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Performance Food Group
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Performance Food Group Company (PFG) is an American food service distributor. It is the third-largest food service distributor in the U.S., after Sysco and US Foods. The company supplies 250,000 products to 300,000 locations including independent restaurants, chain restaurants, healthcare, hospitality, and educational institutions. It has 155 distribution centers.[1]
Key Information
It has three divisions: Foodservice, which distributes food products to restaurants (53% of 2025 revenues); Convenience, which distributes food products to convenience and grocery stores (39% of 2025 revenues); and Specialty, which distributes candy, snacks, and beverages (8% of 2025 revenues).[1]
The company is ranked 80th on the Fortune 500[2] and 1129th on the Forbes Global 2000.[3]
History
[edit]The company traces its roots to a business founded by James Capers in 1885 in Richmond, Virginia. It later became Pocahontas Foods.[4]
The company became Performance Food Group in 1987.[5]
In 2008, the company was acquired by investment funds managed by Wellspring Capital Management and Blackstone Inc. for $1.3 billion and it was merged with Vistar and Roma Foods.[6]
In October 2015, the company became a public company via an initial public offering.[7]
In May 2017, Blackstone sold its remaining stake in the company.[8]
Acquisitions
[edit]| # | Year | Company | Description | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 2001 | Springfield Foodservice Corp. | Price was $85 million | [9][10] |
| 2 | April 2019 | Eby-Brown | [11] | |
| 3 | July 2019 | Reinhart Foodservice | Price was $2 billion; seller was Reyes Holdings | [12] |
| 4 | September 2021 | Core-Mark | Price was $2.5 billion | [13] |
| 5 | October 2024 | Cheney Brothers | Price was $2.1 billion in cash | [14] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Performance Food Group Company 2025 Form 10-K Annual Report". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Fortune 500: Performance Food Group". Fortune.
- ^ "Forbes: Performance Food Group". Forbes.
- ^ "ID NEWS: Pocahontas announces umbrella name, also, new group". Restaurant Business. March 21, 2003.
- ^ "Going to Extremes" (PDF). U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. April 29, 2002.
- ^ "Equity Firms Acquiring Food Supplier". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. January 19, 2008.
- ^ Maze, Jonathan (October 1, 2015). "Performance Food Group has a modest IPO". Nation's Restaurant News.
- ^ "Blackstone Successfully Exits Performance Food Group Company with $388 Million Secondary Offering". Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. May 18, 2017.
- ^ "COMPANY NEWS; PERFORMANCE FOOD IS BUYING Springfield Foodservice". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. July 27, 2001.
- ^ "Performance Food to buy Springfield Foodservice for $85 million". American City Business Journals. July 23, 2001.
- ^ "Performance Food Group Company Reports Third-Quarter and First-Nine Months Fiscal 2019 Results" (Press release). U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. May 8, 2019.
- ^ Forde, Morgan (July 2, 2019). "Distributor Performance Food Group to acquire Reinhart Foodservice for $2B". Industry Dive.
- ^ Paramasivam, Praveen (May 18, 2021). "Performance Food Group to buy peer Core-Mark in $2.5 billion deal". Reuters.
- ^ "Performance Food to buy foodservice distributor Cheney Bros for $2.1 bln". Reuters. August 14, 2024.
