Broadline distributor Sysco plans to expand its presence in foodservice equipment and supplies distribution in a big way.
Sysco has reached a deal to acquire Edward Don & Company, a Woodridge, Ill.-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealer. The financial terms and the timing of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition also is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.
Once this transaction is complete, Sysco will own two of the top 15 foodservice equipment and supplies dealers in the country. Edward Don & Co. reported $1.3 billion in annual sales in 2022, making it the country’s third-largest foodservice equipment and supplies dealer, per FE&S 2023 Distribution Giants study. Supplies on the Fly, another Sysco company focused on foodservice equipment and supplies, reported $247 million in revenues, making it the 11th largest dealer in the country.
Edward Don & Co. will operate as a stand-alone specialty division within Sysco once the deal is complete, per a release issued by both companies. Steve Don, president and CEO of Edward Don & Co., will continue to manage the business along with the dealer’s leadership team. All of Edward Don & Co.’s current employees are expected to remain with the company, too.
One week prior to going public with Sysco’s planned acquisition of the dealership, Edward Don & Co. announced two key senior level personnel moves: Jeff Weiland will retire from his role as vice president of sales and merchandising, effective Dec. 31, 2023, and former TriMark United East executive Scott McDaniel will join the company as chief commercial officer.
Edward Don & Co. was founded in 1921 by the Don family. In 2017, Vestar Capital Partners made an investment in Edward Don & Co. to fund the dealer’s “future growth, with a primary focus on geographic expansion and acquisitions.” (Earlier this month, Vestar made an investment in Tech24, a service agent that’s been growing rapidly via acquisition.) Following Vestar’s investment in Edward Don & Co., the dealer went on to acquire several companies, including Atlanta Fixture in November of 2017, Smith & Greene in January of 2018, Myers Restaurant Supply in May of 2019, Shervan Colonel Equipment Corp. in June of 2019.
Over the course of its 102-year history, Edward Don & Co. and its associates have earned numerous forms of industry recognition. Notably, FE&S presented Edward Don & Co. with its prestigious Dealer of the Year Award in 2009 and in 1993. Also, in 2004, FE&S presented its Hall of Fame Award to Bob Don. And four Edward Don & Co. associates have won FE&S DSR of the Year Award, including Gordon Marsh in 2021.
