Produce & Protein Distribution
Specialty distributors of fresh produce, meat, and seafood.
Market snapshot
These figures describe Food & Beverage Distribution (5.4.5), the segment that Produce & Protein Distribution sits within — not Produce & Protein Distribution on its own.
- Market size
- ~$1,507B
- Growth
- ~5.5%CAGR (2017–22, nominal)
- Companies
- ~40,000
U.S. Census Bureau 2022 CBP/Economic Census, NAICS 424410–424490 (grocery & food) + 424810 (beer) + 424820 (wine & distilled spirits).
Business model & economics
Revenue model
Foodservice and beverage resale with logistics markup
Key economics
- Recurring revenue
- High
- EBITDA margin
- Thin broadline; higher specialty
- Capex intensity
- Moderate
recurring reorder from foodservice accounts
Characteristics
- Largest distribution segment; broadline giants lead.
- Cold-chain logistics a key capability.
- Consolidating broadline; fragmented specialty.
Geographic concentration
Food and beverage distribution concentrates around the dense Northeast and Midwest consumer corridors — New York, New Jersey, and Illinois — where population and port access drive wholesale throughput.
U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 County Business Patterns (establishments by state), NAICS 424410. Concentration shown by location quotient.
M&A deal context
Who’s acquiring
- Broadline foodservice strategics
- Specialty & ethnic distribution consolidators
- PE-backed platforms
What’s driving deals
- Broadline scale and route density.
- Specialty and protein roll-ups.
- Cold-chain and logistics investment.
Find Produce & Protein Distribution acquisition targets
Search Acquisera’s index for companies classified under Produce & Protein Distribution (5.4.5.3) and build a targeted deal pipeline.
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