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Sysco to Acquire Restaurant Depot in $29 Billion Deal
Food Distributor Expands Into High-Margin Segment
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NEW YORK — Sysco, the nation's largest food distributor, will acquire supplier Restaurant Depot in a deal worth more than $29 billion.
The acquisition would create a closer link between Sysco and customers that rely on Restaurant Depot for supplies needed quickly in an industry segment known as “cash-and-carry wholesale.”
Sysco, based in Houston, serves more than 700,000 restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels, supplying them with everything from butter and eggs to napkins. Those goods are typically acquired on a regular basis to cover items that these locations know they'll need.
Restaurant Depot offers memberships to mom-and-pop restaurants and other businesses, giving them access to warehouses stocked with supplies for when they run short of what they've purchased from suppliers like Sysco.
It is a fast growing and high-margin segment that will likely mean thousands of restaurants will rely increasingly on Sysco for day-to-day needs.
Restaurant Depot shareholders will receive $21.6 billion in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares. Based on Sysco’s closing share price of $81.80 as of March 27, 2026, the deal has an enterprise value of about $29.1 billion.
Restaurant Depot was founded in Brooklyn in 1976. The family run business then known as Jetro Restaurant Depot, has become the nation's largest cash-and-carry wholesaler.
The boards of both companies have approved the acquisition, but it would still need regulatory approval.
Shares of Sysco Corp. tumbled 13% March 30 to $71.26, an initial decline some industry analysts expected given the cost of the deal.
Sysco ranks No. 3 on theTransport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private carriersin North America and No. 1 amongfood service carriers.
