Who Owns US Foods?
US Foods is the flagship distribution brand of US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD), a publicly traded foodservice distributor headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. The brand supplies approximately 250,000 customer locations including restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and schools, and anchors a company that reported FY2025 net sales of $39.4 billion. US Foods is the second-largest broadline foodservice distributor in the United States.
Parent Company
Founded
1994
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
US Foods Timeline
Who Owns US Foods?
- Parent Company: US Foods Holding Corp.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: USFD
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| US Foods | US Foods Holding Corp. | Brand division |
Where to Buy
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US Foods on AmazonHistory of US Foods
- Founded: 1994
- Founders: Formed through merger of Rykoff-Sexton and JP Foodservice
The US Foods brand traces its lineage to food distribution businesses founded in the 19th century. John Sexton & Company was established in Chicago in 1883 and Rykoff & Company in Los Angeles in 1911. Those predecessors merged in the 1980s to form Rykoff-Sexton.
The modern entity formed in 1994 when Rykoff-Sexton merged with JP Foodservice, creating US Foodservice. The name consolidated multiple regional distributors into a national brand positioned to serve chain restaurants and large institutions.
Dutch retailer Royal Ahold acquired US Foodservice in 2000 for approximately $3.6 billion, integrating it into a global food retailing portfolio. Private equity firms KKR and Clayton Dubilier & Rice bought it in 2007 for approximately $7.1 billion and took it private. In 2011 the company rebranded from US Foodservice to US Foods, reflecting a simplified, modern identity.
The company went public again in May 2016 on the NYSE. The 2020 acquisition of Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores added the retail channel now branded CHEF'STORE. Under CEO Dave Flitman since January 2023, the brand has pursued independent restaurant share gains and operational productivity as the core strategy.
About US Foods Holding Corp.
What does US Foods own?
US Foods owns the CHEF'STORE cash-and-carry chain and a portfolio of private-label food brands including Chef's Line, Devonshire, Cross Valley Farms, Glenview Farms, and Cattleman's Selection. Its core business is the US Foods distribution operation.
Is US Foods publicly traded?
Yes. US Foods Holding Corp. trades on the NYSE under ticker USFD. It went public in 2016 after periods of private equity and corporate ownership.
Who founded US Foods?
The company traces heritage to 19th century food distribution businesses, including John Sexton & Company founded in 1883. The modern entity formed in 1994 through the merger of Rykoff-Sexton and JP Foodservice.
Where is US Foods headquartered?
US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, USA, in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Who owns US Foods?
US Foods is owned by public shareholders with no controlling investor. The company was privately held by KKR and Clayton Dubilier & Rice from 2007 until its 2016 IPO.
What is US Foods' revenue?
US Foods reported FY2025 net sales of $39.4 billion, up 4.1% year over year. Net income was $676 million and adjusted EBITDA was a record $1.93 billion.
How many brands does US Foods own?
US Foods operates two main banners, US Foods distribution and CHEF'STORE retail, plus approximately ten private-label food brands used across its product lines.
- Founded: 1853
- Headquarters: Rosemont, Illinois, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: USFD
- Revenue: $39.4 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 30,000
Where Is US Foods Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Rosemont, Illinois, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
US Foods Categories & Tags
US Foods Recalls & Controversies
As a distributor rather than manufacturer, US Foods' controversies center on business practices and food safety logistics rather than product recalls of its own making.
Sysco merger termination (2015): The most significant regulatory event in the company's modern history was the 2015 abandonment of a proposed merger with Sysco after the Federal Trade Commission sued to block it on antitrust grounds. The deal would have combined the two largest US foodservice distributors.
Food safety and handling: As a food distributor, US Foods is subject to FDA and USDA oversight and periodically executes manufacturer-initiated recalls. The company has faced standard regulatory inspections and occasional withdrawal events common to the industry.
Contract and pricing disputes: Like peers, the company has faced periodic litigation with customers and suppliers over pricing and contract terms, disclosed in SEC filings as routine.
Brands Owned by US Foods Holding Corp.
US Foods Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Second-largest US broadline foodservice distributor with national reach
- +Independent restaurant share gains demonstrate competitive momentum
- +Private label portfolio provides margin differentiation
- +MOXe digital platform and value-added services strengthen customer retention
- +Record adjusted EBITDA and EPS in FY2025 reflect improved execution
Considerations
- -Thin adjusted EBITDA margin of 4.9% leaves limited buffer
- -Chain segment declined 3.5% in FY2025, reflecting competitive pressure
- -Restaurant industry cyclicality affects volume predictability
- -Scale disadvantage to Sysco, the market leader
- -Commodity nature of distribution limits pricing power
Frequently Asked Questions About US Foods
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to US Foods
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Us Foods | USA (parent) | 2020 | Mass market | United states | All-ages |
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: US Foods competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to US Foods
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by US Foods Holding Corp., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageKrispy Kreme
Owned by JAB Holding Company
American doughnut brand founded in 1937, publicly traded on NASDAQ (DNUT) with JAB Holding as largest shareholder at 43%. Operates over 2,100 shops globally with a hub-and-spoke distribution model.
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Krispy Kreme is privately owned, unlike US Foods which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageM&M's
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
Candy-coated chocolate confections produced by Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's best-selling candy brands since 1941.
candychocolateconfectionery
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M&M's is privately owned, unlike US Foods which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageMilky Way
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
American nougat, caramel, and chocolate candy bar owned by Mars, Incorporated, introduced in 1923. One of the oldest candy bars still in production in the United States, with a distinct formulation difference between US and European versions.
chocolatecandy-barnougat
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Milky Way is privately owned, unlike US Foods which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeveragePop-Tarts
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
American brand of toaster pastries filled with various flavors, now owned by Mars, Incorporated through the Kellanova acquisition.
toaster-pastriesbreakfastsnacks
Privately Owned
Pop-Tarts is privately owned, unlike US Foods which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageZico
Owned by GroundForce Capital (formerly PowerPlant Ventures)
Premium coconut water brand founded by Mark Rampolla in 2004, discontinued by Coca-Cola in 2020, and reacquired by Rampolla through PowerPlant Ventures in January 2021 as Zico Rising.
coconut-waternatural-hydrationfunctional-beverage
Privately Owned
Zico is privately owned, unlike US Foods which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageBarilla
Owned by Barilla Group
Italian pasta and food brand owned by Barilla Group, a leading global pasta and sauce manufacturer.
pastafooditalian
Privately Owned
Barilla is privately owned, unlike US Foods which is under a publicly traded parent company.
US Foods Holding Corp. Stock Information
Jobs at US Foods Holding Corp.
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