External links
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Performance Food Group
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Performance Food Group Company (PFG) is a leading distributor of food and food-related products in North America, marketing and distributing more than 250,000 items to approximately 300,000 customer locations across the food-away-from-home sectors, including independent restaurants, multi-unit chains, schools, healthcare facilities, vending distributors, and convenience stores.[1] The company operates through three primary segments: Foodservice, which focuses on broadline distribution to restaurants and institutions; Convenience, serving retailers and forecourt sites; and Specialty, including Vistar for vending and office coffee services.[2] Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, PFG employs approximately 43,000 associates and maintains 155 distribution centers throughout the United States and Canada, supported by a fleet that logs over 375 million miles annually.[1][2]
Founded in 1987 as a spin-off from a larger conglomerate, PFG traces its operational heritage to 1885 through predecessor companies like Pocahontas Foods Service, emphasizing a century-plus of adaptation in the foodservice industry.[2] The company has grown significantly through strategic acquisitions, including the recent purchase of Cheney Brothers in October 2024, which expanded its Southeast U.S. footprint, and it became a publicly traded entity on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PFGC in 2015.[1][3] In September 2025, PFG entered into an information-sharing agreement with US Foods to explore a potential merger.[4] Under the leadership of Chairman, President, and CEO George Holm since 2008, PFG reported net sales of $63.3 billion for its fiscal year ended June 28, 2025, reflecting an 8.6% increase from the prior year driven by case volume growth and acquisitions.[5][3] Beyond distribution, PFG commits to sustainability and community support, including annual donations exceeding 1 million pounds of food to Feeding America and a 40% reduction in energy use through initiatives like LED lighting upgrades.[2]
History
Origins and formation
The origins of Performance Food Group trace back to 1885, when James Capers started peddling groceries for a wholesaler in Richmond, Virginia. This modest venture gradually expanded into a regional grocery business known as Pocahontas Foods, laying the groundwork for future growth in food supply operations.[2] Throughout the 20th century, Pocahontas Foods evolved from a local grocery enterprise into a specialized food distribution entity, with a strong emphasis on regional supply chains. Operating under the umbrella of Taylor & Sledd, a family-owned food marketing company, it developed as a distributor buying group that facilitated efficient sourcing and delivery for smaller operators in the emerging foodservice industry.[6] Performance Food Group was formally established in 1987 as a Tennessee corporation through the combination of various independent foodservice businesses, initially operating as Pocahontas Food Group to provide collective strength against larger competitors in the consolidating market. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company's early efforts centered on broadline foodservice distribution, offering diverse products such as produce, proteins, and pantry staples to restaurants and institutional customers primarily in the mid-Atlantic region during the late 1980s and 1990s.[7][6]Private equity era and IPO
In 2008, Performance Food Group was acquired by affiliates of The Blackstone Group and Wellspring Capital Management in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, which included the merger of the company with Vistar Corporation, a specialty foodservice distributor owned by the private equity firms.[8][9] This acquisition, completed in May 2008 at a total value of about $1.4 billion including assumed debt, marked the beginning of a private equity era focused on operational restructuring to enhance efficiencies and expand market reach.[10] During the private equity ownership period from 2008 to 2015, Performance Food Group underwent significant integration efforts, including the incorporation of Vistar's operations to broaden its national distribution capabilities in vending and office coffee sectors, and the merger of Roma Foods into its Performance Foodservice division to strengthen offerings for independent pizzerias and Italian cuisine specialists.[11] The firms implemented restructuring initiatives, such as the "Winning Together" program, which optimized procurement processes, reduced costs, and improved productivity across operations, contributing to net sales growth from $10.6 billion in fiscal 2011 to $15.3 billion in fiscal 2015.[11] These efforts positioned the company for sustained profitability under private ownership, with adjusted EBITDA rising from $220 million to $329 million over the same period.[11] Performance Food Group returned to public markets through an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PFGC on October 2, 2015, selling 14.5 million shares at $19 each and raising approximately $276 million, primarily to reduce outstanding debt.[12][13] Following the IPO, the company experienced robust post-IPO growth, achieving Fortune 500 status and ranking 114th in 2021 based on annual revenue of $25.1 billion.[14]Key acquisitions and expansions
