CSP’s Distributor 15 details the industry’s largest distributors in the United States by sales volume. Click through to see how the convenience-store or foodservice distributors stack up and what each brings to the table. The data is courtesy of sister company Technomic.

Retailer-Focused Distributor: A distributor that primarily serves supermarkets, grocers, convenience stores and other retailers. Retailer-focused distributors may also carry non-food items such as tobacco products, health & beauty items, and other general merchandise.

Broadline Distributor: A distributor to foodservice establishments, carrying a full line of products including dry groceries, frozen foods, tabletop, equipment and supplies. Many broadline distributors also carry perishable items such as meat, dairy and produce. The typical broadline distributor carries upwards of 20,000 SKUs and provides delivery, credit, sales representation and other value-added services to its foodservice operator customers.

Cash & Carry: A self-serve wholesale outlet, which may or may not require a membership, offering a large selection of items to foodservice restaurants, noncommercial foodservice operators and small businesses that require equipment or items in bulk, such as bulk beverages, dry goods, frozen food, produce and more. Customers visit the store, pay for their purchase and haul their purchase back to their own operation(s).