Sysco enters niche market, purchases Asian Foods

Nov 13, 2002 12:00 PM, Gary Macklin

Stepping away from its concentration on broadline foodservice distribution, Sysco Corporation, Houston TX, has agreed to purchase one of the largest ethnic food distributors in the US. Asian Foods Inc has annual sales of more than $100 million and is based in St Paul MN. It has a second distribution center in Kansas City MO. The company carries approximately 2,000 line items and distributes to 1,800 customers in 14 midwestern states. The product mix at Asian foods includes fresh and frozen meat and seafood, produce, and canned and dry products.

As with other Sysco acquisitions, Asian Foods will run as a stand-alone operating company. Sysco says that a third Asian Foods distribution center will be built in a major market city. Eventually, the Asian Foods product line may be made available throughout the Sysco system.