Gordon Food Service
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food distribution |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Headquarters | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Products | Bulk food, delivery |
| Website | gfs.com |
Gordon Food Service ("GFS") is the largest privately held foodservice distributor in North America with sales of $5.5 billion in 2007. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan[1], GFS has GFS Marketplace stores in the states of Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. GFS also distributes to portions of Wisconsin, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Gordon Food Service was founded in 1897 by Isaac van Westenbrugge, a 23-year-old Dutch immigrant, by his son-in-law Ben Gordon. It was started by Van Westenbrugge with only 300 dollars borrowed from his brother to start an egg and butter delivery service. In 2009 GFS opened a new distribution center in Pottsville, PA adding to the extensive distribution web that it already has, and is also planning on opening another new warehouse in Kenosha, WI in April 2010. GFS now has warehouses in 7 states, and is continuing to grow.
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[edit] Marketplace Stores
Started at the GFS warehouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the first "cash and carry" was a way for local restaurants to replenish their stock between deliveries. As these stores expanded, they all were first located in industrial areas with very little emphasis on the "retail look." As the stores became more popular, GFS Marketplace stores started to emerge on busy streets and strip malls; not only to put them in the public eye, but also to be more convenient for customers. The Marketplace stores developed into a Warehouse club that does not require membership to purchase bulk products. In 2003, Gordon Food Service purchased 7 retail locations and a distribution network from a similar retailer called Smart & Final. They now have 130 locations along the eastern half of the US. Each store is between 15,000-25,000 sq ft.
[edit] Canada =
Gordon Food Service also distributes under the name GFS Canada and has Distribution Centers in much of Canada:
- GFS Ontario - portions of Ontario
- GFS Atlantic - Atlantic Canada
- GFS Prairies - Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the remainder of Ontario
- GFS Quebec - Quebec
- GFS British Columbia - British Columbia
[edit] Technology
GFS has an automated distribution center located in Shepherdsville, KY. With GFS Marketplace stores developing in other states the company continues to grow year by year. The company also has over 11,000 employees.
The company also sponsored the NASCAR Nextel Cup GFS Marketplace 400 race from 2003 to 2006.
