Grocers Supply
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Grocery wholesale distribution |
| Founded | 1920s in Houston, Texas |
| Founder | Joe Levit |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
Area served | Southwestern United States (up to 350 miles from Houston) |
| Products | Grocery products |
Number of employees | 2100+ (2004) |
| Parent | C&S Wholesale Grocers (since 2014) |
The Grocers Supply Co., Inc. is a wholesale distributor of grocery products based in Houston, Texas, specifically within the Southeast Houston district. As of 2011, it held the distinction of being the largest grocery wholesaler in the Southwestern United States.
According to David Kaplan and Nancy Sarnoff from the Houston Chronicle, the company maintains a "low-profile" presence yet stands as one of the most "robust" regional wholesalers in the nation. By 2004, Grocers Supply had a workforce exceeding 2,100 employees, mainly located in Houston, and its customer base included Davis Food City, Fiesta Mart, Foodarama, Gerland's, Lewis Food Town, Rice Epicurean Markets, and Sellers Bros.
The company’s distribution network covers an area extending up to 350 miles from Houston, serving around 1,200 convenience outlets, more than 650 grocery stores, and approximately 200 educational institutions.
Its principal warehouse encompasses over 747,752 square feet, complemented by a cooler and freezer facility of 211,611 square feet situated across the street. Additionally, Grocers Supply manages four satellite warehouses scattered throughout the Houston area.
In 2014, ownership of Grocers Supply transitioned to C&S Wholesale Grocers.
History
The origins of the company trace back to Joe Levit, a Russian immigrant who initiated a grocery wholesale operation by renting a 7,500-square-foot space in Houston’s "Produce Row." In 1928, the business relocated to a larger warehouse near Buffalo Bayou in Downtown Houston. Following flood damage in 1936, the company moved to a three-story building at Commerce and Jackson streets before eventually shifting within North Jackson.
By 1956, Grocers Supply established itself at its current site and underwent several expansions over time. Across from the main warehouse, a new cooler and freezer facility opened in 1983 with an initial area of 105,000 square feet which was later expanded.
Sales reached $1.5 billion by 2003.
In 2004, Grocers Supply acquired Handy Andy grocery stores from H.A. Assets and managed them via its subsidiary Bexar County Markets. At acquisition, Handy Andy operated ten stores; ownership had changed by 2012.
That same year marked Grocers Supply’s purchase of Fiesta Mart—its largest client before acquisition. Industry experts observed that this acquisition solidified Grocers Supply’s partnership with Fiesta while providing Fiesta with enhanced capital resources and growth potential. The Levit family maintained control of Fiesta until its sale in 2015 to Acon Investments based in Washington, DC.