corporations. There are many independent broadline food service distribution companies that service chain and multi-unit restaurants based on master distribution agreements with national food service groups. These groups provide distributor members procurement capabilities that rival the purchasing power of the largest distributors. These distributor groups also provide distributor members group private label brands as well as marketing and quality assurance services. In the US, the industry is highly fragmented, with Sysco capturing 17% of the market, US Foods with about 9%, PFG with 5%, Gordon Food Service and Gold Star Foods playing a large part as well. The rest are spread across a host of smaller, regional players. Redistribution In the food redistribution model, a redistributor will purchase in truckload quantities from many food manufacturers and warehouse these products for its customers. Individual distributors (typically smaller in size and service area) can then purchase items across multiple manufacturers' on one easy to place order from the redistributor. The redistribution model affords smaller distributors who are unable to purchase direct truckloads an opportunity to purchase from a non-competitor in less than truckload (LTL) quantities, giving them the ability to compete against larger distributors in their territory. Typically it is the smaller distributor that services the independent non-chain retail outlets often overlooked by the larger distributors. See also Foodservice References Distribution (marketing) Foodservice companies