I did an interview with Roxanna Boroujerdi of Faith Lutheran Food Bank.  Roxanna has been working in food distribution for her whole life.  She used to work for the Red Crescent in the middle east in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  She has seen food insecurity throughout the world and has done her part to narrow the gap from the beginning. 

She has also done humanitarian work in luthiana India at  Nehru hospital with the world health organization to teach Indian women about birth control.  That was not a successful endeavor since it was not culturally well received.  This was in the 1980’s when that was a much more sensitive topic. 

She also worked in Ethiopia which is now called Eritrea.  Her job there was birth control as well which was much more well received.  The women there were more open. 

Her two least favorite are working for DSHS here in the United States because of all the regulations that don’t benefit people.  The other least favorite is Eritrea because the poverty was so high and the weather was so hot and humid. 

Her two favorite’s were India where the people were very welcoming and very curious about Americans.  Some villages had never seen a white person before.  The whole village would come and encircle the house to get a look at what she looked like, what she wore, and what she ate.  She felt that she was representing all the white people in the whole world.  Her other favorite was working for health and human services in California.  The weather was awesome, the diverse community was refreshing, and she felt like she made a difference.  She specialized in women and kids. 

Currently Roxanna’s pet project is a pallet village for women and children in South Everett.  She runs a food bank on the same property.  This zip code is a food desert according to her. 

Roxanna travels to several of the large food distributors in Washington State.  One of them is Farmer Frog another is Northwest Harvest.  Another one is food lifeline and the other big one is the Washington Food Coalition.  This is not a food bank where they are doing a drive and gathering lots of donations.  This is a well run well funded machine with large government contracts and donations and lots of large business donators.  Donors such as Costco, Grocery Outlet, Target Us Foods, Rodland Toyota, and Fred Meyer donate cars, commercial freezers, large amounts of cash, and giant amounts of food.  This allows the food bank to hand out food boxes every Friday.  They also do a Tuesday night dinner. 

Recently Roxanna worked with the state of Washington to setup a pallet village.  This required assistance from state and local representatives and the ribbon cutting  was attended by several hundred people. 

Growing Food Justice Through Collective Action

Here’s how Food Lifeline is solving hunger today.

Sprouting Simple Change

When children and families grow food for themselves, they sow the seeds of positive living.

We are working the front lines of hunger… all across Washington State.

She feels that for the food bank she is trying to raise up other women to be the leaders in the future.  For Faith Family Village she will be the director there for the next three years.  She would like to spread more tiny houses for women with kids all over the United States.  There is no other pallet village for kids anywhere in the United States.  The city of Everett has since decided to open a kids shelter in April. 

Top Food Manufacturing Companies in the USA by Revenue—Company Summaries and Info

ZUGGS, LLC is a leading provider of custom and private-label seafood products, but also offers certain meats such as pork and beef. The company is headquartered in Madeira Beach, FL, and was founded in 2012.

PepsiCo. provides chips, dips, oatmeal, snack bars, cereal, rice, pasta, and dairy products in addition to soda, juice, and other beverage products. The company, which also serves food service, hospitality, offices, and schools, is based in Purchase, NY.

Based in Chicago, IL, Archer Daniels Midland Company provides food ingredients, including acidulants, alcohol, bases, seasonings, powder, grains, seeds, beans, colors, emulsifiers, stabilizers, fibers, flavors, fillings, mixes, nuts, oils, proteins, starches, and sweeteners.

Tanimura & Antle, Inc. is a vegetable manufacturer and supplies including lettuce, broccoli, sweet red onions, and green leaves. It also offers food recipes and was founded in 1982. The company has its headquarters located in Salinas, CA.

Starbucks Corporation is a globally-renowned company that manufactures and supplies beverages, and food products. Aside from its famous coffees and teas, it also offers bagels, nutrition bars, bubble gums, cakes, cheese, meat, and more. The company is headquartered in Seattle, WA, and was established in 1985.

Gummi World is a custom manufacturer of private-label vitamin supplement gummies available in various flavors and vitamin options. The company has its headquarters located in Tempe, AZ, and was established in 2018.

Comfort Foods Co-Packing & Processing LLC. manufactures custom wet and dry food products and ingredients including BBQ sauces, jellies, condiments, salad dressings, bread, and more. The company is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM, and was founded in 1989.

Goya Foods Inc. is headquartered in Jersey City, NJ, and supplies dried, canned, and prepared beans, rice, and rice mixes, as well as condiments, and specialties from Mexico, Central, and South America. The company has been operating since its founding in 1936.

Conagra Foodservice is a manufacturer of food products for the food service industry, including cooking sprays, spreads, frozen breakfast foods, ice cream toppings, pizzas, and more. The company has its headquarters located in Chicago, IL, and was established in 1919.

Hormel Foods Co. manufactures packaged meat products such as bacon, BBQ meat, chicken, hot dogs, sausages, deli meats, and more. It also offers plant-based and shelf-stable meat options. The company is headquartered in Austin, MN, and was founded in 1891.

