US Foods names food distribution vet Dave Flitman CEO

Foodservice distributor and warehouse retailer US Foods on Monday named Dave Flitman CEO, effective Jan. 5.

Flitman, who most recently served as president and CEO of building supplier Builders FirstSource since April 2021, assumes the company’s top post following the May departure of US Foods CEO Pietro Satriano. Andrew Iacobucci has served as interim CEO since then and will continue to lead the company until Flitman’s tenure begins.

From 2015 to 2018, Flitman was president and CEO of Performance Foodservice, the largest segment of foodservice distribution company Performance Food Group.

Dave Flitman, incoming US Foods' CEO / Photo courtesy: US Foods

“Dave is a highly accomplished executive who brings an impressive combination of CEO, supply chain and commercial experience and a proven track record of driving operational excellence, profitable growth, shareholder returns and a people-centric, high-performing culture,” US Foods’ Executive Chairman Bob Dutkowsky said in a statement.

Dutkowsky will become non-executive board chairman when Flitman begins as CEO, the company said.

Flitman also served as president and CEO of SMC Stock Holdings, as well as COO and president of USA and Latin America at Univar, among other executive posts.

“This is a perfect time to join US Foods,” Filtman said in a statement. “It’s an honor and a privilege to lead US Foods into the future, alongside its talented 28,000 associates. I look forward to building on the current momentum the team has built in executing the company’s long-rang plan, driving operational excellence, creating value for our customers and shareholders, and fostering a culture where associates thrive.”

Rosemont, Illinois-based US Foods has been growing its CHEF’STORE warehouse retail concept since April 2020, when the distributor acquired Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores to expand its cash-and-carry operations. US Foods rebranded those stores in March 2021 and has since opened its 88th CHEF’STORE location as of September.

The stores, which do not require a membership fee, sell “restaurant-quality” products from the distributor, including meat, produce, dairy, deli, frozen seafood, baking ingredients, catering and restaurant products, and janitorial supplies.

In September, US Foods named Irfan Badibanga president of CHEF’STORE. Badibanga previously served as SVP of operations for Giant Food.

US Foods supplies about 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators and has 70 broadline locations around the country in addition to its retail business.