Our History
A Restaurant Supplier With a Rich History
One thing that's guided our growth over time has been our commitment to going where our customers are and ensuring they have access to the low-priced, high-quality products they want. This is why we continue to move with the times, which means we're always looking ahead to better serve you.
The world has changed quite a bit since our company's infancy, from the advent of large member-only chain stores and technology that promises convenience, but strips away human interaction. We take a different approach. We're always looking to simplify the shopping experience for our customers while still providing best-in-class customer service. We want to continue to be a resource that businesses, individuals, and communities can count on.
Since 1955, We've Been Changing With the Times to Better Serve You
Our roots were established in 1955 by United Grocers and operated under the name United Grocers Cash& Carry with a single store in Oregon City, Oregon. Back then, items were simply piled on pallets, and our prices were written right on the products with grease pens but the times have certainly changed.
In 1998, Smart Foodservice was acquired by Smart & Final and became known as Cash&Carry Smart Foodservice. Our stores continued to grow, offering a wide variety of restaurant and grocery supplies at affordable prices.
Continued Growth and Evolution in the Grocery Industry
In 2018, Cash&Carry Smart Foodservice announced its rebranding to Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores, reflecting more than sixty years of evolution in the foodservice industry. The new name allowed our company to better communicate our mission of selling quality ingredients and restaurant supplies in a simple, convenient warehouse format—providing customers exceptional service and a dependable source of supply.
In 2020, Smart Foodservice was acquired by US Foods®, and we embraced a new name and look as US Foods CHEF'STORE. This latest step in our history enables us to provide our quality restaurant and foodservice products to communities all across the United States, and to offer even more value by providing access to exclusive brands only available from US Foods.
Dedicated to Providing Our Communities With Quality Wholesale Restaurant Supplies and Superior Customer Service
Although we've come a long way from our first store in Oregon City, we've remained committed to providing our customers with the same quality, variety, and service that they've come to know and love. Our customers are our partners, and we take pride in being able to provide them with the products and resources they need to be successful.
We invite you to learn more about our Cultural Beliefs at CHEF'STORE, or visit one of our locations to see our 60+ year commitment to customer service and quality in action.