Gordon Food Service

Gordon Food Service
Private
Industry Food distribution
Founded 1897
Headquarters Grand Rapids, Michigan
Products Bulk food, delivery
Revenue Increase $12.9 billion (2016)
Number of employees
 19,000[1]
Website gfs.com

Gordon Food Service (GFS) is a foodservice distributor based in Wyoming, Michigan serving the eastern half of the United States. It operates cash and carry stores in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

According to Forbes Magazine, GFS is the twenty-sixth largest privately held company in the United States.[2] Its biggest competitors are US Foods and Sysco.

Company lore

GFS was founded in 1897 by Isaac van Westenbrugge as an egg and butter delivery service. Van Westenbrugge, a 23-year-old Dutch immigrant, started with $300 borrowed from his brother. In 1916, Ben Gordon joined the company; five years later he married Van Westenbrugge's daughter. In 1942 Ben and his brother Frank renamed the company Gordon Food Service.

Wholesale distribution

GFS delivery truck, Ann Arbor, Michigan

GFS has distribution centers located in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, Wyoming, Michigan, Brighton, Michigan, Douglasville, Georgia, Aberdeen, Maryland, Miami, Florida, Plant City, Florida, Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas, Imperial, Pennsylvania, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Boston, Massachusetts and Kannapolis, North Carolina.[3] .

Canada

In 1996, the company began a series of acquisitions in Canada, forming GFS Canada.[4] It has facilities in Edmonton, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba

Stores

Gordon Food Service Stores Ypsilanti, Michigan

GFS opened its first cash and carry in 1979. Originally, they were in industrial areas, a competitor to Jetro's Restaurant Depot brand. GFS has since shrunk the store size to 15,000–20,000 square feet (1,400–1,900 m2) and put them in commercial areas, aiming for more retail trade. In 2014, there were 170 Gordon Food Service Stores.

References

  1. ↑ "Gordon Food Service not surprised by Sysco merger". Grbj.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "#26 Gordon Food Service". Forbes.com LLC. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Gordon Food Service opens Kannapolis distribution center", Salisbury Post, January 12, 2016, retrieved 12 February 2016
  4. ↑ "A consistent brand for GFS Canada". can-restaurantnews.com. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
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