Performance Food Group has pursued strategic acquisitions to expand its footprint in foodservice and convenience distribution channels since its initial public offering in 2015. One significant move was the acquisition of Eby-Brown Company LLC, a major distributor to convenience stores, completed on April 29, 2019, following an announcement on March 19, 2019. This deal enhanced PFG's capabilities in the convenience sector by integrating Eby-Brown's network, which generated approximately $5.3 billion in fiscal 2018 revenues (including tobacco excise taxes), and positioned PFG to better serve independent retailers and chain stores with complementary product offerings.[15][16] In a parallel expansion within its foodservice operations, PFG acquired Reinhart Foodservice LLC for approximately $2 billion in an all-cash transaction, announced on July 1, 2019, and closed on December 30, 2019. Reinhart, a family-owned broadline distributor focused on the Midwest, added substantial scale to PFG's Foodservice segment, including enhanced market penetration in key states like Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, and bolstered PFG's ability to supply restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions in the region.[17][18][19] PFG further solidified its leadership in convenience distribution through the acquisition of Core-Mark Holding Company Inc., a leading wholesaler to convenience retailers, for approximately $2.5 billion including net debt, announced on May 18, 2021, and completed on September 1, 2021. This transaction combined Core-Mark with Eby-Brown under PFG's Vistar segment, creating a unified Convenience division with pro forma annual sales exceeding $17 billion and rebranding the former PFG Customized Distribution as the Convenience operations to streamline branding and operations for over 40,000 customer locations nationwide.[20][21][22] More recently, PFG expanded its Southeast presence with the acquisition of Cheney Bros. Inc., an independent broadline foodservice distributor, for $2.1 billion in cash, announced on August 14, 2024, and closed on October 8, 2024. The deal incorporated Cheney Brothers' $3.2 billion in annual sales and five distribution facilities across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, enabling PFG to deepen service to hospitality and institutional customers while projecting $50 million in annual run-rate synergies by the third full fiscal year post-closing through procurement efficiencies and network optimization.[23][24][25] In September 2025, Performance Food Group entered into an information-sharing agreement with US Foods Holding Corp. to evaluate the feasibility of a potential business combination. If completed, the merger would create the largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America, with combined annual sales approaching $100 billion.[4] These acquisitions have collectively transformed PFG's scale, driving revenue growth from approximately $15 billion in fiscal 2015 to $63.3 billion in fiscal 2025, while expanding its distribution network to more than 150 locations across North America and enhancing cross-segment synergies in supply chain and customer service.[26][27][28]Corporate structure
Divisions
Performance Food Group operates through three primary segments: Foodservice, Convenience, and Specialty (formerly known as Vistar). These divisions enable the company to serve diverse markets while leveraging shared resources for efficiency. Each segment focuses on specific customer needs and product categories, contributing significantly to PFG's overall operations and revenue growth.[29][5] The Foodservice segment, PFG's largest division, is a broadline distributor that supplies more than 200,000 food and non-food products to over 125,000 customers nationwide, including independent restaurants, schools, healthcare facilities, and hospitality venues. It offers a wide range of items such as fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy, bakery goods, and equipment, supported by exclusive brands like Braveheart Black Angus Beef, Roma, and West Creek to help customers differentiate their menus. This segment emphasizes customized solutions and innovative technology to support culinary partners in achieving operational success and menu innovation.[30][31][32] The Specialty segment, operating under the Vistar brand, specializes in distributing candy, snacks, hot and cold beverages, and related equipment to non-traditional outlets across all 50 states. It serves industries including vending and micro-markets, office coffee services, theater and concessions, hospitality, campus retail, and gaming, providing innovative products that align with emerging trends in convenience and on-the-go consumption. Vistar's focus on expansive product selection and market expansion helps customers in these sectors meet consumer demands for variety and freshness without overlapping with broadline foodservice needs.