> History

The year 1897 marked some great adventures in history; S.A. Andree's Polar Expedition in a hot air balloon, the great Klondike Gold Rush, and production of Marconi's new invention, the radio. Another adventure, although not on quite as grand a scale, also began in 1897 ...the birth of our company - Gordon Food Service.

Isaac VanWestenbrugge

It was in 1897 that 23-year- old Isaac VanWestenbrugge, a Dutch immigrant, borrowed $300 from his older brother Martin and started his business delivering butter and eggs in Grand Rapids.

Well, a lot has happened in the next 100 years, and we think Isaac would be proud to see today's result of his humble beginnings!

The Gordon Family

Typical early street scene in downtown Grand Rapids

The journey from delivering butter and eggs via horse and wagon to our current distinction as the largest independent foodservice distributor in America has been exciting one. There have been good times, a few challenges, and a lot of old-fashioned hard work by several thousand people along the way.