Who Founded Restaurant Depot
Restaurant Depot was founded by Elie Akilian, a Lebanese-American businessman and former restaurant operator who identified a gap in the foodservice supply market. The company was established in 1994 in New York City as a membership-based warehouse designed to serve independent restaurants, caterers, and institutional buyers.
Elie Akilian remains the principal founder and controlling figure behind the brand, which grew from a single location into a major North American foodservice distributor. The company's early focus on bulk purchasing, low prices, and a no-frills warehouse model helped it carve out a niche between broadline distributors and traditional retail grocers.
Restaurant Depot Ownership and Corporate Structure
Restaurant Depot operates as a publicly traded company under the ticker symbol RTR, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company is part of the broader Restaurant Depot Holdings structure, with Elie Akilian and related entities maintaining significant ownership stakes through direct and indirect holdings.
The company's headquarters are located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and it operates distribution centers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As of the latest available filings and public disclosures, the company continues to function as a self-distributing operator with an emphasis on high-volume, low-cost foodservice sales.
Restaurant Depot's Current Business and Market Position
Revenue, Store Count, and Membership Model
Restaurant Depot operates a network of warehouse-style locations where members pay an annual fee for access to bulk food, equipment, and supplies at discounted prices. The company reports significant annual revenue and serves hundreds of thousands of members, ranging from small independent restaurants to large institutional operators.
The business model relies on high inventory turnover, direct sourcing, and a streamlined operating approach that limits frills while emphasizing price competitiveness. This structure has helped Restaurant Depot maintain a strong position in the North American foodservice distribution sector, competing against larger broadline distributors by focusing on a specific segment of the market.