Top Wholesale & Distribution Companies

Overview

The global wholesale distribution industry generates over $8 trillion in annual revenue in the US alone, with the global market exceeding $57 trillion. These companies form the backbone of supply chains, connecting manufacturers to businesses across foodservice, healthcare, industrial, and retail sectors.

Foodservice Distribution

Sysco

• HQ: Houston, Texas, USA
• Revenue: ~$81.4B (FY2025)
• Employees: ~76,000
• Scale: 340 distribution centers across 10 countries, serving 730,000+ customer locations
• Position: World's largest broadline foodservice distributor
• Key Segments: Restaurants, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, hospitality
• Digital Platform: Sysco Shop — proprietary ordering platform with 600K+ product catalog, product substitution suggestions, order scheduling, and delivery tracking
• Fortune 500 Rank: #54 (2024)

Performance Food Group (PFG)

• HQ: Richmond, Virginia, USA
• Revenue: ~$60B (FY2024)
• Employees: ~40,000
• Scale: 100+ distribution centers across the US
• Position: One of the largest US foodservice distributors
• Key Segments: Three divisions — Performance Foodservice (restaurants), Vistar (vending & convenience), PFG Customized (chain restaurants)
• Notable: Acquired Reinhart Foodservice (2019) and Core-Mark (2021) to expand scale

US Foods

• HQ: Rosemont, Illinois, USA
• Revenue: ~$37.9B (FY2024)
• Employees: ~30,000
• Scale: 70+ distribution centers, serving ~300,000 customer locations with 6,000+ suppliers
• Position: Second-largest foodservice distributor in the US
• Digital Platform: MOXe — AI-powered ordering with predictive ordering, menu cost analysis, real-time inventory, mobile-first design

Bidcorp / Bidfood

• HQ: Johannesburg, South Africa (listed on JSE)
• Revenue: ~$12.5B (FY2024), 94% from outside South Africa
• Scale: Operations in 35+ countries across five continents
• Position: Leading international broadline foodservice distributor
• Key Brands: Bidfood (UK, NZ, Australia, Middle East), Bidfood Direct (UK e-commerce)
• UK Operations: £3.2B turnover, 60,000+ business customers
• Digital Platform: myBidfood / Bidfood Direct — 10M+ unique customer prices, recipe builder with allergen management, menu planning, real-time delivery tracking

Gordon Food Service (GFS)

• HQ: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
• Revenue: ~$12B+
• Employees: ~20,000
• Scale: 28+ distribution centers across US and Canada, serving 100,000+ customers
• Position: Largest family-owned foodservice distributor in North America
• Founded: 1897
• Key Segments: Restaurants, educational institutions, healthcare facilities

METRO AG

• HQ: Dusseldorf, Germany
• Revenue: €29.8B ($33.9B TTM as of Jan 2026)
• Scale: Operations in 25+ countries, primarily Europe and Asia
• Position: Leading European wholesale/cash-and-carry operator
• Key Segments: Hotels, restaurants, caterers (HoReCa), independent traders
• Digital Platform: METRO Markets — multi-vendor wholesale marketplace with third-party seller integration and cross-border European commerce
• Business Model: Cash-and-carry stores + delivery + digital marketplace

General Merchandise & Retail Wholesale

Costco Wholesale

• HQ: Issaquah, Washington, USA
• Revenue: ~$275B (FY2025)
• Employees: ~316,000
• Scale: 890+ warehouse clubs in 14 countries
• Position: World's second-largest retailer, largest membership-only warehouse club
• Key Segments: Food & Sundries ($101B), Non-Foods, Fresh Food ($34B), Ancillary
• Business Model: Membership-based wholesale club with low-margin, high-volume strategy

McLane Company

• HQ: Temple, Texas, USA
• Revenue: ~$50B
• Scale: 80 distribution centers across the US
• Position: Leading supply chain services company (subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway)
• Key Segments: Convenience stores, drug stores, wholesale clubs, discount grocers, quick-service restaurants

Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Distribution

McKesson

• HQ: Irving, Texas, USA
• Revenue: ~$359B (FY2025)
• Employees: ~80,000
• Position: World's largest pharmaceutical distributor, distributes one-third of all pharmaceuticals in North America
• Fortune 500 Rank: #9 (2024)
• Key Segments: US Pharmaceutical ($328B), Prescription Technology Solutions, Medical-Surgical Solutions, International

Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen)

• HQ: Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA
• Revenue: ~$294B (FY2024)
• Position: Second-largest pharmaceutical distributor in the US
• Key Segments: US Healthcare Solutions, International Healthcare Solutions
• Notable: Rebranded from AmerisourceBergen to Cencora in 2023

Cardinal Health

• HQ: Dublin, Ohio, USA
• Revenue: ~$227B (FY2024)
• Position: Third-largest pharmaceutical distributor in the US
• Key Segments: Pharmaceutical Distribution, Global Medical Products
• Scale: Serves ~90% of US hospitals and 60,000+ pharmacies

Industrial & Building Distribution

Ferguson

• HQ: Newport News, Virginia, USA
• Revenue: ~$29.6B
• Position: Largest US distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks products
• Scale: 1,700+ locations across the US and Canada
• Key Segments: Residential & commercial plumbing, HVAC/R, waterworks, fire & fabrication

Wesco International

• HQ: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
• Revenue: ~$21.8B
• Position: Leading electrical, communications, and industrial distribution company
• Scale: 800+ branches and warehouses worldwide
• Notable: Merged with Anixter International in 2020

Sonepar

• HQ: Paris, France
• Revenue: $34B globally ($16.4B North America)
• Position: World's largest privately-held electrical distributor
• Scale: 100+ operating companies in 40+ countries
• Family-owned: Since 1969

Graybar

• HQ: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
• Revenue: ~$11.6B
• Position: Leading employee-owned electrical and communications distributor
• Scale: 300+ locations across North America
• Notable: Employee-owned since 1929

Bunzl

• HQ: London, UK
• Revenue: £11.8B ($15B)
• Position: Leading international distribution and outsourcing group
• Scale: Operations in 30+ countries
• Key Segments: Foodservice disposables, cleaning supplies, safety products, packaging

Key Industry Trends

• Digital transformation: Major wholesalers investing heavily in e-commerce platforms, mobile ordering, and AI-driven tools
• Consolidation: Ongoing M&A activity as larger players acquire regional distributors for scale
• Private label growth: Distributors expanding proprietary brands to improve margins
• Supply chain resilience: Post-pandemic investment in multi-sourcing and inventory optimization
• Sustainability: Growing focus on reducing food waste, sustainable packaging, and carbon-neutral delivery
• Data-driven selling: AI/ML-powered demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, and customer insights