Company Description
Performance Food Group Company (NYSE: PFGC) is a Fortune 100 wholesale distributor that focuses on food and foodservice products. The company is described as an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America, with more than 150 locations. Founded and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Performance Food Group Company (“PFG”) and its family of companies market and deliver quality food and related products to a broad range of customers across the food-away-from-home market.
According to multiple company disclosures, PFG’s operations reach over 300,000 locations. These customers include independent and chain restaurants; businesses, schools and healthcare facilities; vending and office coffee service distributors; and big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores. The company highlights that its scale and reach are supported by approximately 43,000 associates who focus on building strong relationships with customers, suppliers and the communities it serves.
Business focus and customer base
PFG’s core activity is the marketing and distribution of food and related products. In earlier descriptions, the company notes that it markets and distributes national and company-branded food and food-related products, and also distributes candy, snacks, beverages, cigarettes, other tobacco products, health and beauty care products and other items to various retail and foodservice channels. Across its disclosures, PFG emphasizes its role in serving independent and chain restaurants, institutional customers such as schools and healthcare facilities, and convenience and retail channels such as big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores.
The company’s customer base spans multiple segments of the food-away-from-home market. Its disclosures describe service to independent and chain restaurants, vending and office coffee service distributors, campus and retail channels, big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores. This breadth of channels reflects PFG’s position as a large-scale distributor within the wholesale trade sector, with a particular focus on packaged and frozen food and related categories.
Operating segments and enterprise approach
PFG reports that it operates through three primary business segments: Foodservice, Convenience and Specialty. In earlier descriptions, these segments have also been referred to as Foodservice, Vistar and Convenience. Company materials explain that PFG has developed an enterprise approach called “PFG One,” which reflects collaboration across these three segments to serve the growing food-away-from-home market.
In its proxy materials, PFG states that PFG One represents an enterprise model that leverages collaboration across Foodservice, Convenience and Specialty to deliver integrated offerings that strengthen customer partnerships, create opportunities for vendors and support associates. The company describes this model as combining the agility of a decentralized structure with the benefits of scale, and as a way to align resources and expertise across segments.
Foodservice segment
The Foodservice segment focuses on distribution of food and related products to independent and chain restaurant customers and other foodservice operators. Company earnings disclosures indicate that Foodservice net sales have been driven by acquisitions, including the acquisition of Cheney Brothers, as well as growth in cases sold to independent and chain customers and changes in selling prices per case as a result of inflation. The segment’s performance has also reflected shifts in case mix and growth in independent channels.
PFG’s disclosures note that Foodservice gross profit contributions have been influenced by acquisitions, growth in cases sold and a favorable mix of cases, including growth in independent customers. The company also references the sale of more Performance Brands products to customers within this segment as part of its mix shift. Operating expenses in Foodservice have been affected by acquisitions, personnel expenses and insurance costs related to workers’ compensation and vehicle liability.
Convenience segment
The Convenience segment is associated with distribution to convenience-oriented channels. Company descriptions and earnings releases indicate that this segment’s net sales have been driven by acquisitions, the addition of new chain customers and increases in selling prices per case related to inflation. PFG notes that Convenience segment gross profit has benefited from inventory holding gains, higher fees earned from manufacturers for distribution and related services, and favorable shifts in the mix of cases sold.
Operating expenses in the Convenience segment have been influenced by acquisitions, repairs and maintenance, outbound freight and personnel expenses. The company’s disclosures describe the segment as serving customers such as convenience stores and related retail channels that purchase food, snacks, beverages, tobacco products and other items.
Specialty segment
The Specialty segment is described as serving channels such as vending, office coffee service, campus and retail, as well as theaters and other specialty outlets. Company results show that Specialty segment net sales have reflected changes in case volume across these channels, with growth in vending, office coffee, campus and retail sometimes offset by declines in theater-related volume.
PFG reports that Specialty segment gross profit has been supported by pricing improvements from procurement efficiencies, inventory holding gains and favorable shifts in the mix of cases sold. Operating expenses in this segment have included variable operating expenses tied to channel mix and bad debt expense, with some periods reflecting decreases in these costs.
Scale, footprint and growth through acquisitions
PFG emphasizes that it is one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America, with more than 150 locations. Company communications describe a distribution network built to serve the growing food-away-from-home market. The company has highlighted that it has expanded its scale, reach and capabilities over time to meet evolving customer and consumer needs.
