Harbor Wholesale Foods Acquires Former US Foods Facility
LACEY, WA - Harbor Wholesale Foods, a fourth generation family-owned and operated distributing business, recently acquired a significant portion of the Food Services of America (FSA) Seattle business, including FSA's 250,000-square-foot distribution facility in Kent, Washington.
"The acquisition of a portion of FSA's Seattle business aligns well with our existing culture and values," said Harbor CEO Justin Erickson. "We've grown our business over the years through our dedication to serving our independent and locally owned customer base. Our success is the result of empowering our team members to best serve our customers at every interaction. We've been serving NW communities for 96 years, and the FSA Seattle business provides a platform to expand our presence and positive influence throughout the region."
FSA, owned now by US Foods, and Harbor share similar backgrounds as family companies and a common passion for associate growth and customer success. According to the press release, Harbor will take on roughly 1,700 independent restaurant operators throughout 10 counties in Western Washington as well as FSA Seattle's executive leadership and several experienced and dedicated associates, creating a combined team of nearly 700 people.
"As our company evolved, we shifted our focus to retail grocery and convenience store distribution. As foodservice has become the primary focus of convenience stores over the past 10 plus years, we've expanded our capabilities in foodservice to retain and grow our position as the NW's leading convenience store distributor," said Erickson.
The Harbor location in Kent, WA will continue to be led by the current FSA executive leadership team, utilizing the same familiar systems, tools, and technology that customers and associates rely on today. "The goal is to make the acquisition as seamless as possible, much of how Harbor and FSA do business today will not change," Harbor CFO Jim Winkle stated.
With 96 years of service to its customers, Harbor is the perfect distributor to fill a huge and important void in the foodservice market. Being a locally owned and operated business in the area is key.
"We bring industry-leading technology, operational excellence, and competitive buying power. We put our customers first, and we're committed to providing food and solutions to help their businesses flourish," said Erickson. "As a local distributor, we have a unique opportunity to partner with local suppliers, providing a unique mix of products versus the larger broad line distributors. The restaurant industry is more competitive than ever, and operators are looking for a way to stand out from the crowd."
As more companies shift into foodservice, keep reading ANUK for the latest updates.
