Charlotte restaurants, venues have new East Coast food distributor expanding in NC

A specialty food distributor is now serving Charlotte restaurants and venues. Baldor Specialty Foods announced its expansion to the area, along with North Carolina’s Triangle and Triad regions, on Monday, June 22.

The New York, family-owned business offers more than 6,000 products, including produce, dairy, meat, seafood and bakery items. Baldor works with restaurants, hotels, hospitals, universities, sports venues and other food service operators.

“We’re committed to helping local and regional chefs succeed by connecting them with the best products, both from trusted local producers and our broader supply network,” said Christian Goerner, Baldor director of sales.

Baldor has over 16,000 customers and more than 1,000 farm and producer partners. North Carolina customers can expect next-day deliveries six days a week and a $200 minimum per order.

Goerner spent seven months studying the Charlotte culinary scene, including casual and fine dining. He said the company has hired around eight to 10 Charlotte-based drivers and sales executives so far.

“Our goal is to ingrain ourselves in not only the hospitality community but the agricultural scenes surrounding the Charlotte area to source products, bring them to the individuals operating within Charlotte, and collectively, our hope is to thrive together,” Goerner said.

Distributing to Charlotte hospitality operators

The specialty food distributor supplies 75% of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Northeast and venues like Madison Square Garden, according to a spokesperson for Baldor. Charlotte is now its southernmost distribution region.

“We’re looking forward to growing within the Charlotte area and partnering with the community,” Goerner said.

Charlotte chefs and operators can connect with Baldor Specialty Foods at www.baldorfood.com/north-carolina.