Gordon Foodservice Acquires Massachusetts Broadliner Perkins

Gordon Food Service has acquired Perkins, a leading broadline foodservice distributor in Taunton, Mass. According to FER estimates, Gordon had sales of $135 million of equipment and durable supplies sales in 2010, while Perkins’ E&S sales exceeded $20 million.

“Perkins is a great company with a strong family heritage. Their dedication to high-quality service is an ideal fit with Gordon Food Service’s culture and commitment to exceptional customer service,” said Jim Gordon, CEO of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Gordon.

Louis Perkins and his cousin, Sam Franklin, founded Perkins in 1915. Franklin & Perkins Co. was primarily a paper products distributor until ’73. Through a number of acquisitions, and internal product category expansion, Perkins grew into one of New England’s leading broadliners. In addition to its Taunton headquarters, it has a distribution center in New Windsor, N.Y., cross-docking facilities in Springfield, Mass., and Westbrook, Me., and three restaurant superstores.

Gary and Larry Perkins, the third generation of the Perkins family to run the business, will continue to oversee the company and its more than 635 employees.

Gordon, the country’s largest family owned and managed broadline foodservice distributor, was founded in 1897. The company also operates 148 GFS Marketplace retail stores, including new outlets opened in March in Orlando, Fla., and Madison, Wis.