Food Distribution Business

5 Food Distribution Business Success Stories [2024]

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Updated: July 23rd, 2024

Achieving success in the food distribution business starts with understanding the intricate dance between supply and demand. In simple terms, this industry involves sourcing food products from manufacturers and farmers, storing them, and then ensuring they reach various clients—be it retailers, restaurants, or end consumers.

This venture demands a good grasp of logistics, inventory management, and strong relationships with suppliers and customers. The appeal lies in its necessity; food is an essential commodity, and efficient distribution is crucial for ensuring market stability.

Intriguingly, the rise of e-commerce and technology provides new opportunities to streamline operations and improve service levels. While it requires dedication and strategic planning, starting a food distribution business can be highly rewarding, positioning you at the core of the food supply chain.

In this list, you'll find real-world food distribution business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a food distribution business that makes money.

1. Food Fleet ($18M/year)

After struggling to find locations to operate their own food truck, the founder took over booking for other trucks and realized the need for a turnkey service for corporations. They used their 35 years of food service experience to provide solutions and help the trucks with everything from food safety to insurance. Their unique approach, along with their understanding of the hospitality business, has allowed Food Fleet to secure national contracts with major companies and achieve significant growth.

How much money it makes: $18M/year
How many people on the team: 6

How I Took Food Trucks Corporate And Built A $18M Business

Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.

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2. Send Eats ($4.62M/year)

Chris Koerner came up with the idea for Send Eats when a friend asked for help selling his product online. Seeing the potential for eCommerce, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Koerner scaled the business from packing a few orders per month to tens of thousands. They prioritize customer service and have never lost a customer, with plans to expand into a larger warehouse and acquire more eCommerce brands.

How much money it makes: $4.62M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 8

How We Started A $385K/Month Order Fulfillment Service For Ecommerce Brands

Learn how Send Eats grew from packing dozens of orders per month to tens of thousands, with a monthly revenue of $385k, by providing lightning-fast order fulfillment for eCommerce brands primarily within Shopify, and how they utilized their personal network and went from shipping out of a bread factory to their own 30,000 sq ft warehouse.

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3. Portable Chef ($744K/year)

Uri Attia, founder of Portable Chef, came up with the idea for his business out of desperation after losing his banking job in the 2008 financial crisis. With a passion for cooking and understanding the demands of busy New Yorkers, Uri saw the opportunity to provide customizable, healthy meals for his clients. Today, Portable Chef generates an average monthly revenue of $60,000 by making 25,000 custom meals a year.

How much money it makes: $744K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 3

How I Started A $60K/Month Business Cooking And Delivering Custom Meals

New York food business founder goes from broke and desperate to cooking 25,000 custom meals per year with an average monthly revenue of $60,000, focusing on pleasing existing customers and word of mouth for new clientele.

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4. Beyond the Crisis ($240K/year)

Camden Francis and his 13-year-old brother Colton were inspired to start Beyond the Crisis in 2020 after witnessing disheartening news reports of long food lines during the pandemic. At just 16, Camden's nonprofit has since distributed over $100,000 worth of food and resources.

How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 12

How These Teen Brothers Started A Nonprofit That Distributed $100K Worth Of Food

Beyond the Crisis, founded in 2020 by two brothers, has distributed over $100,000 worth of food to housing communities and homeless shelters, and has been featured on CBS News, PBS, and The Drew Barrymore Show in just two years, proving that with focus, patience, and persistence, anyone can achieve success in building and growing their own nonprofit.

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5. Benjamissimo ($120K/year)

Milen Yordanov, the founder of Benjamissimo, a brand of organic vegan chocolate with superfoods, came up with the idea after his friend, who co-founded the brand Roobar, asked for help registering the trademark in Canada. Milen saw this as an opportunity to leave his teaching job and pursue something he was passionate about. He started distributing the energy and protein bars himself, and later added the Benjamissimo chocolate brand to his business.

How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 1

How I Started A $10k/Month Business As A Vegan And Gourmet Food Distributor In Canada

As a non-English speaking immigrant and former teacher in Montreal, Milen Yordanov started a business by distributing Roobar organic protein bars and expanded to distributing Benjamissimo vegan chocolate with superfoods in Canada, making $120,000 in sales last year and growing despite the global crisis.

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Read by 6,443 founders