US Foods Holding Corp. reported another quarter of steady growth as demand from restaurants, healthcare facilities, and hospitality customers continued to rise. The food distributor said sales for the third quarter reached $10.2 billion, up 4.8% from the same period last year. Net income climbed 3.4% to $153 million, as the company continued to gain share among independent restaurants and specialty accounts.
“Our third-quarter performance reflects our team’s ability to consistently deliver earnings growth through share gains and margin expansion,” said Dave Flitman, CEO of US Foods. “We generated double-digit earnings growth during the quarter, fueled by continued growth across our three target customer types and further progress on our self-help initiatives.”
Growth was strongest among independent restaurants, where volume rose 3.9%, offsetting softer demand from large chains. Total case volume increased 1.1%, and food cost inflation added about 3% to overall sales.
Gross profit rose 5.2% to $1.8 billion, supported by improved cost control, tighter inventory management, and productivity gains in the company’s distribution network.
Chief financial officer Dirk Locascio said the company continues to balance investment with returns to shareholders. “We are deploying our strong cash flow to invest in the business, execute share repurchases, and pursue opportunistic tuck-in M&A, which will enable us to deliver on our commitment to generating long-term profitable growth and creating shareholder value,” he said.
Year-to-date sales totaled roughly $30.6 billion, an increase of about 5%, while profit for the period rose about 6% to $460 million, reflecting ongoing strength across key markets.
In a move to expand its Western U.S. presence, the company signed a definitive agreement to acquire Shetakis, an independent food distributor based in Las Vegas. The transaction is expected to close later this year and will deepen US Foods’ reach among independent restaurants and hospitality customers.
Looking ahead, US Foods expects sales to grow between 4% and 5% for the full year, with adjusted earnings rising by as much as 26%, reflecting steady momentum despite uneven macroeconomic conditions.
“We’re focused on disciplined capital allocation — investing for growth while rewarding shareholders,” Flitman said. “Our team remains committed to helping our customers succeed and to serving them with excellence.”
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