Table 2: Top Food Manufacturing Companies in the USA by Revenue

Top Featured Food Manufacturing Companies on Thomas—Company Summaries and Info

Vigon International, an Azelis Company is a manufacturer of organic food products including vegetable oils, fennel sweet, avocado, cedrene, and eucalyptus essential oils. The company is headquartered in East Stroudsburg, PA, and was founded in 1988.

Plasgad manufactures storage and transportation products, and reusable packaging including boxes, pallets, bins, containers, trays, and more. The company is headquartered in Statesville, NC, and serves the food & beverage, tourism, textile, fashion, and e-commerce industries, among others. It was established in 1982.

Superior Supplement Manufacturing supplies both standard and custom private-label food products such as chocolate, turmeric, broccoli, garlic, honey, and ginger. The company is located in Fountain Valley, CA, and was established in 2015.

Tru Body Wellness is a private-label manufacturer and formulator of food products and nutraceutical supplements that are available in various forms including capsules, liquid capsules, creams, powders, sprays, and more. The company is headquartered in Ottawa, IL, and was founded in 2012.

Nano Hemp Tech Labs is a manufacturing firm offering CBD food products including hemp flowers, pet supplements, and gummies available in various flavors including cherry, pink grapefruit, watermelon, strawberry, orange, blue raspberry, and more. The company is based in Houston, TX, and was established in 2019.

SupplyOne, Inc. manufactures and supplies both standard and custom kitchen and breakroom supplies including food products. It also offers services including graphic design, energy reduction, and packaging fulfillment. The company is headquartered in Newtown Square, PA, and was founded in 1998.

Sonneborn, LLC manufactures custom hydrocarbon products for the food industry such as white mineral oils, baking lubricants, and cheese waxes. The company has its headquarters located in Petrolia, PA, and has been in business since 1903.

Zatural is an organic CBD, CBG, and CBN food product manufacturer including gummies, supplements, chocolate products, gum, mints, and honey. The company is located in Eden, ID, and was established in 2015.

CBD Oil Botanicals is a manufacturer of foods including raw honey sticks. Its food contains full-spectrum hemp extract with naturally occurring CBD. The company has its headquarters located in Downers Grove, IL, and has been operating since its founding in 2017.

FoodRGB Inc. manufactures natural food ingredients and products such as extracts, powders, concentrates, and colors suitable for use in beverages, chocolate, ice cream, and more. The company is located in Anaheim, CA, and was founded in 2019.

1. Sysco Corporation – The Top Food Distributor in the USA

Sysco Corporation is a leading distributor in the foodservice industry, generating an impressive annual revenue of over $68 billion. Established in 1969, this Houston-based company has expanded its services to 90 countries with over 700,000 customers and 333 distribution facilities. Sysco primarily serves restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, and lodging establishments. The company’s growth is fueled by its focus on customer service, supply chain efficiency, and a broad product offering, including fresh and frozen food, beverages, and equipment.

• Website: https://www.sysco.com/
• Contact: (281) 584-1390
• Headquarters: Houston, TX
• Distribution Centers: 172+ (only in the US)

Sysco has a vast network of distribution facilities across North America

2. US Foods

US Foods, founded in 1989, is another major foodservice distributor in the US with an annual revenue of $28.1 billion. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, the company serves over 300,000 customers and operates more than 70 distribution facilities. US Foods caters to independent and multi-unit restaurants, healthcare and hospitality entities, and other foodservice businesses. The company is known for its high-quality private-label products and commitment to sustainable practices. With over 6,000 suppliers and huge scale, they are an attractive partner for big players entering the US market.

• Website: https://www.usfoods.com/
• Contact: (847) 720-8000
• Headquarters: Rosemont, IL
• Distribution Centers: 70+

3. Performance Food Group (PFG)

Performance Food Group, founded in 1885, is a top food distributor in the USA with annual revenue of $56.7 billion. PFG serves all 50 states from its headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, with over 150 distribution centers across the nation. The company boasts an impressive 300,000 customers, ranging from independent restaurants to national chains, and specializes in custom solutions tailored to their clients’ needs. PFG’s client roster includes big names like KFC, highlighting their ability to accommodate large-scale distribution requirements.

• Website: https://www.pfgc.com/
• Contact: (804) 484-7700
• Headquarters: Richmond, VA
• Distribution Centers: 150+

4. McLane Company

The McLane Company, established in 1894, is a Texas-based food and beverage distributor with an annual revenue of over $51 billion. Serving more than 110,000 clients, McLane operates over 80 distribution centers across the US. The company specializes in grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions for convenience stores, mass merchants, and drug stores. McLane’s long-standing partnership with Walmart demonstrates its expertise in managing large-scale distribution channels.

• Website: https://www.mclaneco.com/
• Contact: (254) 771-7500
• Headquarters: Temple, TX
• Distribution Centers: 80+