Today, the group operates withing there segments: Foodservice, Vistar, and Convenience:
- Foodservice: This segment delivers custom-cut meats, seafood, and a wide range of groceries to over 175,000 locations, including family-owned pizzerias, fast-casual spots, and major restaurant chains by operating through 78 locally managed distribution centers. Independent restaurants are a priority, valued for their higher-margin purchases like "Performance Brands" and demand for menu development and market insights.
- Vistar: It specializes in distributing candy, snacks, and beverages to over 75,000 locations, including vending operators, theaters, and office coffee services. Through 27 distribution centers, it supplies products for vending machine depots and works directly with major theater chains and hospitality venues like airport shops and college bookstores.
- Convenience:It supplies products like cigarettes, snacks, fresh food, and health items to about 50,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada. With 39 distribution centers, its Customers include corner stores, drugstores, liquor shops, and grocery chains.

PFG made series of strategic acquisitions to enhance growth. It entered the Caribbean market by acquiring José Santiago, Puerto Rico’s largest foodservice provider. In the Southeastern U.S., it strengthened its position with the acquisition of Cheney Bros, a major foodservice distributor. The addition of Green Rabbit, a company specializing in direct-to-consumer and business online order fulfillment, brought three new warehouses into PFG’s network. It also acquired OLM Foods, known for creating and distributing high-quality food products and programs. Those acquisitions had strong impact on company’s margin and profitability despite their integration.

The group has to face strong competition despite its offerings with major players like Walmart, Sysco, and Sprout Farmers Market alongside national, regional, and specialty distributors. Smaller distributors often band together through purchasing cooperatives and marketing groups to compete on pricing, expand their geographic reach, and improve efficiency. The group is also facing a growing shift in consumer preferences toward healthier, high-quality foods that positively impact health, communities, and the environment. More grocery stores are adopting this fresh approach, focusing on organic, regenerative, and locally sourced ingredients like Vital Farms, Whole Food... Without exclusive service agreements, customers can easily switch to competitors offering better prices, unique products, or superior service. The group try to leverage key trademarks such as Core-Mark, West Creek, Braveheart 100% Black Angus, Peak Fresh Produce, and Nature’s Best Dairy, to differentiate its offerings.

Looking at the financials, over the years, the group has experienced significant growth in revenue, increasing from $16.1 billion in 2016 to $58.3 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $68.6 billion by 2027. EBITDA has followed a similar trend, rising from $366 million to $1.5 billion over the same period. Net income grew substantially to $435 million in 2024, compared to just $68 million in 2016. This growth has been accompanied by an increase in debt, primarily driven by numerous acquisitions. The debt level has stabilized around $4 billion since 2022 and is expected to remain steady through 2027. Like much of the industry, PFG operates with low margins, maintaining an EBITDA margin of 2–3% and a free cash flow margin of 1.3%. At the same time, the group’s ROE has shown improvement, recovering from a significant decline in 2020 to reach 11% in 2024, with projections nearing 17% by 2027. Despite these strong results, the stock is currently trading at a P/E ratio of 23.7x, below its eight-year average of 47.4x.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, net sales for Convenience rose by 0.4% to $6.4 billion, primarily driven by higher selling prices due to inflation and cigarette manufacturers’ price increases, alongside growth in food and foodservice case volumes, though partially offset by lower cigarette carton sales. Vistar's net sales increased by 2.8% to $1.3 billion, attributed largely to an acquisition in fiscal 2024, with organic growth in vending, office coffee service, and corrections channels countered by declines in theater and retail case sales. Foodservice net sales saw a 5.7% rise to $7.7 billion, fueled by a recent acquisition, inflation-driven price adjustments, and case volume growth, particularly in Independent and Chain businesses. Independent sales accounted for 41.7% of total segment sales, with overall independent case growth at 7.8% and organic growth at 4.3%.

The group faces risks tied to economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and reliance on third-party suppliers. Economic downturns, geopolitical events, health crises, and inflationary pressures can weaken consumer confidence and spending. Sustained inflation and macroeconomic challenges may lead to reduced demand, negatively impacting sales. Dependence on third-party suppliers adds further risk, as disruptions in supply, rising production costs, and transportation issues can lead to higher product costs or shortages. The group also has to face factors such as labor shortages, natural disasters, or food contamination
PFG has demonstrated that its diversification and strong brands drive consistent results, showing significant growth over the years. The group's acquisitions have enabled geographic expansion and an enhanced product range. However, the company faces intense competition, including new entrants focusing on ultra-fresh and healthy products, challenging its market position.
