By any measure, 2020 has been a historically difficult year for foodservice distributors. COVID-19 wiped out business for foundational customers like restaurants, hotels, caterers, stadiums, schools and other volume foodservice clients starting in March, and even today, as states attempt to re-open amid the uncertainty of where the pandemic is heading, an argument could be made that foodservice distributors have had to continuously pivot more than any other cold chain segment to stay afloat.
Several distributors have transformed into trusted resources for restaurateurs requiring help to re-imagine and recover their beleaguered businesses. Some of those distributors even branded their assistance programs (see sidebar) to differentiate themselves among the competition for the range of services they offer clients.