GS Foods expands with new MO distribution center, buys CT’s Thurston Foods

GS Foods Group Inc., a specialized food distributor with headquarters in Ontario, CA, announced its continued expansion with recently opened operations in Wright City, MO. Separately, the company announced the acquisition of Thurston Foods Inc., a full-service food distributor based in Wallingford, CT.

The new distribution facility will serve school districts and other specialty foodservice partners throughout the state. The establishment of GS Foods’ Missouri facility follows the opening of new distribution centers in Pennsylvania and Texas this summer and two distribution centers in Oregon and Colorado last year. GS Foods now has distribution centers in nine states including Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Virginia, Louisiana, California and Missouri.

Family-owned Thurston Foods, founded in 1947, inventories more than 7,500 items schools, hospitals, health care facilities restaurants, among other foodservice segments. In addition to Connecticut, its service areas include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Thurston’s management team will work with GS Foods during the transition.

GS Foods is owned by affiliates of Highview Capital LLC and A&M Capital Partners.

“We believe that GS Foods’ investment in Thurston Foods is a key milestone for the company and a historic marking in its continued expansion of product offerings, capabilities and establishing a truly national footprint,” said Jack McCarthy, a partner and founder at A&M.