[33][29][34] The Convenience segment, established following the 2021 acquisition of Core-Mark, targets convenience stores, mass merchants, and gas stations with a portfolio of tobacco products, candy, snacks, groceries, fresh foods, and foodservice items. Operating through 39 distribution centers, it serves over 50,000 customers and generates annual sales exceeding $20 billion, capitalizing on the growing demand for quick-access, high-quality offerings in retail environments. This segment enhances PFG's reach into impulse-buy categories while maintaining specialized inventory management for perishable and high-turnover goods.[21][22][35] Across these segments, PFG fosters synergies through centralized sourcing of top brands, optimized supply chain logistics, and consistent delivery standards, allowing divisions to collaborate on procurement and transportation efficiencies while preserving distinct customer targeting and product expertise. This integrated approach supports overall cost management and scalability without diluting segment-specific strategies.[29]Leadership
George Holm has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Performance Food Group since 2008, where he oversees the company's overall operations, strategic direction, and growth initiatives. Joining the organization in 1987, Holm has been instrumental in its evolution, including leading the 2008 acquisition by private equity firms that shaped its modern structure. Under his leadership, PFG has pursued expansive strategies to enhance its position in food distribution.[3] Scott E. McPherson serves as President and Chief Operating Officer, a role he assumed in January 2025, managing day-to-day operations across PFG's divisions, including foodservice, convenience, and Vistar segments. McPherson joined PFG in 1990 through the legacy Vistar company, advancing through roles in marketing, sales, purchasing, and operations before becoming Chief Field Operations Officer in 2023. His promotion reflects the company's emphasis on operational efficiency and segment integration.[3][36] Patrick T. Hatcher has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2022, responsible for financial planning, reporting, capital allocation, and investor relations. Hatcher joined PFG in 2015 as President of the Vistar division, bringing prior experience in finance and operations from roles at Arrow Electronics and Deloitte. His tenure has focused on strengthening fiscal discipline amid the company's growth.[3] Other key executives include Craig H. Hoskins, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer since January 2025 (after serving as President and COO), concentrating on business development, customer relationships, and category management, with a planned retirement in January 2026; Brent King, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary since 2016, overseeing legal, compliance, and corporate secretarial functions; Erika Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since 2019, directing talent management and organizational culture initiatives; and Donald S. Bulmer (Don Bulmer), Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since 2019, managing technology infrastructure and digital transformation.[3][36] The Board of Directors comprises 13 members, with George Holm as Chairman and 12 independent directors, emphasizing strong governance practices, risk management, and strategic oversight to align with shareholder interests. The board includes experienced professionals from finance, consumer goods, and technology sectors, and recently appointed Scott Ferguson in September 2025 following a cooperation agreement with Sachem Head Capital Management to enhance board composition.[37][38]Operations
Distribution network
Performance Food Group maintains an extensive distribution network consisting of over 150 centers across the United States and Canada, providing comprehensive coverage of all 50 states and key urban markets. This infrastructure enables the company to service more than 300,000 customer locations efficiently throughout North America. The network was expanded in October 2024 through the acquisition of Cheney Brothers, adding five distribution centers in the Southeastern U.S.[2][39][24] The company's logistics operations are supported by one of the largest truck fleets in the nation, comprising thousands of vehicles that collectively log over 375 million miles annually. To optimize these operations, Performance Food Group utilizes advanced technologies, including inventory management systems, route optimization software, and on-board computers that monitor driver performance, idle time, and fuel efficiency in real time. These tools help streamline deliveries and minimize operational disruptions.[2][40][41] At the core of the supply chain, Performance Food Group collaborates with more than 5,000 suppliers to offer more than 250,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) of food and related products. The network is designed to provide next-day delivery service to the majority of customers, ensuring rapid fulfillment through strategically located facilities and efficient routing.[42][2][43][1] In terms of sustainability, Performance Food Group has invested in electric vehicles and emission-reduction initiatives since 2020, including the deployment of 30 solar-electric transportation refrigeration units at its Gilroy, California facility to decrease diesel consumption and greenhouse gas output. These efforts have contributed to a reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity by over 10% compared to the 2021 baseline.[44][45][1]Customer segments
