Chain Profiles

Club Store Chains

Costco

• ~600 U.S. warehouses
• Membership model (Executive & Business)
• Pack size: club-exclusive multi-packs
• Markup capped at 14-15%
• Vendor onboarding via roadshows & buyer meetings
• Distribution: centralized depot system
• Best for: high-velocity brands with scale

Sam's Club

• ~600 clubs nationwide
• Walmart infrastructure & logistics
• Member's Mark private label competition
• More open to emerging brand trials
• Scan-based trading for some categories
• Distribution: Walmart DC network
• Best for: brands with Walmart readiness

BJ's Wholesale

• ~240 clubs (East Coast focused)
• More grocery-heavy assortment
• Accepts manufacturer coupons (unique!)
• Lower minimums than Costco/Sam's
• Regional buyers more accessible
• Distribution: regional model
• Best for: mid-size brands, East Coast launch

PriceSmart

• Central America, Caribbean, Colombia
• Costco co-founder model
• Import/export considerations
• Smaller warehouse format
• Growing membership base
• Distribution: in-country fulfillment
• Best for: brands seeking international club

Restaurant Supply / Cash & Carry

Restaurant Depot

• 150+ warehouses nationwide
• Membership: free for business owners/non-profits
• Massive fresh, dry, and equipment sections
• High volume for independent operators
• Parent company of Jetro Cash & Carry
• Open in Canada (Mississauga, Vancouver)

GFS Stores

• 175+ stores (Midwest, Northeast, Florida)
• Open to public — no membership
• Broken case and bulk selling
• Gold standard for foodservice retail
• Both consumer and operator-friendly
• Strong private label program

US Foods CHEF'STORE

• ~100 locations (Pacific NW, California heavy)
• Formerly Smart Foodservice / Cash&Carry
• No membership — open to the public
• Direct competitor to GFS in the West
• Foodservice-first product mix
• Growing national footprint

Smart & Final

• CA, AZ, NV locations
• "Warehouse Grocery" hybrid format
• Extra! format for business and household
• No membership required
• Strong in both retail and foodservice
• Competitive pricing on bulk items

Equipment / Showroom / Hybrid

Bargreen Ellingson

Major Western player with showrooms including Honolulu. Equipment and design services.

Edward Don

Experience Centers in Chicago, Dallas, LA, Miami. Owned by Sysco, maintains own identity.

TriMark USA

Largest design-build dealer. Designs and installs kitchens for stadiums, hotels, hospitals.

Standard Restaurant Supply

Southwest's largest showrooms. Utah, Arizona, Nevada. Deep equipment + food inventory.

Ace Mart

Texas's dominant family-owned chain. Massive in-stock inventory for immediate pickup.

E-Commerce Leaders

WebstaurantStore

World's largest online restaurant supply store. Disrupted the traditional dealer model with massive SEO and fast shipping.

KaTom

Tennessee-based e-commerce competitor with a higher-touch customer service model.