Acquisitions are described as an important part of PFG’s strategy. In its proxy materials, the company notes acquisitions of José Santiago, Inc. and Cheney Brothers. PFG states that the acquisition of José Santiago, described as the largest foodservice distributor in Puerto Rico, marked its first operating company in the Caribbean and expanded its presence in Puerto Rico with potential for further expansion in the Caribbean region. The acquisition of Cheney Brothers is described as a transaction that significantly increased PFG’s scale and geographic reach, particularly within the Southeastern United States.
Company earnings releases attribute growth in net sales, gross profit and case volume in part to these acquisitions. PFG also notes that it continues to invest in warehouse capacity and its fleet, and that it has focused on safety standards and sustainability as it scales its operations. These investments are presented as part of a broader effort to support growth and operational execution across its segments.
Corporate strategy and governance themes
PFG’s disclosures describe a three-year plan centered on driving consistent organic sales growth, focusing on people and culture and leveraging technology to expand margins. The company refers to its intention to lead in food away from home and to capitalize on sales opportunities and synergies across Foodservice, Convenience and Specialty. It also highlights a balanced capital allocation approach that includes capital expenditures, leverage reduction, share repurchases and mergers and acquisitions.
The company’s communications also reference shareholder engagement and governance developments. PFG has described discussions with stockholders and interactions with Sachem Head Capital Management LP, which led to a cooperation agreement and the appointment of Scott D. Ferguson to the Board of Directors and the Audit and Finance Committee. The company has also disclosed an information-sharing arrangement with US Foods Holding Corp. to evaluate regulatory considerations and synergies related to a potential business combination, and later reported that PFG and US Foods mutually agreed to terminate that process and would not pursue a combination.
Leadership and succession
PFG’s filings describe leadership succession at the executive level. An 8-K filing reports that on December 17, 2025, George L. Holm notified the company of his intention to retire and resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. On the same date, the Board elected Scott E. McPherson as Chief Executive Officer and President of the company, effective January 1, 2026, and elected him to the Board. The Board also elected Mr. Holm as Executive Chair of the Board, effective the same date.
Company news releases describe Mr. McPherson’s prior roles within PFG, including President and Chief Operating Officer and leadership positions overseeing the company’s primary business segments, as well as his experience at Core-Mark International. These disclosures frame the leadership transition as part of a planned succession process and note that Mr. Holm will continue to work with Mr. McPherson on mergers and acquisitions, customer relationships and strategic direction in his role as Executive Chair.
Risk factors and operating environment
PFG’s news releases and forward-looking statement disclosures reference a range of factors that can affect its results. These include costs and risks associated with cybersecurity incidents or technology disruptions, reliance on technology (including artificial intelligence), economic conditions and inflation, reliance on third-party suppliers, labor availability and costs, intense competition, the low-margin nature of the industry, commodity volatility and cost inflation or deflation.
The company also notes risks related to the absence of long-term contracts with certain customers, the role of group purchasing organizations, changes in consumer eating habits, extreme weather conditions, volatility in fuel and transportation costs, changes in supplier pricing practices and the possibility that growth and innovation strategies, including acquisitions, may not achieve anticipated results. Additional factors cited include declining sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products, reputational risks, uncollectible accounts receivable, insurance costs and claims, shareholder activism, environmental, health and safety costs (including those related to carbon emissions and climate change), regulatory compliance, excise taxes, product recalls and product liability claims, legal proceedings, indebtedness and access to capital.
These risk disclosures are presented in the context of cautionary statements about forward-looking information in the company’s press releases and SEC filings. They provide insight into the operating environment for a large food and foodservice distributor that works across multiple channels and geographies.
Stock information and exchange listing
According to its 8-K filings, Performance Food Group Company’s common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFGC. The company is identified in filings as a Fortune 100 company and as one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America, reflecting its scale within the wholesale trade sector and the packaged and frozen food distribution industry.
Summary
Overall, Performance Food Group Company is described in its own disclosures as a large-scale, Richmond, Virginia–based distributor of food and related products serving more than 300,000 customer locations across the food-away-from-home market. Through its Foodservice, Convenience and Specialty segments, and its PFG One enterprise approach, the company focuses on marketing and delivering food and related products to restaurants, institutions and convenience and retail channels. Its growth strategy has included acquisitions such as José Santiago and Cheney Brothers, investments in infrastructure and technology, and a focus on organic sales growth, people and culture and margin expansion.