |
Cheney Brothers | Restaurant foodservice |
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Core-Mark Holding Company | Grocery stores | Convenience stores |
DOT Foods | Redistribution of food products |
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Gordon Food Service (GFS) | Restaurant foodservice | Schools, hospitals |
Natural and organic grocery |
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Maines Paper and Food Service | Chain restaurant foodservice |
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Grocery | Convenience stores | |
Performance Food Group (PFG) | Restaurant foodservice | Institutions |
Shamrock Foods | Restaurant foodservice | Schools, hospitals |
Restaurant foodservice, grocery | Schools, hospitals, institutions | |
Natural and organic food for retail | Schools, hospitals | |
US Foods | Restaurant foodservice | Schools, healthcare |
Convenience Store Distributors
Distributor | Primary Focus | Other Distribution Areas |
Cooper-Booth Wholesale | Convenience |
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Eby-Brown Co. | Convenience |
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GSC Enterprises | Convenience |
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H.T. Hackney Co. | Convenience | Grocery |
Imperial Trading | Convenience |
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National Convenience Distributors (NCD) | Convenience |
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Institutional Distributors
Distributor | Primary Focus | Other Distribution Areas |
Follett Higher Education | Higher education books, materials, technology | Campus retail |
HD Supply | Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) products | Hotels, government, property management |
Hillyard Inc. | Janitorial and facility | K-12 schools, higher education, hospitals |
Office Depot / ODP Business Solutions | Office and classroom supplies | Healthcare, SMBs |
School Specialty | K-12 supplies and curriculum | Early childhood centers, after school programs |
Staples Business Advantage | Office and facility supplies | Schools, healthcare, businesses |
Veritiv Corporation | Janitorial and sanitation, packaging, print | Education, healthcare, industrial |
W.B. Mason | School supplies, office supplies | Higher education, corporate, SMBs |
Medical and Pharmaceutical Distributors
Distributor | Primary Focus | Other Distribution Areas |
AmerisourceBergen | Pharmaceuticals, hospitals | Veterinary, specialty |
Cardinal Health | Pharmaceuticals, medical products |
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Henry Schein | Dental and medical supplies |
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McKesson Corporation | Pharmaceuticals, medical products | Retail, home care |
Medline Industries | Medical supplies for hospitals and clinics | Home health, surgery |
Owens and Minor | Surgical and medical supplies | Government facilities |
E-commerce and Direct to Store Distributors
Distributor | Primary Focus | Other Distribution Areas |
Amazon Business | B2B e-commerce | Institutions, SMBs |
Boxed Wholesale | Bulk goods, business & households | Offices, hospitality |
Drizly | DSD for alcohol through local partners | Retail |
Faire | Online wholesale | Retail, boutique |
Gopuff | On-demand for CPGs | Homes, campuses |
Other Categories
Distributor | Primary Focus | Other Distribution Areas |
Baker and Taylor | Books, media for libraries |
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Beauty Systems Group (CosmoProf/BSG) | Beauty, salon products |
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Bunzl USA | Disposable packaging, cleaning, and safety supplies | Grocery, foodservice, healthcare |
Fastenal | Industrial, safety supplies | Manufacturing, construction, government |
Ingram Content Group | Books, education, media |
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Ferguson Enterprises | Plumbing, HVAC | Contractors, commercial |
LKQ Corporation | Auto replacement |
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L&R Distributors | Cosmetics for mass retailers and drugstores | General |
MSC Industrial | Metalworking and MRO | Factories, maintenance |
Tech Data (TD SYNNEX) | IT, electonrics |
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United Pacific | Beauty, cosmetics, personal care |
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W.W. Grainger | Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) | Institutions, manufacturers, facilities |