Grocery wholesale suppliers help stores buy food, drinks, pantry goods, specialty products, and other shelf items in larger quantities. This list covers 10 real suppliers and distributors operating in the USA. We selected companies with clear wholesale programs, broad distribution, or a useful specialty that can help grocery retailers source products.
Grocery wholesale suppliers at a glance
| Supplier | Base or reach | Main strength |
|---|---|---|
| C&S Wholesale Grocers | Keene, NH, nationwide | Full-line grocery distribution |
| UNFI | North America | Natural, organic, specialty and conventional |
| KeHE | Naperville, IL, North America | Natural, organic, specialty and fresh |
| Associated Wholesale Grocers | Kansas City, KS, 33 states | Independent supermarket support |
| MDI | Hickory, NC, East Coast | Independent grocer distribution |
| Airgoods | Continental USA | Emerging and specialty brands |
| GMI Trading | South Plainfield, NJ, 48 states | European specialty foods |
| Superior Foods | Florida, nationwide | Grocery sourcing and private label |
| Premium Choice | Chicago, IL, USA and Canada | Asian and international groceries |
| US Karma Distribution | Chicago, IL, 48 states | Mediterranean and specialty grocery |
10 grocery wholesale suppliers to compare
1. C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers is one of the largest food distribution businesses in the USA. The company was founded in 1918 and now serves chain, independent, and military customers from 60 distribution centers. Its wholesale assortment covers fresh products, grocery, frozen, dairy, general merchandise, health and beauty, and private label products. Visit C&S Wholesale Grocers.
2. UNFI
United Natural Foods, Inc. is a major North American grocery wholesaler. UNFI supplies natural, organic, specialty, fresh, conventional, and private label products and says it serves about 30,000 retail locations. Its network is a strong fit for stores that want both established brands and newer food products. Visit UNFI.
3. KeHE
KeHE focuses on natural, organic, specialty, and fresh products. The company says it has more than 8,000 employee-owners and a 19-distribution-center network across North America. Its KeHE CONNECT Direct option also advertises one-to-three-day delivery, no required order minimums, and free shipping over $50 for that service. Visit KeHE.
4. Associated Wholesale Grocers
Associated Wholesale Grocers, or AWG, is a cooperative food wholesaler focused on independently owned supermarkets. AWG says it serves 1,100 member companies and 3,500 locations across 33 states, with consolidated sales of $12.2 billion in 2025. Its cooperative model makes it especially relevant to independent supermarket operators. Visit Associated Wholesale Grocers.
5. MDI
MDI is a long-running wholesale grocery distributor serving retailers across the East Coast. The company traces its history to 1931 in Hickory, North Carolina, and says it has spent about 90 years helping independent grocers compete with larger chains. It is a useful option for retailers that want regional distribution and support rather than only a national platform. Visit MDI.
6. Airgoods
Airgoods is built for food and beverage retailers in the continental USA. Its platform focuses on emerging and specialty brands and gives buyers product information such as UPCs, nutrition panels, allergens, case packs, and margins. Airgoods says its marketplace has more than 100,000 products, 2,500 unique brands, and 15,000 retailers. Visit Airgoods.
7. GMI Trading
GMI Trading specializes in European specialty foods for the U.S. market. Its current catalog covers bakery, confectionery, dairy, deli, dry grocery, fish and seafood, frozen foods, and more. The company says it serves customers across 48 states, carries 4,600 specialty products, and operates 135,000 square feet of storage. Its U.S. office is in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Visit GMI Trading.
8. Superior Foods
Superior Foods is a wholesale grocery supplier, importer, and exporter based in Florida. It works with retail chains and distributors and offers sourcing, compliance, freight, and delivery support. The company also develops store-brand programs and says it can handle grocery products by truckload or container. Visit Superior Foods.
9. Premium Choice Inc.
Premium Choice is a Chicago-based importer and distributor of Asian and international grocery, beverage, and specialty food products. Its catalog spans nine categories, including Asian grocery, spices, beans and pulses, rice and grains, sauces, beverages, confectionery, and frozen foods. It says it supplies wholesale buyers, retailers, and foodservice businesses across the USA and Canada. Visit Premium Choice.
10. US Karma Distribution
US Karma Distribution is a Chicago-based importer and wholesale distributor of Mediterranean and specialty grocery brands. It says it serves independent grocers, halal markets, ethnic supermarkets, and foodservice operators across all 48 contiguous states. Its current site lists more than 620 active retail partners and a dedicated representative for approved accounts. Visit US Karma Distribution.
Grocery wholesale suppliers: what should buyers check?
Wholesale grocery buying is different from buying ordinary retail goods. Food can have short shelf lives, special storage needs, case-pack limits, and strict shipping requirements. Before opening an account, compare the points below.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | Controls how much cash is tied up in each order. |
| Case pack | A low unit price may not help if cases are too large. |
| Shelf life | Short dates can turn a cheap order into dead stock. |
| Freight | Heavy and temperature-sensitive goods can have high landed costs. |
| Delivery coverage | A great supplier is useless if it cannot serve your location. |
| Payment terms | Terms can have a major effect on working capital. |
The U.S. grocery wholesale market is huge
The U.S. Census Bureau reported $1.2629 trillion in 2022 sales for Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers, NAICS 4244, up 12.8% from $1.1200 trillion in 2021. USDA explains that food wholesalers connect processors and manufacturers with retailers, restaurants, institutions, and other buyers. Census Bureau wholesale trade data and USDA food wholesaling overview.
For another sourcing angle, see our Top Wholesale Suppliers and Distributors in the USA guide and our Wholesale Clothing Websites guide. Both can help you build a wider supplier research process instead of relying on one source.
Find more grocery wholesale suppliers
A Top 10 list is only a starting point. SourceSupreme.com gives buyers a much bigger, continuously updated wholesale supplier database where they can search across product categories and compare sourcing options. When you need more choices than one article can provide, use SourceSupreme.com to find and vet suppliers for your business.