Restaurants, hotels and the myriad other businesses that offer food and beverages as part of their services rely on food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Texas to provide them with quality items to help their businesses run smoothly. A Texas food wholesaler can supply everything from fresh produce, quality meat and frozen items to restaurant booths, appliances and buffet stations. If this cog in the foodservice process breaks down, a restaurant will be hard-pressed to provide its customers with the service and food they’ve come to expect.

Some food wholesalers in Texas provide equipment, supplies and food, while others focus on just the food or equipment. Determine your needs before you start shopping around for food and beverage distributors and wholesalers in Texas. Here are a few options to consider:

1. Explore regional food distributors in Texas that offer local products and personalized customer service.

2. Consider nationally recognized suppliers with local food and beverage distribution centers in Texas for cost savings.

3. Explore organic food distributors in Texas to tap into this growing market.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out regional food distributors in Texas

Texas food distributors provide a wide selection of brand-name and local items from which to choose. What's more, because the companies are local, you can often get swift, more personalized service, which is a godsend in the hustle and bustle of the foodservice business.

I recommend: Ben E. Keith Co. has a Food Division and a Beverage Division that offer brands such as Anheuser-Busch and Markon fresh and frozen produce. Lone Star Foodservice supplies beef, lamb, poultry, veal, pork and specialty meats to local restaurants and other foodservice companies in Texas.

Opt for national suppliers over Texas food wholesalers

If you can't find what you're looking for from a food and beverage wholesaler in Texas, consider one of the big national foodservice suppliers. They have a reputation of getting quality items to customers across the country within a reasonable time and at reasonable prices. You may not get the personal care you would from a local food distributor in TX, however.

I recommend: Performance Food Group has three distribution centers in Texas to provide items such as baked goods, seafood, USDA meats and more to local and regional businesses. Sysco has five distribution centers in Texas, offering a wide variety of food products as well as servingware and foodservice cleaning supplies.

Consider organic food distributors in Texas

Recent studies have shown that the demand for organic food has doubled in the past 10 years and is expected to increase that much or more in the next 10. Get a piece of this pie by including items from organic foodservice distributors in your foodservice offerings.

I recommend: Texas food distributor Doguet has been offering organic rice products for nearly 20 years. Fairly Traded Organics has a line of organic sugar products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Offering customers items from local food distributors in Texas shows that you support local businesses, which may be a plus for customers.