Performance Food Group's customer base is primarily divided across its three operating segments, each targeting distinct markets with tailored distribution and support services. The Foodservice segment serves a broad array of food-away-from-home establishments, including independent restaurants, multi-unit chain restaurants with five or more locations, schools, healthcare facilities, business and industry sites, and select retail outlets. This segment reaches over 300,000 customer locations throughout North America, with a focus on independent operators that represent a significant portion of its volume due to higher-margin opportunities from proprietary Performance Brands and customized offerings.[1] Notable national chain customers include Wendy's, Subway, and Burger King, for which PFG provides specialized broadline products such as custom-cut meats and seafood processed at its 11 meat cutting and two seafood facilities.[1][46] The Convenience segment caters to approximately 50,000 customer locations, predominantly traditional and specialty small-format stores such as convenience stores, gas stations, drug stores, mass merchants, grocery stores, and liquor stores across the United States and Canada. These customers receive a comprehensive assortment of high-volume, fast-moving goods including candy, snacks, beverages, tobacco products, and foodservice items, supported by marketing programs and technology solutions to streamline inventory and sales.[22][1] In the Specialty segment (formerly Vistar), PFG targets niche markets with non-perishable and specialty items, serving vending machine operators, office coffee services, movie theaters, stadiums, concessions, and corporate offices through approximately 27 distribution centers. This segment supports diverse channels with a vast inventory exceeding 20,000 SKUs, emphasizing "pick and pack" fulfillment and small-parcel delivery via third-party carriers for efficient service to end-users and direct-to-consumer partners.[1][34] Across all segments, PFG enhances customer relationships through customized support, including menu consulting and development for restaurant clients, operational strategy advice, and user-friendly e-commerce platforms that enable seamless online ordering, inventory tracking, and product discovery. These tools, such as the Performance Connect app and revamped B2B digital interfaces, are designed to meet specific market needs and drive operational efficiency.[1][47][48]Financial performance
Revenue and profitability
Performance Food Group's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in June, aligning with late June or early July. For fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), the company reported net sales of $63.3 billion, representing an 8.6% increase year-over-year (YoY), primarily driven by total case volume growth of 8.5%. This growth was supported by a 16.9% rise in total independent foodservice case volume, including a 4.6% organic increase in that category.[5] Profitability in FY2025 showed mixed results, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reaching $1.8 billion, a 17.3% YoY improvement, reflecting operational efficiencies and scale benefits. Net income, however, declined 22.0% to $340.2 million, influenced by higher interest expenses and integration costs from recent acquisitions. Gross profit rose 12.8% to $7.4 billion, yielding margins of approximately 11.7%, bolstered by value-added services such as marketing support and supply chain optimization for customers.[5] Revenue contributions by segment in FY2025 included Foodservice at $33.6 billion (53% of total), Convenience at $24.5 billion (39%), and Specialty (including Vistar) at $4.9 billion (8%), with adjusted EBITDA allocations of $1.22 billion, $407.3 million, and $348.2 million, respectively. In the fourth quarter of FY2025, organic growth accelerated to 5.9% for independent cases, highlighting strength in core operations. Key drivers of performance encompassed inflation-adjusted pricing amid 4.7% product cost inflation, acquisition synergies—such as the expected $50 million annual run-rate from the Cheney Brothers integration—and sustained increases in independent customer volumes.[5][23] For the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (Q1 FY2026, ended September 27, 2025), net sales increased 10.8% YoY to $17.1 billion, driven by 9.4% total case volume growth and contributions from acquisitions like Cheney Brothers. Adjusted EBITDA rose 16.6% to $480.1 million, while net income declined 13.3% to $93.6 million due to higher operating expenses. Segment net sales were Foodservice $9.1 billion (+18.8% YoY), Convenience $6.6 billion (+3.5%), and Specialty $1.3 billion (-0.7%), with adjusted EBITDA increases of 18.1%, 14.9%, and 13.0%, respectively. The company raised its FY2026 net sales guidance to $67.5–$68.5 billion.[49]| Key FY2025 Financial Metrics | Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales | $63.3 billion | +8.6% |
| Gross Profit | $7.4 billion | +12.8% |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $1.8 billion | +17.3% |
| Net Income | $340.2 million | -22.0% |
| Total Case Volume Growth | 8.5% | N/A |