CHICAGO, May 5, 2026 — Amazon is muscling its way deeper into the foodservice distribution market by opening its shipping network to all companies, regardless of whether they sell through the retail behemoth’s e-commerce platform.
The scope of the e-retailer's distribution matrix could provide an alternative readymade supply chain to food and equipment manufacturers who are reliant on traditional foodservice distributors for last-mile transport to a facility’s back door.
Amazon said initial customers for Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS) include the consumer-good giants Proctor & Gamble and Land’s End. Companies of that scale typically have well-developed e-commerce sites of their own but rely on third parties for the wholesale distribution of goods.
The e-retailer said the move parallels what it did several years ago in marketing web technology developed specifically for Amazon to all sorts of businesses regardless of whether they sell through the Amazon platform.
The company notes that its distribution network now encompasses 80,000 truck trailers, more than 100 Amazon-operated planes and 24,000 shipping containers. That network operates seven days a week, it added.
Amazon is already a distribution powerhouse for the food-away-from-home industry, though largely for smaller suppliers who sell through Amazon.com. It claims to be one of the industry’s primary sources of kitchen equipment.
Making the network accessible to companies that don’t sell through Amazon.com is another indication of how the foodservice distribution market is evolving. Recently, market-leader Sysco Corp. announced plans to acquire cash-and-carry leader Restaurant Depot for $29.1 billion, a move that will greatly expand its penetration of the independent restaurant market.
Almost simultaneously with Amazon’s announcement, broadliner US Foods revealed that it was launching a new suite of consultative services aimed at increasing its roster of lodging, casino, catering and entertainment customers. The new Signature program will help accounts contend with such common challenges as labor issues and choosing the right technology.
As Managing Editor for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Romeo is responsible for generating the group's news and feature content. He brings more than 40 years of experience in covering restaurants to the position.
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